Getting the MacBook Air M4

I recently picked up a MacBook Air M4. After a few days of use, I’m quite happy with it, so here are some quick notes on my experience.

Why I Bought It

I already have a Mac mini as my non-work machine, but I was missing a truly portable laptop. I don’t plan to use it as my primary device — more as a “just in case” backup. With that goal and budget in mind, I decided on a MacBook.

Purchase

For 3C purchases in China, JD is the default choice.

This time I used the national subsidy plus the education discount to get a 13-inch MacBook Air M4 with 16 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD for 5799 CNY (down from 7999 CNY).

Accessories

I already have plenty of accessories, so I’m mostly reusing what I own. The only new addition so far:

1. Tempered glass screen protector (recommended)

Initial Impressions

Compared with the Mac mini, the MBA isn’t exactly the “value king” in my view, and its pros and cons are quite clear.

Pros

1. Sensible base configuration. M4 + 16 GB RAM is plenty for everyday use.
2. The new sky-blue color really does look nice.
3. Compared with the Pro, being lighter is never a bad thing — it’s genuinely appealing.

Cons

1. Only two Thunderbolt ports, both on the left side, which means no charging from the right — inconvenient.
2. Storage is small at 256 GB. That’s on me for budget reasons, haha — but it’s actually fine for my use.
3. The included 30 W charger is underwhelming; I prefer using Anker or ThinkPlus chargers day-to-day.

Final Thoughts

Overall, getting an M4 MacBook Air for under 6,000 CNY is great value. It meets my needs for mobile work and light development.