MacBook Air M4 (2025) vs the World: Does Apple’s Latest Air Outshine Dell, HP, Surface & Lenovo?

MacBook Air (M4, 2025) vs. All Rivals: Specs, Reviews, and the Verdict

Apple’s new MacBook Air (M4, 2025) enters a fiercely competitive ultrabook arena. With Apple’s custom M4 chip, the latest Air promises more power and battery life than ever – all at a lower starting price than its predecessor theverge.com wired.com. But how does it stack up against previous MacBook Air models and top Windows ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre x360 14, Microsoft Surface Laptop, and Lenovo Yoga 9i? Below, we compare these machines across performance, battery endurance, display quality, portability, build, features, and price, highlighting expert insights and real-world strengths and weaknesses. Read on to see which laptop comes out on top for professionals, students, and creatives.

Performance Showdown (CPU/GPU)

Apple’s M4 chip delivers a significant leap in performance over prior-gen MacBook Airs and rivals. In fact, one review noted the M4 Air achieved a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 14,849, “surpassing every other laptop [in its class] by a fairly significant margin” laptopmag.com. This represents a solid generational jump – Ars Technica found “M4 is a solid performance increase over M3 and older Apple Silicon chips” arstechnica.com. Compared to the Intel era, the gains are even starker: Apple claims tasks like Photoshop editing run up to 3.6× faster vs. the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air and about 2× faster than the original M1 Air apple.com. In practice, the M4’s 10-core CPU chews through everyday workloads with ease and even handles coding or light video editing impressively well. The integrated 10-core GPU also offers decent graphics muscle for creative apps or casual gaming, though it still isn’t aimed at heavy 3D gaming.

By contrast, the Dell XPS 13 (2024) and other high-end Windows ultrabooks have struggled to keep pace with Apple’s efficiency. Dell’s latest XPS configurations feature Intel’s 13th/14th-gen Core processors – capable chips, but their real-world performance has been underwhelming in the slim XPS chassis. Tom’s Guide reports the XPS 13 Plus looks great but is “undercut by… underwhelming performance” tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Earlier XPS iterations with 12th-gen CPUs ran hot and throttled, leading one reviewer to lament a “baffling redesign” that paired power-hungry chips with insufficient cooling, resulting in a laptop that “ran too hot” and slowed down under load theverge.com. The refreshed XPS 13 (9350) with Intel’s new Core Ultra (Lunar Lake) improved matters somewhat, but even with that capable chipset, The Verge found its performance gains couldn’t overcome design flaws (spongy keyboard, etc.) that “made this a killer laptop, if it weren’t for several unforced errors on Dell’s part” theverge.com theverge.com. In short, the XPS can handle everyday productivity and medium tasks fine, but it doesn’t clearly outrun the fanless MacBook Air M4 in CPU performance – and it may actually fall behind in sustained workloads due to thermal constraints.

The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024), geared toward creatives, packs Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 processor with Intel Arc integrated graphics. This gives it strong performance for an ultraportable – the Spectre’s CPU scores and file transfer speeds actually beat some competitors like the Asus ZenBook and HP Envy x360 in tests laptopmag.com. In real use, reviewers call the Spectre’s performance “conventionally fantastic,” noting it feels fast for photo/video editing and multitasking livescience.com. However, the Spectre’s GPU is still an integrated solution; while the new Intel Arc graphics outperform prior Intel Iris GPUs, they can’t match discrete GPUs or Apple’s more optimized graphics in certain pro apps. The MacBook Air M4’s GPU benefits from Metal-optimized software and unified memory, giving it an edge in some creative workflows despite being integrated. None of these ultrabooks are meant for hardcore gaming or 3D modeling – but for light to moderate graphics work, all are competent. That said, Windows laptops still have an advantage in gaming compatibility. As Laptop Mag points out, even though MacBooks have improved in gaming capability, “Windows laptops are still king… considering compatibility” with a wider range of games laptopmag.com. Serious gamers or those needing high-end GPU performance would need to step up to a gaming laptop or a MacBook Pro with M-series Pro/Max chips (or an external GPU solution), which is beyond the scope of these thin-and-lights.

Previous MacBook Air models: The M4 trounces the older Intel-based Airs (which were dual-core or low-power chips) and handily beats the M1 (2020) in speed. Versus the M2 Air (2022), the M4 offers a healthy bump (Apple’s year-over-year improvements are often on the order of 15–20%). Perhaps more impactful, Apple doubled the base RAM from 8GB to 16GB in the M4 Air, so multitasking is smoother and memory-intensive apps won’t bog down as quickly theverge.com wired.com. The MacBook Air’s fanless design remains a limiting factor for prolonged heavy workloads – under sustained load (e.g. lengthy 4K video renders), the M4 Air will heat up and throttle some to prevent overheating theverge.com rtings.com. Professionals doing lots of rendering or compilation might notice this, whereas a beefier MacBook Pro or a well-cooled Windows laptop could maintain peak speeds longer. Still, for short bursts and typical usage, the M4’s burst performance is excellent. As WIRED put it, the new Air is a “lightweight machine… with a bit more power and some necessary improvements, all for a more affordable price” wired.com wired.com. In summary, Apple’s M4 Air currently stands at the top of the ultrabook class for CPU performance per watt, while competitors offer “good enough” speed for most tasks but may struggle to keep up in intensive workloads or efficiency.

Battery Life: All-Day Mac vs. Mixed Results on Windows

One of the MacBook Air M4’s standout advantages is its exceptional battery life. Apple rates it up to 18 hours, and independent tests back up its all-day stamina. Laptop Mag’s battery test (continuous web surfing at 150 nits) clocked the 13-inch M4 Air at 15 hours 30 minutes laptopmag.com, and The Verge reports it “easily lasts a full day on battery” in real-world use theverge.com. In practical terms, most users can work through an entire day of classes or meetings on the MacBook Air without scrambling for a charger. This continues Apple’s lead in efficiency: thanks to Apple Silicon, even the older M1/M2 Airs delivered 12–18 hour runtimes, and the M4 refines that further. Rtings.com similarly praises the MacBook Air M4’s longevity, noting its battery “lasts all day on a single charge” rtings.com rtings.com – a key reason why this laptop is so travel-friendly.

On the Windows side, battery life varies widely and often falls short of the Mac. The Dell XPS 13 has been challenged in this area, especially when equipped with power-hungry CPUs or an OLED screen. Dell’s 2023 XPS 13 Plus delivered “bad battery life” in Tom’s Guide’s tests tomsguide.com tomsguide.com – some reviewers struggled to get much beyond 7–8 hours on the high-res OLED model. (The FHD+ LCD XPS configuration can stretch closer to 12 hours, as The Verge found with the newer model theverge.com, but that’s with compromises in display quality.) The XPS line actually regressed a bit: adding an OLED option “tanked the battery life” theverge.com, and combined with a hot 12th-gen CPU, earlier models could barely last a workday. The latest XPS with Intel’s more efficient platform improved to roughly 12 hours of mixed use in one review theverge.com, but it’s still not a match for the Mac’s consistently longer endurance. In short, the XPS might get you through most of a workday on a charge, but not two full days like the Mac can.

