MacBook Air Midnight 32GB with 2TB storage
MacBook Air M4 Upgraded to 32GB RAM and 2TB Storage, in Midnight Dark Blue Review
A Perfect Blend of Style and Performance, but not in the base model
The MacBook Air has always been a popular choice for those seeking a balance of portability and solid performance. With the release of the MacBook Air M4, Apple has raised the bar, all without increasing the price. However, the base model, featuring 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, feels somewhat lacking given its cost. For those needing more power, the upgrades come at a steep price. I opted to upgrade the model starting at £1399.00 with a 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, bringing the total to £2,199.00. With this upgrade, the MacBook Air M4 becomes an ideal choice for professionals and power users, especially those working with photo editing. It offers enhanced performance without compromising portability, all wrapped in the sleek new Midnight color.
Design and Build
A Stunning Midnight Finish, but still attracts the fingerprints
Apple's reputation for sleek, premium design shines through with the MacBook Air M4. Its lightweight, thin aluminum unibody in Midnight a deep, nearly black shade exudes sophistication. While silver and starlight have been traditional options, the addition of a new sky blue brings variety. Still, the Midnight finish stands out with a distinctive look that maintains a polished, professional appearance. It’s also slightly more resistant to fingerprints than glossy finishes, although it may attract dust a bit more easily.
At just 2.7 pounds, the MacBook Air is incredibly lightweight, making it an ideal choice for professionals seeking a high-performance laptop without the bulk. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is bright, vibrant, and offers excellent color accuracy, making it perfect for visually demanding tasks such as photo editing or design work.
Performance
Powered by the M4 Chip
The MacBook Air M4 is powered by the new M4 chip, which offers significant advancements in processing power, graphics performance, and energy efficiency. Whether you're tackling demanding tasks like 4K video editing, running multiple apps simultaneously, or managing numerous browser tabs, the MacBook Air M4 handles everything seamlessly—especially if you've upgraded the RAM and storage.
Equipped with 32GB of unified memory, the MacBook Air offers seamless multitasking, even with resource-intensive applications like Adobe Creative Cloud and Final Cut Pro. The 2TB SSD provides ample space for large files, apps, and media collections, delivering fast read and write speeds for instant app launches and quick file transfers. Without this upgrade, you’d have to rely on an external hard drive, which compromises the portability the Air is designed to offer.
Battery Life
All-Day Efficiency
A key feature of Apple’s M-series chips is their energy efficiency, and the MacBook Air M4 is no different. However, it will be interesting to see how this efficiency plays out over time, particularly with daily use of photo editing software. Apple claims up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge, which should easily cover a full workday or more without needing to plug in. Only time and extended usage will reveal how it holds up in real-world conditions.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Comfortable and Responsive
The MacBook Air M4 continues to feature Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which provides a comfortable typing experience with well-spaced keys and satisfying key travel. The backlighting automatically adjusts to the surrounding light, ensuring clear visibility in any lighting condition. The large Force Touch trackpad is highly responsive and supports multi-touch gestures for smooth navigation. However, I found it a bit clunky, likely due to transitioning from a Mac mini setup with a Studio Display, Apple keyboard, and mouse.
Ports and Connectivity
Sufficient for Most Needs
The MacBook Air M4 offers two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports and a headphone jack. While the limited port selection may seem restrictive, it aligns with Apple’s minimalist design approach. Users who require more connectivity options can easily use a USB-C hub. The MacBook Air also supports Wi-Fi 6, ensuring faster wireless speeds and more reliable internet connections.
However, there’s a notable omission: the absence of an SD card reader. For professionals who work with photography or video, an SD card slot is often a crucial feature. It's puzzling that Apple chose to leave this out, especially considering the laptop’s target market. While the headphone jack is still included, it feels increasingly unnecessary as wireless solutions like Bluetooth headphones become more widespread. The decision to keep the headphone jack over the SD card reader is a surprising one for a device aimed at professionals.
Software and Ecosystem
Seamless Integration
As with all Apple devices, the MacBook Air M4 integrates effortlessly into the Apple ecosystem. Features like Handoff, AirDrop, and iCloud allow for a seamless transition between your Apple devices, ensuring a smooth and unified experience. The macOS operating system offers an intuitive interface, access to Apple's suite of productivity apps, and a broad selection of third-party software.
The Charger
A Thoughtful Midnight Cable, But What’s Up with the White Socket?
One of the more curious aspects of the MacBook Air M4 is the inclusion of the new Midnight charging cable, which complements the laptop’s deep color and adds a touch of elegance to the overall design. However, Apple’s choice to pair the Midnight cable with a traditional white power socket feels mismatched. While the cable is a thoughtful addition, the white power adapter feels out of place, breaking the otherwise seamless aesthetic.
In addition, the power adapter is relatively bulky for a device built for portability. It’s a bit surprising that Apple didn’t design a more compact power plug to match the lightweight, travel-friendly nature of the MacBook Air.
Is It Worth It?
The MacBook Air M4 with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD is an excellent choice for anyone in need of an ultraportable laptop with strong performance. The eye-catching Midnight color, powerful M4 chip, spacious storage (though at an added cost), and impressive battery life make it a worthwhile investment, especially for those who need a machine capable of handling demanding tasks like video editing, design, or software development. However, like many computers in 2025, the base models are lacking, and Apple should be criticised for this business/profit strategy.
Final Thoughts
The MacBook 13inch Air M4 (32GB RAM, 2TB Storage, Midnight) is a standout in the ultraportable category. With its sleek design, robust performance, and impressive battery life, it’s an excellent choice for anyone seeking a laptop that strikes the perfect balance between portability and high-end functionality. While the absence of an SD card reader, the mismatch between the charging cable and power adapter, and the bulkier power plug may seem like design flaws, the MacBook Air M4 shines in nearly every other area. Whether you're a creative professional, student, or business user, this MacBook Air offers the power, style, and performance you need. However, to get a machine that truly supports a professional workflow, you'll need to invest more.
