M4 MacBook Air 15-Inch Review After One Month: A Near-Perfect Laptop With a Few Flaws

It’s been a full month since I started using the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air as my daily driver, and after spending every day with it, I can confidently say that it lives up to the hype—but it’s not without a few shortcomings.

When I first got my hands on this machine, I called it the best laptop money can buy for most people. That opinion hasn’t changed much, even though not everyone agrees, especially those loyal to Windows. And while I enjoy poking fun at the Mac vs. Windows debate, it’s important to take a fair and honest look at what works—and what doesn’t—after extended use.

From the moment I booted up the M4 MacBook Air, I was impressed by how powerful yet silent it is. Apple’s M4 chip brings together blazing-fast performance with exceptional energy efficiency. I use this machine for everything—writing, browsing, video calls, light photo and video editing, and even some DJing—and it handles all of that effortlessly, without ever spinning up a fan. The silence alone is worth noting. It’s clear that Apple has mastered fanless performance, and for the average user who doesn’t push machines to their absolute limits, this MacBook Air provides more than enough headroom.

One thing that continues to impress me is the pricing—specifically, the base model. The 13-inch starts at $999 and the 15-inch at $1,199, which, considering Apple’s usual premium pricing, feels surprisingly fair. You’re getting a device with exceptional build quality, top-tier performance, and excellent battery life. For students, it’s an even better deal, with educational pricing making it even more accessible.

Apple’s design continues to lead the industry. The MacBook Air is sleek, lightweight, and crafted from solid aluminum. It looks and feels premium in every way. What caught me off guard, though, is the keyboard. If you’ve ever owned a MacBook, you know how quickly the keys can develop a shiny, worn look after heavy typing. Yet after a month of non-stop use, the keys on the M4 Air still look brand new. Whether Apple has applied some kind of anti-sheen coating or quietly improved the materials, I don’t know—but I’m glad they did.

On a more personal note, I’ve recently started getting back into DJing, and this MacBook Air has become my go-to machine for music production. It handles Logic Pro and other audio tools without missing a beat. As always, macOS remains the preferred choice for creatives, especially in music, and this machine reminds me why that’s the case.

Of course, even a great laptop isn’t perfect. One issue that stood out to me is Apple’s upgrade pricing. While the base model is a fantastic deal, the cost of adding extra storage or memory is steep. Once you start upgrading, the Air quickly approaches the price of a MacBook Pro, which leads to a tough decision. And because the MacBook Air isn’t upgradeable after purchase, you’re locked into your configuration for the life of the machine. This kind of pricing structure makes you question whether the Air or the Pro makes more sense for your needs.

Another letdown is the color options. I picked the “Sky Blue” version hoping for something vibrant and unique. Unfortunately, it usually just looks silver. It’s puzzling because Apple has shown with the iMac that they’re capable of producing bright, exciting colors. That creativity just didn’t carry over to the MacBook Air lineup.

Then there’s Apple’s heavy marketing around “Apple Intelligence.” At the time of this review, those smart features still haven’t rolled out in any meaningful way. Despite being plastered across the MacBook Air’s product page, they’re not available yet. It creates confusion for customers who might think they’re buying into an advanced AI experience, only to find those features missing or delayed.

And while Apple nails so many aspects of hardware and design, it’s still baffling that the MacBook Air doesn’t offer facial recognition or a touchscreen. These are standard features on many Windows laptops today, and their absence on a premium Apple device is starting to feel like a real gap. Face ID would be perfect for quick and secure logins, and a touchscreen would make interacting with macOS even more intuitive. The Air feels like the ideal candidate for both.

When I tried to come up with a fifth flaw for this machine, I came up empty. That in itself is a testament to how refined the M4 MacBook Air is. It’s rare to use a laptop for an entire month and not find something genuinely frustrating or broken. This MacBook has delivered consistency, power, portability, and style without letting me down.

All things considered, the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air continues to be one of the best laptops you can buy. It offers an unbeatable mix of performance, build quality, and battery life in a package that remains incredibly thin and light. Yes, there are a few things I wish Apple would improve, but none of them are deal-breakers. If you’re in the market for a premium laptop and want something that just works—beautifully, quietly, and reliably—the M4 MacBook Air is still a top-tier choice.