The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) offers “strong battery life for a powerful Windows laptop”, but it’s still roughly 10–11 hours in light use – good for a PC, yet “doesn’t quite match the 18+ hours that Apple’s MacBooks can achieve” techozea.com. In a video rundown test, one reviewer recorded about 10.5 hours on the Spectre techozea.com, which aligns with HP’s own ~13-hour claim for mixed usage (likely under ideal conditions). It’s a respectable result given the Spectre’s high-end OLED 2.8K display and beefy chip. Live Science’s review deemed the Spectre’s battery “decent” and worthy of praise for a 2-in-1, explicitly calling out its “solid performance and a decent battery life, capped off with a vibrant, accurate OLED display” livescience.com. So, Windows convertibles like the Spectre or Lenovo Yoga 9i require some trade-off – their gorgeous 4K OLED screens devour more power. The Yoga 9i (Gen 9) for instance lasted only 7 hours 24 minutes in Laptop Mag’s web surfing test laptopmag.com, the clear downside of its 4K panel. A Yoga or Spectre can make it through a half day of intensive work or a full day of lighter use, but they can’t touch the MacBook Air’s marathon endurance.

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop sits in the middle. The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 5 (2022) with a 12th-gen Intel CPU was rated for around 17 hours by Microsoft, but real-world testing pegged it at “merely average, roughly 10.5 hours” of runtime pcworld.com. That’s on par with other premium ultrabooks but well under Apple’s numbers. Newer Surface Laptop models (Edition 6 or 7 by 2024) haven’t dramatically changed that formula. The Surface uses a slightly higher-power U-series chip and a high-res screen, so while efficient, it’s not M1-level efficient. Still, ~10 hours is enough for a day of moderate work or classes – just not a multi-day stretch.

In summary, Apple holds a clear lead in battery longevity. The MacBook Air M4 is an all-day device and then some, ideal for long flights, back-to-back lectures, or roaming between meetings without a charger theverge.com. The Dell XPS and Lenovo Yoga can struggle to last a full 8-hour workday (especially with performance modes or OLED displays active), whereas the HP Spectre and Microsoft Surface hit around the 10-hour mark – okay for most, but not “forget your charger at home” territory. For users who prioritize maximum unplugged time, the MacBook Air is the standout choice. As one tech reviewer quipped, Apple’s Air delivers the kind of “all-day battery life” that many competitors still can only dream of rtings.com techozea.com.

Display Quality & Visuals: Retina vs. OLED vs. PixelSense

Laptop displays are an area where these models diverge in philosophy. The MacBook Air M4 continues with Apple’s Liquid Retina display – a 13.6-inch (or 15.3-inch on the larger model) IPS LCD panel at roughly 2560×1664 resolution (applying a 16:10-ish aspect). It’s bright (500 nits peak), sharp, and supports a wide color gamut (P3). Text and images look crisp, and color accuracy is excellent out of the box, which is great for content creators or anyone picky about display quality. Reviewers note the screen is “big and bright”, with vivid colors and up to 1 billion colors supported apple.com. However, it’s still a standard 60 Hz panel – unlike some Windows rivals, there’s no high refresh rate for ultra-smooth scrolling or animations. And while Apple’s display covers the P3 gamut, in testing it wasn’t the most saturated: Laptop Mag measured about 80% DCI-P3 coverage laptopmag.com laptopmag.com – very good, but edged out by OLED competitors that exceed 100% of DCI-P3. Apple doesn’t (yet) offer OLED or mini-LED on the Air (to protect MacBook Pro’s territory), so blacks are not as inky and contrast not as infinite as an OLED screen. That said, most users will find the Air’s display gorgeous for everyday work, media, and creative tasks. It’s also worth noting Apple’s 13.6″ Air screen uses a slightly taller aspect ratio (~16:10) compared to the old 13.3″ 16:10 Air; it feels roomier for productivity.

In contrast, Dell XPS 13 and HP Spectre x360 14 showcase OLED display options, which are stunning for media and design work. The XPS 13 Plus can be configured with a 3.5K (3456×2160) OLED panel that reviewers called “beautiful” tomsguide.com – delivering pitch blacks and vibrant colors that make content pop. The OLED XPS screen covers an extremely wide color gamut (far above sRGB – Laptop Mag recorded 136% of DCI-P3 on a similar Lenovo OLED laptopmag.com). It’s also available in a 1920×1200 IPS variant, which on the newest model supports up to 120 Hz refresh for smoother motion theverge.com. That high refresh FHD screen trades resolution for fluidity – a boon for scrolling through documents or gaming – and importantly yields better battery life than the 4K-ish OLED. However, the XPS’s OLED, while gorgeous, comes at the cost of battery as noted, and Dell limited its brightness to around 400–450 nits theverge.com. In bright daylight, the Mac’s LCD (which exceeded 460 nits in tests laptopmag.com laptopmag.com) might be slightly easier to read than the glossy OLED.

The HP Spectre x360 14 also uses OLED, but at a slightly lower resolution optimized for its 13.5-inch 3:2 display: a 2.8K OLED at 120 Hz (around 3000×2000 pixels). This panel earned high praise – “vibrant, accurate OLED display” with fantastic contrast livescience.com. Creative professionals will love the true blacks and high color fidelity; photos and HDR videos look spectacular. The 120 Hz capability also gives it an edge in smoothness over the Mac’s 60 Hz. At ~13.5 inches and 3:2 aspect, the Spectre’s screen offers extra vertical space (similar to an 8.5×11” page), which is excellent for web browsing, coding, or reading documents. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop similarly uses a 3:2 aspect PixelSense display (2256×1504 on 13.5″, or 2496×1664 on 15″). These Surface screens are well-regarded for their color accuracy and touch support. PCWorld notes that Surfaces provide “one of the most dynamic and attractive displays around”, splitting the difference between 1080p and 4K with their unique resolutions pcworld.com. They measured about 384 nits brightness on the 15″ Surface Laptop 5 pcworld.com – decent, though not class-leading. The Surface lacks an OLED option, sticking with a high-quality LCD, and also tops out at 60 Hz (Microsoft reserves 120 Hz for devices like the Surface Pro and Studio). On the plus side, the Surface display supports Dolby Vision IQ HDR and has both sRGB and “Vivid” color profiles for accuracy pcworld.com. Its 3:2 aspect is a dream for productivity, fitting more content vertically than the Mac’s 16:10 or Dell’s 16:10. If you love taller screens, Surface and Spectre have that edge.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) arguably pushes the envelope with a 14-inch 4K OLED (3840×2400, 16:10). Reviewers describe it as a “gorgeous 4K OLED display”, delivering extremely rich colors (it hit 136% of DCI-P3 in tests) and razor-sharp detail laptopmag.com laptopmag.com. It’s a glossy touchscreen, of course, since the Yoga is a convertible. The combination of 4K resolution and OLED depth makes creative work (like photo editing) a pleasure on the Yoga – you can accurately judge colors and enjoy high pixel density when fine-editing images or 4K video. The trade-off, again, is power consumption: that display heavily contributed to the Yoga’s sub-8-hour battery life result laptopmag.com. Also, at 14″, 4K is arguably overkill for typical use – one could run it at a lower scaling or resolution to save battery when on the go.

