Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4
Buy the MacBook Air 13 M4 if you want the newer chip, 16GB base memory, Thunderbolt 4 and MagSafe, and a 12MP Center Stage camera. Buy the M2 if budget is the deciding factor: it was $629.00 new at Walmart as of the latest listing, against $1,092.50 pre-owned on eBay for the M4. The M4 costs roughly $460 more, which buys real headroom in memory, ports and performance.
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Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB
4.8Choose the MacBook Air 13 M2 if you want a light 13.6-inch Apple laptop for everyday browsing, writing and streaming at the lowest price.
Pros
- Lowest price of the pair by a wide margin
- Same 13.6-inch 2560 x 1664 Retina display and 2.7 lb weight
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
- Fanless and silent, like the M4
Cons
- 8GB base memory limits heavy multitasking
- Only two USB-C ports, no MagSafe
- Older M2 chip and 1080p camera
- One external display only
What separates them
| Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB | Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 3.49GHz | Apple M4, 10-core CPU, up to 4.5GHz, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Base memory | 8GB unified memory (16GB and 24GB options) | 16GB unified memory |
| Ports | USB-C (two Thunderbolt/USB 4) | Two Thunderbolt 4 plus MagSafe 3 charging |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD | 12MP Center Stage with Desk View |
| External displays | One external display up to 6K | Up to two external displays up to 6K at 60Hz |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours video streaming, 15 hours wireless web; 53.8Wh |
| Price |
Price history
$999.99$598.89
- Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB: lowest $598.89 on Oct 29 at Walmart; $694.45 on Oct 30.
- Apple MacBook Air 13 M4: lowest $972.09 on Nov 2 at BarcodesInc.
Prices at every store
Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB
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Apple MacBook Air 13 M4
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Specs compared
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 256GB | Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.7 lb | 1.225kg, 1.24kg |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | — |
| Operating System | Mac OS | — |
| Touchscreen | Yes | — |
| With Retina Display | Yes | — |
| Drive Type | Solid State Drive | — |
| Number Of Cores | Octa Core | — |
| Language | English / North America | — |
| Available Ports | USB-C | — |
| Biometric Security | Fingerprint Scan | — |
| Screen Size |
Questions and answers
- Is the M4 worth the extra over the M2?
- Yes if you multitask heavily or drive external displays. The M4 adds 16GB base memory, two more CPU cores, Thunderbolt 4 and a better camera for about $460 more.
- Which lasts longer on a charge?
- Both are rated up to 18 hours. The M4 lists 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of wireless web from a 53.8Wh battery; the M2 is rated 18 hours overall.
- Which is better for photo and video work?
- The M4. Its 10-core CPU, faster GPU and 16GB standard memory handle larger files and exports better than the M2's 8GB base configuration.
- Can I connect two monitors?
- Only on the M4, which supports up to two external displays at 6K and 60Hz. The M2 supports one external display.
- Is the cheaper M2 new or used?
- The $629.00 Walmart listing is new. The $1,092.50 M4 listing on eBay is pre-owned.
- Do they weigh the same?
- Yes, both are 2.7 lb (1.24 kg) and fanless, so neither makes noise under load.