Don’t sleep on the M4 MacBook Air: 24GB RAM, a 15-inch Retina display, and $300 off thanks to the M5 launch

Apple’s M5 MacBook Air is out, and the predictable knock-on effect is that the M4 15-inch has dropped to $1,299 at Amazon, a $300 saving off its $1,599 list price. If you’ve been waiting for a good moment to pick up a MacBook Air, this is it. The M4 chip is still one of the most capable processors in any laptop at this price, and 24GB of unified memory at $1,299 is genuinely unusual.

What you’re getting

The M4 chip remains an exceptional piece of hardware. Apple’s silicon architecture continues to outperform most x86 competition on performance-per-watt, and for everyday tasks like browsing, productivity, and creative work, the M4 is indistinguishable from the M5 in real-world use. The performance gap between chip generations at this level is meaningful in benchmarks, but far less so in daily life.

What matters more here is the memory spec. 24GB of unified memory in a MacBook Air is the configuration I’d recommend to anyone who takes their laptop seriously. It gives you comfortable headroom for demanding workflows, multiple browser tabs, video editing, and running creative applications simultaneously without the machine slowing down under pressure. Most competing Windows laptops ask a significant premium for equivalent memory capacity.

The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display remains one of the best screens on any laptop in this bracket: sharp, color-accurate, and large enough to make the MacBook Air a genuinely comfortable daily driver without a monitor. The 12MP Center Stage camera is a meaningful upgrade for video calls, and Touch ID keeps things quick and secure. Battery life on the M4 Air is exceptional, routinely lasting a full working day without a charger in reach.

Why it’s worth it

The M5 launch is the sole reason this price exists, and that’s actually the best reason to buy. The M4 hasn’t gotten any slower, the display hasn’t changed, and 24GB of unified memory at $1,299 is a specification that Windows laptops at this price rarely match. For most users, the M4 will feel completely current for years.

The bottom line

The M4 MacBook Air 15-inch at $1,299 is a well-timed opportunity to get one of the best laptops available at a price that reflects the M5 launch rather than the M4’s actual capability. The 24GB memory configuration, Liquid Retina display, and exceptional battery life make this an easy recommendation for anyone in the market for a premium 15-inch laptop.