One major new perk for the MacBook Air M4 is external display support. Apple finally lifted the one-monitor limitation of earlier Airs: the M4 Air can now drive up to two external 6K displays simultaneously (in addition to the built-in screen) apple.com apple.com. For years, M1/M2 MacBook Air owners were stuck with only one external monitor (unless using DisplayLink hacks). Now, the M4 puts the Air on par with Ultrabook rivals that have long supported dual monitors via Thunderbolt or DisplayPort. The Surface Laptop 5, for example, could already connect to two 4K monitors through its Thunderbolt 4 port and Surface connector dock pcworld.com. The Spectre and XPS, with dual Thunderbolt ports, likewise handle multi-monitor setups (often one port can drive two displays via a dock). So for productivity enthusiasts with multi-screen desks, the new Air is finally as capable as its peers in this regard apple.com rtings.com.

In summary, display preferences might sway creatives one way or the other: The MacBook Air’s screen is bright, color-accurate, and high-resolution – excellent overall, though not OLED-level contrast. The Dell XPS and Lenovo Yoga offer the wow of OLED (with Dell giving an option for high refresh at lower res). The HP Spectre strikes a balance with OLED plus 120 Hz in a slightly more battery-friendly resolution. And the Surface Laptop provides a unique 3:2 LCD that’s great for work, if not as punchy as OLED. If you watch a lot of movies or edit HDR content, an OLED screen’s deep blacks (Spectre, XPS OLED, Yoga) will impress. If you mostly do office work, coding, or standard photo editing, the MacBook Air’s Retina display holds its own and then some – and you’ll appreciate its superior battery efficiency. Touchscreen capability is another factor: all the Windows laptops here have touch displays (and pen support in the case of Spectre and Yoga), whereas the MacBook Air notably does not – more on that in the Features section.

Portability, Design & Build Quality

Ultrabooks are defined by being thin, light, and premium – and all these contenders fit the bill, with some nuances. The MacBook Air M4 continues the flat-edged design Apple introduced with the M2 version: it’s remarkably thin (just 0.44 inches) and weighs about 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg) for the 13-inch model laptopmag.com wired.com. The 15-inch Air spreads that same thickness over a larger footprint, weighing ~3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) – still lighter than many 15-inch laptops. Apple’s build quality is top-notch: a unibody aluminum chassis that is “exceptionally well-built and easy to carry around”, showing no flex and a solid, durable feel rtings.com rtings.com. The Air has “reliability and durability” baked in – Apple notes both the 13″ and 15″ are less than half an inch thin with a sturdy enclosure built to last apple.com. In long-term use, MacBooks tend to hold up well; many users keep them for 5+ years. The design is also fanless, which means no vents or fans – a totally silent operation and one less moving part to fail. However, that sleek design does mean no internal cooling fan, as mentioned, so the trade-off is some thermal throttling under heavy strain theverge.com rtings.com.

The Dell XPS 13 has long been admired for its design, and physically it’s in the same class as the Air. The latest XPS 13 (model 9350, late 2024) weighs 2.77 lbs and is about 0.55″ thick theverge.com tomsguide.com – slightly thicker than the Air but still extremely portable. Dell managed to make the XPS one of the smallest 13-inch laptops by shaving the screen bezels to near zero. The build uses a mix of CNC aluminum for the chassis and (in older models) carbon fiber palm rests, though the XPS 13 Plus design is almost all glass and aluminum for a futuristic look. Build quality on the XPS is generally excellent – “really something else… feels sturdy with no flex or creaking” even under pressure theverge.com. That aligns with the XPS reputation as the Windows equivalent of a MacBook in fit and finish. Where Dell stumbled is not materials but design choices: the XPS 13 Plus introduced a completely flush haptic trackpad (no visible outline) and a capacitive touch function key row, trading practicality for minimalism. Many reviewers and users found these changes frustrating – the flat touch keys lack tactile feedback (and even a physical Esc key) and the invisible trackpad, while clever, can lead to accidental clicks theverge.com theverge.com. So while the XPS is physically gorgeous and compact, its “spongy keyboard” and “awkward function row” hampered the user experience theverge.com. It’s a reminder that design is more than skin deep. On the plus side, Dell did remove the old wedge shape; the XPS, like the Air, is uniformly thin and solid. And despite packing in fans, the XPS 13 remains relatively quiet and cool for everyday tasks, though it can get warm under load (hence the earlier thermal issues).

The HP Spectre x360 14 is a different form-factor – a convertible 2-in-1 – so its design priorities include a 360° hinge and tablet functionality. It’s a bit heavier as a result: about 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg) and ~0.67″ thick. It’s still portable, but the extra mechanism and a larger 14-inch display add weight. Reviewers note “it isn’t the lightest ultraportable” but it’s reasonable for a premium 2-in-1 of this size techozea.com. The Spectre’s build quality is outstanding – HP uses machined aluminum and even incorporates recycled metals. One review highlighted the “premium build quality with recycled materials” and an attention to detail in the chassis techozea.com. The design features HP’s signature gem-cut accents (diagonal chamfered corners), which not only look stylish but house the ports cleverly techozea.com. It’s an elegant device with a two-tone color scheme (on some models) that stands out. The 360° hinge is sturdy, allowing you to flip the screen into tablet or tent mode. Because of its convertible nature, the Spectre has to accommodate a touchscreen and stylus use; HP engineered it so that when in tablet mode, the keyboard deactivates and the device feels like a thick tablet. At 3.2 lbs, holding it as a tablet is fine for short sessions (sketching or reading) but a bit heavy for long one-handed use – an expected compromise techozea.com techozea.com. Overall, the Spectre is praised as “impressively engineered” and stylish livescience.com, and it feels robust. The finish resists fingerprints and the hinge mechanism is smooth yet firm. If you value a laptop that can also be your notepad or canvas, the Spectre’s design is the most versatile of the bunch, albeit less svelte than a pure laptop like the Air or XPS.

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop is often lauded for its clean, modern design that directly competes with the MacBook’s aesthetics. The Surface Laptop 5/6 has a unibody aluminum chassis (earlier gens had optional Alcantara fabric palmrests in some colors). It weighs about 2.8 lbs (13.5″ model) and is ~0.57″ thick – similar to the XPS in profile laptopmag.com. Build quality is superb: “its aluminum chassis feels very sturdy, exhibiting almost no flex” in the lid or deck, according to Rtings rtings.com. Microsoft’s design language is minimalist – clean lines, no visible screws, and a simple elegance. One critique has been the relatively thick display bezels (especially on the top and bottom), which look dated next to Dell’s edge-to-edge screens pcworld.com. Microsoft seems to prioritize a balanced approach: the bezels leave room for a good webcam and the 3:2 aspect, but some find them chunky. Still, the Surface Laptop’s keyboard deck and overall footprint are highly refined. It doesn’t try any radical design experiments; it’s essentially a very polished traditional laptop. The Surface’s hinge is smooth and can be opened one-handed. Unlike others here, it cannot rotate 360 or detach – it’s strictly a laptop (Microsoft’s convertible is the Surface Pro line). In terms of portability, the Surface Laptop 13.5″ is on par with the MacBook Air 13 – easy to slip into a bag and carry around campus or the office. The 15-inch Surface Laptop is heavier (~3.4 lbs) but provides a larger screen for those who need it.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i (14″), like the Spectre, is a premium convertible, weighing around 3.0 lbs (1.37 kg) and about 0.6″ thick. It’s actually quite compact for a 14-inch 2-in-1. Lenovo’s design includes a unique rotating soundbar hinge (co-engineered with Bowers & Wilkins), which is a glossy cylindrical hinge that outputs audio in any mode. This is a clever design touch that doesn’t compromise sturdiness – the Yoga feels solid and the hinge holds the screen in place at any angle. The Yoga 9i has an eye-catching polished aluminum chassis with curved edges introduced in recent gens, giving it a sleek yet comfortable feel (no sharp edges on your wrists). Reviews praise that it “remains lightweight” for a 2-in-1 and combines “premium audio quality, [a] gorgeous display, and great performance” in a stellar build laptopmag.com. However, like the Spectre, the Yoga’s versatility means you carry a bit more weight than a clamshell of the same size – understandable given the tablet functionality. The Yoga’s build is very robust; Lenovo has a long history with convertibles and it shows. If anything, the high-gloss finish can be a bit of a fingerprint magnet, and the device’s premium polish might scratch if treated roughly (a protective sleeve is wise). But day to day, it feels every bit a luxury machine. One downside: the Yoga 9i, despite its size, has somewhat limited ports (just like others – more in next section), and it lacks an HDMI port or an abundance of USB-A (only one). Some business users might miss those, but that’s the cost of thin designs.

