Laptops
Surface Laptop 8 vs MacBook Air M4
Surface Laptop 8 and MacBook Air M4 are both premium everyday laptops, but they take different routes. Surface Laptop 8 gives you a 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen, Snapdragon X2 options, and Windows flexibility, while MacBook Air M4 is lighter, cheaper at launch, and better for macOS users.
Last updated: June 26, 2026
Microsoft
Surface Laptop 8
A premium Windows laptop built for touch-first productivity, Copilot+ PC features, long battery life, and flexible Microsoft 365 workflows.
VS
Apple
MacBook Air M4
A thin and light Mac laptop built for students, writers, travelers, Apple Intelligence, strong battery life, and quiet everyday performance.
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Specifications
Pros & Cons
Surface Laptop 8 — Pros
✓Offers a 13.8-inch HDR touchscreen with up to 120Hz dynamic refresh rate
✓Supports newer Snapdragon X2 Plus and Snapdragon X2 Elite processor options
✓Includes Wi-Fi 7 and a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU rated at 80 TOPS
✓Has more port variety than MacBook Air M4, including USB-A and Surface Connect
✓Can be configured with up to 64GB LPDDR5x RAM
✓Runs Windows 11 Home for users who need native Windows software
Surface Laptop 8 — Cons
✕Starts much higher than the MacBook Air M4 launch price
✕Windows on Arm can still be awkward with some older or niche x86 apps
✕Heavier than the 13-inch MacBook Air M4
✕Touchscreen does not support Surface Pen input
✕Base 13.8-inch model starts with 512GB storage, but high RAM and 1TB configs get expensive
MacBook Air M4 — Pros
✓Lower official US launch price than Surface Laptop 8
✓Lighter than the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 8
✓Apple M4 chip includes a 10-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine
✓Starts with 16GB unified memory
✓Offers up to 18 hours of video streaming battery life
✓Has MagSafe 3, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack
MacBook Air M4 — Cons
✕No touchscreen
✕No USB-A port without an adapter
✕Base model starts with 256GB SSD
✕Wi-Fi 6E is behind Surface Laptop 8's Wi-Fi 7
✕macOS is the wrong fit if your work depends on Windows-only apps
Where it shines
✦Work in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams
✦Use the 13.8-inch touchscreen for scrolling, reviewing documents, and quick edits
✦Run Windows apps that are not available or practical on macOS
✦Use Copilot+ PC features on supported configurations with 16GB RAM or higher
✦Connect USB-C, USB-A, headphones, and Surface Connect without a tiny dongle mess
✦Take Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet calls with the 1080p Full HD camera
✦Work across browser tabs, Office files, and cloud apps on Wi-Fi 7 networks
✦Configure up to 64GB RAM when your workload needs more headroom
Where it shines
✦Write essays, reports, and notes in Pages, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or Notion
✦Edit photos in Photos, Pixelmator Pro, Lightroom, or Affinity Photo
✦Cut simple 1080p and short 4K videos in iMovie, Final Cut Pro, or CapCut
✦Use Apple Intelligence for writing help, summaries, and image-related tasks
✦Move between iPhone, iPad, AirPods, iCloud, Messages, FaceTime, and Safari
✦Carry a lighter laptop for school, travel, cafés, and daily commuting
✦Connect up to two external displays over Thunderbolt 4
✦Work silently thanks to the fanless MacBook Air design
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Our Verdict
Surface Laptop 8 is usually the better fit if you want a premium Windows laptop with a touchscreen, Wi-Fi 7, newer Snapdragon X2 processors, and serious RAM headroom. It makes more sense for Microsoft 365-heavy work, Windows-only apps, and people who like direct touch input on a laptop screen. MacBook Air M4 is usually the better fit if you want a lighter, cheaper, quieter laptop for writing, studying, browsing, travel, and Apple-centered workflows. The Surface is the more flexible Windows machine. The Air is the easier everyday Mac. Pick Surface Laptop 8 if Windows and touch matter. Pick MacBook Air M4 if portability, price, and macOS matter more.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Surface Laptop 8 if...
→You need Windows 11 for work, school, or specific apps
→You want a touchscreen laptop
→You prefer Microsoft 365, Teams, OneDrive, and Windows workflows
→You want Wi-Fi 7 and newer Copilot+ PC hardware
→You need more than 32GB RAM
→You want USB-A built in without carrying an adapter
→You're comfortable paying more for a premium Windows laptop
→You don't want to switch into Apple's Mac setup
Choose MacBook Air M4 if...
→You want the lighter laptop
→You already use iPhone, iPad, AirPods, iCloud, or FaceTime
→You prefer macOS for writing, studying, browsing, and creative apps
→You want a lower launch price than Surface Laptop 8
→You don't need a touchscreen
→You want a quiet fanless laptop for everyday work
→You want MagSafe charging and Thunderbolt 4
→You're fine using adapters for USB-A accessories
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Surface Laptop 8 or MacBook Air M4 better for students?
A: MacBook Air M4 is the better pick for most students because it is lighter, cheaper at launch, quiet, and great for notes, essays, browsing, and video calls. Surface Laptop 8 is better if your course requires Windows.
Q: What is the main difference between Surface Laptop 8 and MacBook Air M4?
A: Surface Laptop 8 is a Windows touchscreen laptop with Snapdragon X2 chips, Wi-Fi 7, and up to 64GB RAM. MacBook Air M4 is a lighter macOS laptop with Apple Silicon, better Apple device integration, and no touchscreen.
Q: Which is cheaper?
A: MacBook Air M4 was cheaper at official US launch pricing. Apple listed the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 from $999, while Microsoft lists the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 8 from $1,599.99.
Q: Does Surface Laptop 8 run all Windows apps?
A: It runs Windows 11, but the Snapdragon model uses Windows on Arm. Most everyday apps are fine, but some older, niche, driver-heavy, or specialized x86 apps can still cause problems. Check your required apps first.
Q: Is MacBook Air M4 better for iPhone users?
A: Yes. MacBook Air M4 is the easier pick if you use iPhone daily. Messages, FaceTime, AirDrop, iCloud, AirPods, Safari, Photos, and Apple Intelligence fit together better on a Mac than on a Windows laptop.
Q: Which laptop has the better screen?
A: Surface Laptop 8 has the more interactive screen because it is a 13.8-inch PixelSense touchscreen with up to 120Hz refresh. MacBook Air M4 has the sharper 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display at 224 PPI, but it is limited to 60Hz and has no touch.
Q: Which is better for programming?
A: MacBook Air M4 is better for many web developers, students, and Apple-platform work. Surface Laptop 8 is better if your development stack depends on Windows tools, Microsoft services, or Windows-only software.
Q: Which laptop has better battery life?
A: On official claims, Surface Laptop 8 lists up to 20 hours of local video playback and 16 hours of active web usage. MacBook Air M4 lists up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of wireless web. Real battery life will depend on workload.
Q: Should I buy Surface Laptop 8 instead of MacBook Air M4?
A: Buy Surface Laptop 8 if you need Windows, touch, Wi-Fi 7, USB-A, or more RAM. Buy MacBook Air M4 if you want a lighter laptop, a lower launch price, and the smoother choice for Apple users.
Sources & References
Prices, features and specifications in this comparison were verified from official sources.
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