If you are looking for a new Apple laptop for yourself or a student, now might be the best time to pick one up. The MacBook Air M4 is on sale, including the 15-inch model, which has plummeted back to $949 at Amazon. This is a significant $250 discount from the regular price.

This deal applies to the base model with 256 GB of storage, which remains the right size for many users. Compared to the newer M5, choosing this base model saves you $350. The sale includes popular finishes such as Midnight and Silver.

Why Buy the Apple MacBook Air M4 Over the M5?

While Apple has already introduced the MacBook Air M5, the MacBook Air M4 (review) remains a highly competent machine for most people. In many ways, it is even overkill for casual users and students. Choosing the M4 allows you to save money while still owning a future-proof laptop capable of handling intensive work and media consumption.

Apple MacBook Air displaying 'Speed of lightness.' with a sleek design on a wooden table.
Apple’s MacBook Air M4 has the same Liquid Retina display as the M5 model. Image source: nextpit

The MacBook Air M4 features the same sleek and premium build as the newer model. There is little reason to jump to the M5 unless you specifically require scaled-up AI capabilities, as the day-to-day difference is hardly noticeable. On its own, the M4 is a incredibly speedy device thanks to its powerful 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU. Handling heavy workloads and juggling multiple apps feels smooth. It also fully supports Apple Intelligence for on-device AI tasks.

The large 15-inch Liquid Retina display offers high resolution, packing more pixels than almost anything else in its price range. It is also quite bright, keeping the screen legible even if you are working outdoors. If you are frequently on video conferences or calls, the 12 MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage provides top-class quality.

Battery life is another strong point, as you will not need to charge the MacBook Air frequently. Apple rates it for 18 hours of video playback, which translates to a day or two of mixed usage. When you do need a boost, charging is quick through the dedicated MagSafe port.

Do you plan on buying the MacBook Air M4 over the M5 model? Tell us your answers in the comments.

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