Thermals and noise: The MacBook Air’s fanless design means it’s silent but can get warm. The Windows ultrabooks here (XPS, Spectre, Surface, Yoga) all have fans – under light use they stay quiet or off, but under heavy load you’ll hear a faint whir. None are gaming laptops, so they’re generally not loud. The XPS Plus, when pushing its CPU, was noted to run hot to the touch in past models theverge.com. The new Intel chips aim to be cooler, but Apple still seems to have the lead in cool-and-quiet operation for everyday tasks.

In summary, all these laptops are highly portable and well-built, with each having a design twist: MacBook Air is ultra-thin and timeless, XPS is cutting-edge compact but with some ergonomic quirks, Spectre and Yoga add convertible functionality and flourish (at the cost of a few extra ounces), and the Surface Laptop is a minimalist workhorse with a premium feel. If your priority is the absolute thinnest/lightest device, the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 likely wins – it’s incredibly thin and light while still feeling sturdy wired.com. The XPS 13 is a close second in footprint, though be sure you’re okay with its keyboard/trackpad design. For those who want a tablet mode or pen input, the Spectre x360 and Yoga 9i offer that versatility with only a minor hit to portability and a top-notch build quality to justify it livescience.com. And if you prefer a clean, traditional notebook with Windows, the Surface Laptop gives you MacBook-like fit and finish in that ecosystem, albeit with slightly more weight and bezel. No matter the choice, you’re getting a premium ultralight machine – but the little differences in design philosophy can significantly impact daily satisfaction.

Features & User Experience (Keyboard, Trackpad, Ports, Webcam, etc.)

The experience of using these laptops day-to-day comes down to their keyboards, trackpads, webcams, speakers, and other features. Each has its strengths and quirks:

