MacBook Air M4 vs Surface Laptop 7
The MacBook Air M4 and the Surface Laptop 7 compete for the same spot on your shortlist, with Apple and Microsoft each making its case. The data doesn’t leave much room for doubt: 2 of 5 areas go to the Surface Laptop 7, and the gap is widest in display.
At a glance
- Display Surface Laptop 7 wins
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Battery Life & Charging Surface Laptop 7 wins
- Ports & Connectivity Tie
- Price MacBook Air M4 wins
- Display2.9
- Battery Life & Charging3.8
- Display6.7
- Battery Life & Charging10.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Surface Laptop 7 has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 120 Hz for the Surface Laptop 7 versus 60 Hz for the MacBook Air M4. For gaming, the Surface Laptop 7’s faster panel is a clear advantage; for office work, it’s a pleasant extra.
-
The Surface Laptop 7 has 2 h more rated battery life
It’s a small lead (20 h versus 18 h), but it’s real, and it goes to the Surface Laptop 7. More rated hours suggest the Surface Laptop 7 is the safer bet for a full workday without a charger.
-
The MacBook Air M4 has a 0.22 lb lighter build
The Surface Laptop 7 isn’t far behind at 2.95 lb, but the MacBook Air M4’s 2.73 lb still comes out ahead. Weight is the spec you feel every day if you carry your laptop between home, office and classes.
-
The MacBook Air M4 has a 0.24 in slimmer chassis
The Surface Laptop 7 lists 0.69 in; the MacBook Air M4 comes in at 0.44 in. That’s not a rounding error. For daily commuting, the MacBook Air M4’s thinner profile is a small but constant comfort.
-
The MacBook Air M4 has 11% higher pixel density
A narrow win for the MacBook Air M4. With 224 ppi to 201 ppi, it’s the kind of difference that adds up rather than stands out. The MacBook Air M4 shows fine detail more cleanly, useful for photo editing and small fonts.
Design & Size
- MacBook Air M4 11.97 in × 8.46 in × 0.44 in
- Surface Laptop 7 11.85 in × 8.66 in × 0.69 in
Size won’t decide this one: the MacBook Air M4 and the Surface Laptop 7 have very similar dimensions. If lightness matters, note the 0.22 lb gap in favor of the MacBook Air M4. The MacBook Air M4 trims 0.24 in off the thickness of the Surface Laptop 7.
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 11.97 in | 11.85 in |
| Depth | 8.46 in | 8.66 in |
| Thickness | 0.44 in (winner) | 0.69 in Thickest in class |
| Weight | 2.73 lb (winner) | 2.95 lb Heaviest in class |
Display
Surface Laptop 7 leads
On display, the gap between these two is wide, and it favors the Surface Laptop 7. The Surface Laptop 7 adds a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. You only get the full benefit if the laptop can produce enough frames, so it matters most with a capable GPU. The MacBook Air M4 pulls ahead with 11% higher pixel density. Anyone shopping mainly on display should start with the Surface Laptop 7.
Refresh rate
MacBook Air M4: 60 Hz Surface Laptop 7: 120 Hz A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, cursor movement and games look smoother.
Pixel density
MacBook Air M4: 224 ppi Surface Laptop 7: 201 ppi Higher pixel density makes text sharper, which you’ll appreciate during long reading and writing sessions.
Performance
Too close to call
There’s little to choose between them when it comes to performance. The performance verdict: no winner, and no reason to worry either way.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
Both the MacBook Air M4 and the Surface Laptop 7 cover memory & storage equally well on paper. Net result on memory & storage: level.
Battery Life & Charging
Surface Laptop 7 leads
The Surface Laptop 7 does a little better in the battery life & charging section, though nothing here is a deal-breaker for the MacBook Air M4. In its favor, the Surface Laptop 7 has 2 h more rated battery life. Rated battery life reflects the whole system (chip, screen and battery) under the manufacturer’s own conditions. If battery life & charging is your priority, the Surface Laptop 7 is the laptop to pick.
Rated battery life
MacBook Air M4: 18 h Surface Laptop 7: 20 h Real-world results depend heavily on brightness and workload, but the ranking between two laptops tends to hold up.