• Keyboard: The MacBook Air M4 uses Apple’s Magic Keyboard (scissor-switch) with a full-height function row and backlighting. It’s a refined keyboard that most find very comfortable, if on the slightly shallow side. Key travel is about 1 mm – not deep, but with a snappy tactile feedback. WIRED noted that the Air’s keys have “very little travel” and a firm deck, which can feel harsh to some typists during long sessions rtings.com rtings.com. Overall, though, the Mac’s keyboard is reliable and responsive, a far cry from the bad old butterfly keys. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop has historically had one of the best keyboards in the industry. In the latest model, Microsoft reduced travel to 1.3 mm (a bit more than Mac), which some purists lamented, but it’s still “comfortable” and on par with premium Windows peers pcworld.com. The Surface keys are well-spaced, quiet, and have three-stage backlighting. HP Spectre x360 14 and Lenovo Yoga 9i also offer excellent keyboards. Laptop Mag “absolutely adored the Yoga 9i’s comfortable keyboard” laptopmag.com – Lenovo has a reputation for great keyboards, and while the Yoga isn’t a ThinkPad, it still provides a satisfying, fairly deep typing experience with 1.5 mm travel. The Spectre’s keyboard is similarly well-regarded, though HP does use an unusual half-height up/down arrow key arrangement that some find awkward techozea.com. The Spectre keys are snappy and the layout includes convenient shortcut keys (and even a camera privacy shutter key). Dell XPS 13 Plus, unfortunately, faltered here: its keyboard has very low travel (around 1 mm) and a “zero lattice” edge-to-edge design. Some reviewers describe it as “unpleasant, hard-to-use”, citing a sponginess or lack of feedback despite the large keycaps theverge.com theverge.com. Additionally, the flat touch-sensitive function row on the XPS is widely regarded as a mistake – e.g. needing to hit a capacitive Esc “key” with no tactile feel was frustrating theverge.com. Dell aimed for futuristic, but many users would prefer actual keys. In summary, for heavy typing: Surface Laptop and Yoga 9i likely offer the most traditional comfort (deeper travel), the MacBook Air’s keyboard is very good and fast for most (with the benefit of Touch ID in the corner), the Spectre x360 is close behind (with minor quirks like the arrow keys), and the XPS Plus keyboard comes in last due to its flatness.
• Trackpad: Apple still reigns supreme here. The MacBook Air’s trackpad is large, glass, and uses haptic feedback to simulate clicks – it’s universally praised for smoothness and precision. You can click anywhere on it, and multi-touch gestures are a breeze. The Verge’s review gave the Air’s touchpad an “A” grade theverge.com. Windows competitors have narrowed the gap with Microsoft Precision drivers, but Apple’s implementation is often considered the gold standard. The Surface Laptop has a large Precision touchpad that is “excellent, clickable nearly to the top” pcworld.com – one of the best on a Windows laptop, with reliable gesture recognition. The XPS 13 Plus uses a haptic trackpad like Apple’s, but with no visible outline. While technically responsive, its “invisible” nature led to accidental presses and difficulty finding the boundaries, and The Verge gave it a poor grade (prone to accidental clicks) theverge.com theverge.com. It’s a love-it or hate-it affair; some users adapt, others find it irritating. The HP Spectre x360 has a spacious haptic touchpad as well, and it’s generally seen as very good – one review mentioned it “feels great” but occasionally missed clicks depending on finger position techozea.com. Lenovo’s Yoga 9i has a large traditional clickpad (not haptic on that model) which is smooth and responsive, though perhaps not as massive as the Mac’s. All these trackpads support multi-finger gestures (swipes, pinches) for navigation. Overall, Apple’s MacBook Air offers the best trackpad experience (many would argue it’s “the best in any laptop”), with Surface and Spectre close behind, and XPS being the most divisive.
• Ports & Connectivity: Here, the MacBook Air M4 is minimalistic: it provides two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, one on each side, plus a MagSafe charging port and a 3.5mm headphone jack wired.com. That’s it – no USB-A, no HDMI, no SD card slot. Apple assumes users will adapt with hubs or wireless peripherals. The return of MagSafe (magnetic power connector) is nice as it frees up the USB-C ports while charging and prevents yanking the laptop if someone trips on the cord. However, the lack of diversity in ports is a common critique. “The only thing holding the MacBook Air M4 from ultraportable perfection is its lack of ports,” as one reviewer put it laptopmag.com. By contrast, the HP Spectre x360 14 embraces both new and legacy. It includes 2× Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1× USB-A (with a clever drop-jaw mechanism to fit full USB in a thin chassis), and a 3.5mm jack techozea.com. Notably absent is built-in HDMI, but HP generously includes adapters in the box – one dongle with HDMI, and another multi-port hub with HDMI + USB-A ports techozea.com. This thoughtful approach acknowledges many users still need an HDMI or extra USB-A occasionally. The Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) similarly offers 2× Thunderbolt 4, 1× USB-A, and 1× headphone jack, but no HDMI or card slot. It’s a bit better than the Mac by having one USB-A for older devices laptopmag.com. The Dell XPS 13 in recent years went ultra-minimal: just 2× Thunderbolt/USB-C – and no headphone jack at all on the Plus model theverge.com. Dell does ship a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter and USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box, but the removal of the audio jack was widely lamented (it’s one thing Apple hasn’t even done on MacBooks). The XPS’s port selection earned an “F” from The Verge (only two ports, period) theverge.com. So ironically, the MacBook Air isn’t the only one with limited I/O – the XPS is equally sparse, trading even the headphone jack for sleekness. The Surface Laptop 5 strikes a middle ground: it has 1× Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1× USB-A, a 3.5mm jack, and the Surface Connect port for charging/docking pcworld.com. Having a USB-A is a nice perk (no immediate need for dongles for older flash drives or peripherals), and the TB4 means you can connect modern docks/monitors too. No built-in HDMI or SD reader on Surface either, though. In wireless connectivity, all of these come with the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.x (the Mac M4 specifically has Wi-Fi 6E and BT 5.3) apple.com, so networking is fast and up-to-date on all. None have built-in cellular 4G/5G – that’s still rare in mainstream laptops (Surface Pro tablets sometimes offer it, but not the Laptop). In sum, port-wise: Surface and Spectre offer the most variety (each giving at least one USB-A in addition to USB-C and audio jack, and Spectre providing dongles for HDMI), Yoga gives you one USB-A, MacBook Air gives only USB-C (but has MagSafe charging to free a port), and XPS gives only USB-C and actually lacks even the headphone jack – truly living the dongle life. If you have a lot of legacy devices or frequently use SD cards, none of these ultrathins have SD slots (you’d need something like a Dell XPS 15 or a MacBook Pro 14 which have card readers). For most users, a USB-C hub will be a necessary companion at times, especially for the Mac and XPS.
• Webcam & Video Calling: In the era of remote work, webcams matter – and this is an area where Apple made a big improvement. The MacBook Air M4 sports a new 12 MP webcam with Center Stage (Apple’s auto-framing tech) apple.com apple.com. It’s a leap from the 1080p (2 MP) camera in the M2 Air and lightyears from the 720p cams of older Airs. This ultrawide 12MP sensor can intelligently zoom and pan to keep you centered in frame during video calls, which is great for moving around or sharing physical objects on screen. Reviewers have called it “an impressive webcam… high-quality and unheard of among laptops” laptopmag.com. Your image will be sharper and clearer than virtually any competitor’s laptop camera. By contrast, most Windows ultrabooks still use 720p or 1080p webcams. Dell infamously stuck a tiny 720p camera in the XPS 13’s thin bezel. Tom’s Guide noted the XPS Plus has a “middling 720p webcam” tomsguide.com – it gets the job done for Zoom, but you’ll appear noticeably grainier than you would on the Mac or HP. The HP Spectre x360 14 stands out by bucking that trend: it features a high-resolution 5 MP (approximately 2560×1920) webcam, which HP brands as “Quad HD” – effectively a 1440p or 4K-ish camera. In fact, HP claims it’s a “9MP (4K) camera” techozea.com. Reviewers praised the Spectre’s webcam as “outstanding”, easily one of the best in any Windows laptop rtings.com. It also supports Windows Hello IR face recognition, as does the Yoga 9i on some configs (1080p with IR in the Yoga’s case) techozea.com. The Surface Laptop 5, surprisingly, sticks with a 720p webcam – a disappointment in 2022/2023 when 1080p is becoming standard pcworld.com. Microsoft did improve the color and exposure tuning, and of course it has an IR sensor for Windows Hello login, but the resolution is behind the times. PCWorld politely said the Surface’s cam is “slightly lacking compared to the competition” and noted things looked a bit soft pcworld.com pcworld.com. The Lenovo Yoga 9i uses a 2MP (1080p) webcam, which is serviceable and includes a physical privacy shutter. It’s fine for everyday video calls, but after seeing the clarity of a 5MP or 12MP camera, 1080p is just okay. In short, Apple and HP lead on webcam quality – your video feed will be sharper and better framed on the MacBook Air M4 or Spectre x360, which is great for students doing remote classes or professionals on daily video conferences. The Yoga and Surface are decent (1080p and 720p respectively, with good color accuracy on Surface’s “Vivid” setting). The XPS is adequate only in well-lit conditions and certainly the weakest of the bunch in resolution.
• Audio (Speakers & Mics): The MacBook Air features a four-speaker system with Dolby Atmos support and a three-mic array with beamforming. Despite its slimness, Apple managed to produce surprisingly rich sound. The 15″ Air even has slightly larger speakers that reviewers found impressively loud and full for a laptop (the Verge noted the 15-inch has “louder speakers” than the 13-inch theverge.com). It’s not a MacBook Pro 16, but for an ultrabook, the Air’s speakers are top-tier, providing stereo separation and even a hint of bass. The Lenovo Yoga 9i is the one competitor that might top it – Lenovo’s rotating soundbar (with 4 speakers including a subwoofer) earned it accolades for premium audio quality laptopmag.com. The Yoga’s Bowers & Wilkins-tuned speakers deliver a more immersive, 360-degree sound whether you use it as a laptop or tablet. The HP Spectre x360 has stereo speakers (by Bang & Olufsen) that are good, though not particularly noted as industry-leading. The Surface Laptop historically had very clear Omnisonic speakers hidden under the keyboard, with Dolby Atmos, providing good sound. However, the Surface Laptop 5 saw a slight regression – reviewers observed that max volume dropped and the sound was flatter than before, speculating “either the wattage decreased or something’s muffling the speakers” pcworld.com. It’s still decent for music or video, but not as impressive as the Mac or Yoga. The Dell XPS 13 has bottom-firing stereo speakers that are fine but not notable; The Verge gave the XPS speakers a “D” grade theverge.com, criticizing their lack of oomph. As for microphones, all these laptops have at least dual-mic arrays. The Mac’s three-mic array offers noise reduction and is very clear for calls (no complaints there). The Windows laptops also have good mics – the Spectre and Surface even leverage AI noise reduction features through Windows.
• Security & Biometrics: The MacBook Air uses Touch ID (fingerprint sensor on the power button) for convenient login, Apple Pay, etc. apple.com laptopmag.com. It’s fast and reliable. It does not have face recognition. In contrast, Windows Hello face login is a big feature on many PCs: the Surface Laptop, Spectre x360, and some configs of Yoga 9i have IR cameras to log you in just by looking (which works great, even in the dark). The XPS 13 offers a fingerprint reader (integrated into the power button) but not face IR. The Spectre actually gives you both facial recognition and a fingerprint reader (on the side or power button) techozea.com – two biometric options. So in terms of hands-free convenience, the Surface and Spectre have an edge with instant face unlock. That said, Touch ID on Mac is extremely quick as well – it’s just a different habit (resting your finger vs. showing your face). All these devices also support TPM/encryption, etc., for security.
• Unique Features: Each laptop has a few special tricks. The MacBook Air M4, aside from Center Stage webcam, introduced “Apple Intelligence” features in macOS (on-device AI for image editing, writing assistance, even built-in access to ChatGPT via Siri) apple.com apple.com. These software perks make use of the 16-core Neural Engine, but they’re mostly icing on the cake for typical users. The Air also supports MagSafe charging, as noted, which many appreciate for safety and freeing ports apple.com. The HP Spectre x360, being a convertible, comes with an active pen in the box and supports inking for drawing or note-taking. It also has smart features like Auto Frame (HP’s version of Center Stage for the webcam) and presence detection (it can lock the PC when you walk away, etc.) techozea.com. HP even includes those port adapters which is a small but nice bonus techozea.com. The Lenovo Yoga 9i similarly supports a pen (sometimes included) and features the flashy rotating speaker bar for a better multimedia and tablet experience. The Surface Laptop is more straightforward but integrates tightly with Windows 11 features (it’s optimized for things like voice dictation, and it’s bloatware-free – a clean OS). One miss on Surface: no pen support on the Laptop (the screen is touch but not pen-friendly unless you use the Pro or Studio). The Dell XPS 13 doesn’t have many extras – its emphasis was on minimalist design, though it does have ExpressSign-In (an IR camera + proximity sensor to log you in quickly and lock when you step away, similar to HP’s presence detection).

In summary, the MacBook Air M4 nails the fundamentals: a top-tier keyboard (if a tad shallow), the best trackpad, a phenomenal new webcam, great speakers, and Touch ID – but it lacks any legacy ports or touch input, meaning you’ll need adapters for many accessories and you can’t use a stylus or touch the screen. The Windows ultrabooks offer more in the way of touchscreens and ports. If you value touch and pen: the Spectre x360 and Yoga 9i clearly stand out, as the MacBook and Surface Laptop cannot do tablet mode or stylus input. If you do a lot of video calls: MacBook Air and HP Spectre’s superior webcams will make you look best laptopmag.com livescience.com. If you hate dongles: Surface Laptop (with USB-A) or Spectre/Yoga (with at least one USB-A and included dongles) are friendlier choices than the Mac or XPS. For typing all day: Surface, Yoga, Mac (and Spectre closely) are all comfortable – XPS is the risky one there. For trackpad lovers: Mac still wins easily, though Surface and HP are quite good, whereas XPS’s innovative pad might annoy. Each laptop has some “gotchas” in features: for the Mac it’s ports and lack of touchscreen; for XPS it’s the keyboard/touch bar; for Surface it’s the low-res webcam and no 2-in-1 capability; for Spectre/Yoga it’s a bit more weight and shorter battery due to all the extras (and still limited port selection compared to a thicker machine). But in general, these are all premium experiences. As The Verge said about the MacBook Air, it “nails the basics in a thin-and-light” device theverge.com – that sentiment could apply to most of its high-end competitors too, each nailing a slightly different set of priorities.

Pricing and Value

When it comes to pricing, Apple made a surprising move: the MacBook Air M4 starts at $999 – which is $100 cheaper than the M2 model’s debut price theverge.com wired.com. This base model includes the M4 chip (10‑CPU/8‑GPU cores) with 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD theverge.com. It’s notable that Apple doubled the base RAM to 16GB without raising the price, which significantly boosts the value proposition theverge.com. For $999, you’re getting a very capable configuration; by contrast, the previous M2 Air at $1199 had only 8GB RAM (though 512GB SSD in some variants). The 15-inch MacBook Air M4 starts at $1,199 with a slightly beefier M4 (10‑CPU/10‑GPU) and the same 16GB/256GB config theverge.com. Most reviewers recommend upgrading the SSD to 512GB (+$200) if budget allows, not just for space but also faster disk speeds (the 256GB uses a single NAND chip which is slower) theverge.com. Still, even at $1199 (13″ with 512GB) or $1399 (15″ with 512GB), the MacBook Air undercuts many equivalently specced Windows ultrabooks. Apple’s top-end config (32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) runs about $2,199 wired.com, which is steep but that’s a maxed-out model. Notably, Apple offers educational discounts ($899 starting for M4 Air) and the older M1 Air is often still sold around $799-$899 as a budget option, but that’s outside our main comparison.

Looking at competitors: the Dell XPS 13 (2024, model 9350) starts around $1,399 for a configuration with Core Ultra i7, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD theverge.com. Dell doesn’t even sell an 8GB RAM config on the high-end XPS now (likely because Windows on 8GB is considered entry-level), so the baseline is comparable to Apple’s 16GB/512GB (though Apple’s base SSD is half the size). However, at $1,399 the XPS comes with a non-touch FHD+ display; opting for the OLED ups the price to ~$1,699 as tested theverge.com. So you’re paying a premium for that design and OLED. Dell often has sales, but straight MSRP, the XPS is a few hundred more than the Mac for similar or lesser specs. That raises questions about value: The Verge bluntly stated that the new XPS is “a sad sendoff for the once-admired XPS name” in part because of those compromises at a high price theverge.com. If you’re comparing a $1,200 MacBook Air to a $1,400+ XPS, the Mac likely gives more bang for the buck in performance and battery unless you really want Windows and OLED.

The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a premium machine and its price reflects that. Configurations typically range from around $1,500 to $1,900 depending on CPU (usually Core i7), RAM (16GB or 32GB), and SSD (512GB to 2TB) techozea.com techozea.com. That often includes the OLED 3K display standard and the pen. So a mid-tier Spectre (i7, 16GB, 512GB) might be ~$1,599, which is more expensive than the MacBook Air’s equivalent (16GB, 512GB at $1,199) – roughly a $400 difference. HP is charging for the 2-in-1 functionality and extras. Is it worth it? For the right user, perhaps. One reviewer argued the Spectre “justifies this investment” because of its combination of cutting-edge tech, included accessories (stylus and adapters), and the fact that it’s a pen-enabled 2-in-1 with a gorgeous OLED – a niche the MacBook can’t fill techozea.com techozea.com. But if you don’t need the convertible aspect or pen, you might find better value in a clamshell like the Mac or even a lower-priced ultrabook. HP does include 2-year warranty in some regions and often has holiday discounts. Still, objectively, the MacBook Air M4 at $999 offers more performance per dollar than the Spectre at $1,500+, albeit without the pen/touch features.

Microsoft Surface Laptop prices haven’t been very aggressive either. The Surface Laptop 5 launched at $999 for a base model (13.5″, Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) laptopmag.com – which undercuts Apple’s base price, but note that’s with half the RAM (8GB) and a less powerful CPU. A more apples-to-apples Surface config with 16GB RAM (and Core i7) was $1,499 for the 13.5″ laptopmag.com. So to match the Mac’s 16GB memory, you’re paying ~$500 more on the Surface. The 15-inch Surface Laptop (with Core i7) starts around $1,299 for 8GB, and again about $1,799 for 16GB. Microsoft’s pricing strategy often leaves the better-specced models quite expensive. The value proposition of Surface Laptops lies more in the build quality and experience than raw specs. If you’re a “Surface fan” who loves the design and Windows integration, you might pay that premium, but purely spec-for-spec, the MacBook Air M4 is now a better deal for most. As PCWorld titled, the Surface Laptop 5 is “for Surface fans only” because it doesn’t stand out in performance or price against competitors pcworld.com.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) comes in around $1,400+. Often you can find a 16GB/512GB model on sale for ~$1,500. Considering it has a 4K OLED and comes with a pen, that’s not outrageous. It’s still pricier than a base Mac but less than the HP. Lenovo tends to offer various configurations and frequent sales, so actual street prices can be lower (sometimes under $1,300 on sale). In terms of value, the Yoga 9i was considered “truly an excellent value” for what it offers laptopmag.com – relative to similar convertibles. But again, if you don’t need 4K or a tablet mode, a MacBook Air could save money while giving better battery and performance.