Ports & Connectivity
Too close to call
The ports & connectivity specs are close enough that neither gets the point. If ports & connectivity was going to be your tiebreaker, you’ll need a different one.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6 in | 13.8 in |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | PixelSense Flow LCD touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2304 x 1536 |
| Pixel density | 224 ppi (winner) | 201 ppi Lowest pixel density |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) Smoothest display in class |
| Peak brightness (SDR) | 500 nits | N/A (not specified) |
Performance
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M4 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus |
| CPU cores | 10 | 10 |
| Graphics | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) | Qualcomm Adreno |
| GPU cores | 8 | N/A (not specified) |
| Cooling | Fanless (passive) | Active (fan) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Base memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Max memory | 32 GB Highest memory ceiling | N/A (not specified) |
| Base storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Max storage | 2 TB | N/A (not specified) |
Battery Life & Charging
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 53.8 Wh | 54 Wh Biggest battery in class |
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating | 18 h | 20 h (winner) Longest rated battery life |
| Included charger | 30 W | N/A (not specified) |
Ports & Connectivity
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C / Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| Other ports | MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | USB4; USB-A, Surface Connect, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage | 1080p Surface Studio Camera |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Operating system | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home (Copilot+ PC) |
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 11.97 in | 11.85 in |
| Depth | 8.46 in | 8.66 in |
| Thickness | 0.44 in (winner) | 0.69 in Thickest in class |
| Weight | 2.73 lb (winner) | 2.95 lb Heaviest in class |
Price
| Spec | MacBook Air M4 | Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $999 | $1,000 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
At launch, the difference was a modest $1, with the MacBook Air M4 slightly more affordable. The MacBook Air M4 saves $1, but the Surface Laptop 7 answers with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 2 h more rated battery life.
Prices shown are US launch prices as of March 2025. Retail prices change often, so it’s worth checking current offers.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the MacBook Air M4 if…
- you want the lighter laptop (2.73 lb vs 2.95 lb)
- you want the slimmer laptop (0.44 in vs 0.69 in)
- you want the sharper screen (224 ppi vs 201 ppi)
- you’re working to a firm budget and $1 matters
Choose the Surface Laptop 7 if…
- you want smoother motion on screen (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you want the longer rated battery life (20 h vs 18 h)
- you trust Microsoft and want to keep things familiar
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the MacBook Air M4 or the Surface Laptop 7?
The Surface Laptop 7 makes more sense overall. Consider the alternative only if what you want most is a 0.22 lb lighter build.
Which has better battery life, the MacBook Air M4 or the Surface Laptop 7?
The Surface Laptop 7 comes out ahead on rated battery life, with 20 h compared with 18 h on the MacBook Air M4.
Is the MacBook Air M4 bigger than the Surface Laptop 7?
The MacBook Air M4 and the Surface Laptop 7 are so close in size that you’d struggle to tell them apart on dimensions alone.
Is the MacBook Air M4’s display better than the Surface Laptop 7’s?
On display specs, the Surface Laptop 7 leads thanks to a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz.
Is the MacBook Air M4 cheaper than the Surface Laptop 7?
At launch, the MacBook Air M4 undercut the Surface Laptop 7 by $1. These figures are as of March 2025, and street prices can change.
Which weighs less, the MacBook Air M4 or the Surface Laptop 7?
The Surface Laptop 7 is the heavier of the two; the MacBook Air M4 saves 0.22 lb.
Executive Summary
I don’t have a favorite brand in this fight between the MacBook Air M4 and the Surface Laptop 7. I just have opinions about the numbers. I’d put a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz at the top of the list, and it belongs to the Surface Laptop 7. Add 2 h more rated battery life to the list, and the Surface Laptop 7 looks even better. Still, if you care most about a 0.22 lb lighter build, the MacBook Air M4 deserves a look.
Choose by what you’d use most: portability leads to the MacBook Air M4, display leads to the Surface Laptop 7.
My pick: the Surface Laptop 7, with one exception: if you care more about a 0.22 lb lighter build than anything else, go for the MacBook Air M4.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.