Value Summary: Apple’s move to drop the MacBook Air back to $999 – while packing in more RAM and a faster chip – has made it arguably “the best value we’ve seen from Apple in years” laptopmag.com. For the general consumer or student looking around the ~$1000 mark, the Air M4 is extremely compelling – you get a no-compromise experience (fast, light, long battery, premium build) at a price usually reserved for mid-tier Windows machines. Windows ultrabooks from Dell/HP/Lenovo at that price often either skimp on RAM/SSD or on build quality – whereas the Air doesn’t. Of course, if you need Windows or a touch display, you’ll be looking at those other brands. But be prepared to pay a bit more for similar hardware. There are exceptions: some models like the Dell XPS 13 (non-Plus) or ASUS ZenBook can come in closer to $1000 with decent specs, and those are worth considering too. However, among the top-tier models listed (XPS Plus, Spectre, Surface, Yoga), the MacBook Air M4 delivers the most for the least money in 2025 laptopmag.com laptopmag.com. It’s also worth mentioning longevity: MacBooks tend to hold their performance and software support for many years, which can translate to better long-term value and resale value. On the flip side, if you specifically want a 2-in-1 ultrabook, the Spectre or Yoga justify their higher price by combining two devices (laptop + tablet) into one and including pricey OLED tech. For creative professionals who will use the pen and touch frequently, that premium can pay off in productivity.

Use-Case Suitability: Which Laptop for Whom?

Finally, it’s important to consider the specific needs of professionals, students, and creatives when choosing between the MacBook Air M4 and its ultrabook rivals. Each of these laptops shines in different scenarios:

• For Students: Portability, battery life, and ease of use are key for students running between classes or studying in the library. The MacBook Air M4 is a standout choice here – it’s lightweight, has all-day battery life (no need to fight for an outlet in the lecture hall), and is a “no-brainer, no-fuss recommendation for most people who need a basic laptop” around this price theverge.com. It handles web research, essay writing, coding assignments, and Zoom classes with ease. The quiet fanless design means no distracting noise in quiet study areas. Students also benefit from the robust build (it can survive being chucked in a backpack) and the rich app ecosystem (whether it’s Office, creative apps, or academic software – though note specialized Windows-only software would be an exception). That said, a student in fields like digital art or design might lean towards a convertible like the HP Spectre x360 or Lenovo Yoga 9i. These offer the ability to take handwritten notes, sketch diagrams, or annotate PDFs directly on the screen with the included stylus – an invaluable feature for some learners. The Spectre’s pen input and tablet mode can turn it into a digital notebook for classes techozea.com techozea.com. If you’re the kind of student who likes to draw charts or write equations by hand, the MacBook Air (which lacks any touch or pen) won’t give you that, whereas the Spectre/Yoga will. The Surface Laptop sits somewhere in between: it’s a pure laptop like the Mac (no tablet mode), but it’s well-suited to typical student life too. It’s durable, and its 3:2 screen is great for reading and writing papers. However, its battery life is shorter and the webcam is weaker for online classes compared to the Mac. Also, keep in mind ecosystem – many students have iPhones/iPads, and the MacBook Air plays nicely with those (iMessage on Mac, AirDrop, etc.), while a Windows PC might integrate better with an Android phone or just stand alone. Overall, for most students the MacBook Air M4 offers the best blend of longevity, simplicity, and performance (plus Apple’s student discounts). But if you specifically want a pen for note-taking or need Windows for certain campus software, the Spectre x360 14 or Yoga 9i will be the go-to despite their shorter battery life.
• For Professionals: This is a broad category, but let’s consider office/productivity workers and frequent business travelers. The MacBook Air M4 can capably serve many professionals – writers, consultants, programmers, etc. – especially those who value mobility. Its ability to now connect to two external monitors makes it viable as a work machine at the office with a multi-display setup apple.com, and then you can grab it and go to a meeting or on a trip, enjoying ~15 hours unplugged on the plane. One tech writer even noted the M4 Air now “anchors the MacBook lineup with a much clearer upgrade path for those with higher demands”, implying it’s a solid default for most pros, with MacBook Pros reserved for truly heavy workloads theverge.com. The Air’s limitations for professionals would be heavy 4K video editing, large software builds, or complex data science tasks – those might push the Air to its throttling point, at which a MacBook Pro or a workstation PC is better. For the average professional using Office apps, email, web conferencing, light photo editing, etc., the Air is stellar. The Dell XPS 13 and Surface Laptop are the nearest Windows analogs in the professional sphere. The Surface Laptop in particular is popular in business environments for its straightforward design and Microsoft’s enterprise support. It has features like Windows Hello face login and BitLocker, making it friendly for corporate use. If your company is entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem (SharePoint, Visio, custom Windows apps), a Surface might integrate more seamlessly than a Mac. The XPS 13 has the prestige factor; it’s a status-symbol Windows laptop that used to be the “business class” ultrabook of choice. However, as noted, the latest XPS has quirks that a professional might not appreciate (awkward keyboard and reliance on adapters for basic I/O like a headset). Still, it offers strong performance for an x86 machine and a beautiful screen for presentations. Professionals who frequently give presentations or work with clients might actually appreciate that many ultrabooks (Spectre, Surface, XPS) have or can easily attach to HDMI/USB-A without as many dongles – for example, the Spectre including an HDMI adapter in the box means you can plug into a projector easily techozea.com, whereas a Mac user needs to remember a USB-C dongle. Also, if you’re an IT professional or developer needing Linux/Windows environments, the Mac can run a Unix-like macOS (great for developers) but it cannot run Windows 11 natively (only via virtual machines like Parallels) since Boot Camp was dropped with Apple Silicon. In contrast, the XPS or Surface can of course run Windows and Linux natively or in WSL. So for a professional software developer, one consideration is platform compatibility with your tools. Many devs love Macs for their UNIX foundation and now super-fast chip, but if your workflow relies on Windows-only software or certain virtualization, a Windows ultrabook might be non-negotiable. Business travel: The MacBook Air and Dell XPS are both fantastic travel companions – slim and long-lasting. The Spectre and Yoga are a bit heavier in the briefcase but offer versatility (perhaps you want to watch a movie in tent mode on a flight, or sign a document with a pen on the go). The Surface Laptop with its slightly shorter battery might need a charge on a cross-country flight whereas the Mac could make it coast-to-coast. Many pros will also consider warranty and support – Apple offers AppleCare+, and their store network can be a plus if something goes wrong. Dell, HP, and Lenovo offer business warranties (sometimes even on-site repair for enterprise contracts), which might be a factor for corporate deployments. In summary, for professionals doing standard productivity, MacBook Air M4 is an excellent choice and now cost-competitive. But if your work mandates Windows or benefits from a touch screen, you’d lean Surface Laptop (for a MacBook-like experience on Windows) or XPS (for cutting-edge Windows design) or possibly a ThinkPad X1 (not in our list, but a common business pick). Among our list, the Spectre x360 could be ideal for a professional creative or consultant who values flexibility – e.g., flipping to share a presentation in tablet mode or signing contracts on-screen.
• For Creatives: This group includes photographers, video editors, designers, illustrators, and content creators. The decision here can be nuanced. The MacBook Air M4 offers great CPU/GPU performance for its class – it can handle Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and even moderate 4K video editing in Premiere or Final Cut Pro (which is Mac-only) quite well. In fact, Apple touted that Photoshop on M4 Air is up to 2× the speed of the M1 Air apple.com, and with 16GB RAM standard, you can work on fairly large files. The color-accurate display and long battery are helpful for photographers editing on the go (though the display is glossy, so you might need to be mindful of lighting). However, the Air is still not a “Pro” machine – heavy 3D rendering, multi-cam 4K video edits, or After Effects animations will push its thermal limits and 8-core GPU. If a creative’s workload is that intense regularly, they should consider a MacBook Pro or a Windows laptop with a discrete GPU. Within our comparison, the HP Spectre x360 14 is clearly aimed at creatives as well – its vibrant OLED screen (with near 100% DCI-P3 coverage) and pen support make it fantastic for photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists livescience.com techozea.com. You can sketch or retouch photos directly on the screen. The Spectre (with Intel’s latest chips) has enough horsepower for Lightroom and moderate video editing too. Plus, the 2-in-1 form can turn into a tablet for drawing or a stand mode for showcasing a portfolio. The Lenovo Yoga 9i similarly is great for creatives who want a 14″ 4K canvas that can be drawn on. Its 4K OLED will show your photos and 4K videos pixel-for-pixel, and the rotating soundbar is great for video editing with clear audio playback. The downside for these Windows convertibles is battery (you’ll likely be plugged in during long editing sessions) and perhaps thermals (the slim builds can get warm when crunching video exports). The Dell XPS 13 is less targeted at creatives simply because of size and lacking a discrete GPU option – serious creative pros often opt for the XPS 15 or 17 with NVIDIA GPUs. The XPS 13’s OLED screen is lovely for content consumption and some editing, but its small size and lower performance ceiling might limit heavy creative use. The Surface Laptop is also not specifically a creative’s machine – the lack of pen support is a big minus for illustrators (you’d look at a Surface Pro or Studio for that). Photographers could use the Surface for editing – its screen is high resolution and 3:2 aspect is nice for vertical editing space – but again, the MacBook Air’s speed might outshine the Surface in exporting batches of RAW photos or encoding video, and the Mac has access to Mac-only creative software (Final Cut, Logic Pro, etc.). Also notable: the MacBook Air M4, according to reviews, stays below comfortable heat thresholds even when pushing that high multi-core performance laptopmag.com laptopmag.com, meaning you can render or export and the chassis doesn’t become a hot slab. This is great if you literally have the laptop on your lap editing photos – something like the XPS under load might get too toasty to do that.

For digital artists/illustrators, a MacBook Air alone is less useful since macOS laptops don’t have touchscreens – many creatives in that field might use an iPad with Apple Pencil alongside a Mac. In contrast, with a Spectre or Yoga, your laptop is your drawing tablet. So an illustrator could lean Windows here, or get a separate drawing tablet hardware for the Mac. For video editors, the MacBook Air M4 can surprisingly handle quite a lot – the efficiency of Apple’s chips with software like Final Cut or DaVinci Resolve (which is native on Apple Silicon) is remarkable. But if you’re doing feature-length projects or lots of multi-layer 4K, you’ll appreciate more cooling and GPU (MacBook Pro 14/16 or a laptop with discrete GPU). Short YouTube videos, social media content, etc., the Air M4 is fine and renders fast thanks to hardware accelerators.

One more angle: content creators (streamers, YouTubers) – if someone is streaming games or doing live content, they often use Windows because of better support for certain streaming tools and games. The MacBook Air is not a gaming machine, so a creator who streams games would likely not choose it. They might choose a more powerful Windows laptop or a desktop. The laptops in our list aren’t geared for heavy gaming either – though ironically, the XPS or Spectre with an eGPU (external GPU via Thunderbolt) could be an option for a home setup that pivots to gaming/streaming when docked. But for on-the-go creative work (photo/video/music), the MacBook Air M4 offers a mix of performance, battery, and software (like Logic Pro for music, GarageBand for quick audio, etc.) that’s hard to beat under $1,000. As WIRED concluded, the M4 Air “continues to live up to its reputation as a reliable, lightweight machine and the best MacBook for most people”, now made even sweeter by the lower price wired.com wired.com.

In summary:

• Most Students and general users – likely best served by the MacBook Air M4 for its balance of price, performance, and battery. It’s an “easy recommend” for a broad audience theverge.com. If a student specifically needs pen input or is on a tighter budget, a Windows 2-in-1 (Spectre/Yoga) or a base Surface might be considered, but those involve trade-offs (weight, battery, or lower specs for similar price).
• Professionals – if you’re platform-agnostic, the MacBook Air M4 offers a top-tier experience for the cost, now even viable for dual-monitor office setups apple.com. MacOS has its productivity advantages (great built-in apps, UNIX underpinnings for devs, etc.), but if your job requires Windows, the Surface Laptop is a strong alternative for a premium work laptop, or the XPS if you favor its design (just be ready to adapt to its keyboard/port quirks).
• Creatives – if your work is moderate and you favor Apple’s ecosystem or apps, the MacBook Air M4 will surprise you with how much it can do while on battery (and you can always plug in an external monitor now for editing on a bigger canvas). If your creative work involves a lot of drawing or you want that OLED punch in color, the HP Spectre x360 14 emerges as a fantastic creative’s ultrabook – an expert review even called it “a premium experience” for creatives and designers with its combination of power and vibrant display livescience.com. The Spectre and Yoga basically carve out the niche that the MacBook Air purposely ignores (touch and pen). So for a graphic artist or someone who values that versatility, those are worth the extra cost.

Ultimately, each of these laptops is excellent; the “best” comes down to what you need: The MacBook Air M4 is arguably the ultrabook to beat in 2025 with its across-the-board strengths laptopmag.com laptopmag.com, but if you have specific needs – like 2-in-1 tablet functionality, or a preference/requirement for Windows – the competition has very compelling options. It’s a great time to be in the market for a premium thin-and-light, as innovation from Apple’s silicon and fierce competition from Dell, HP, Microsoft, and Lenovo have produced some truly standout notebooks on all sides.

Sources: Recent expert reviews and benchmarks were referenced from publications including Ars Technica arstechnica.com, The Verge theverge.com theverge.com, Laptop Mag laptopmag.com laptopmag.com, Wired wired.com, PCWorld pcworld.com, and Live Science livescience.com, as well as official specs and press info from Apple apple.com apple.com. These provide a comprehensive view of how the MacBook Air M4 stacks up against its predecessors and its top ultrabook rivals in the real world. Each laptop has its standout features and foibles, but the MacBook Air M4 clearly “delivers more value to consumers than ever before” in the Mac lineup apple.com, raising the bar that competitors will have to match in performance, battery life, and price.