Lenovo Slim7i vs Apple MacBook Air M4: Comparison
Hey there! Today I'm comparing two of the best ultraportable laptops you can buy right now: the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition and the Apple MacBook Air M4. Both are thin, light, and powerful enough for everyday tasks - but they represent completely different philosophies on how a laptop should work.
I've been switching between both machines for the past five weeks, using them for writing, video calls, light photo editing, and plenty of web browsing. In this detailed head-to-head, I'll break down which one actually delivers better value and helps you figure out if you should go Windows or Mac. Let's jump in!
Lenovo Slim 7i vs MacBook Air M4: Quick Overview
Here's the bottom line: The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition and MacBook Air M4 both deliver excellent ultraportable performance with similar pricing. The Lenovo brings a stunning 14" OLED touchscreen, better port selection with full-size HDMI and USB-A, Wi-Fi 7, and impressive battery life with Intel's Lunar Lake chip. The MacBook counters with Apple's blazingly fast M4 processor, industry-leading battery life, macOS ecosystem integration, superior build quality, and better resale value.
For most people, I'd recommend the MacBook Air M4. Its combination of performance, efficiency, and seamless ecosystem makes it hard to beat if you're already using an iPhone or iPad. However, grab the Lenovo Slim 7i if you need Windows software compatibility, want that gorgeous OLED touchscreen, prefer more versatile ports, or simply want to save a few hundred dollars with similar real-world performance.
Table of Contents:
- Lenovo Slim 7i vs MacBook Air M4: Full Comparison
- MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Slim 7i: Design
- Lenovo Slim 7i or MacBook Air M4: Owner Reviews
- Lenovo Slim 7i and MacBook Air M4 Alternatives
Lenovo Slim 7i vs MacBook Air M4: Full Comparison
| Specification | Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition | MacBook Air M4 |
| Image | ||
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake) | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5X (soldered) | 16GB unified memory (soldered) |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD | 256GB/512GB SSD |
| Display | 14" WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED touchscreen, 60Hz, 600 nits | 13.6" Liquid Retina (2560x1664) IPS LCD, 60Hz, 500 nits |
| GPU | Intel Arc integrated (8-core) | Apple M4 GPU (8 or 10-core) |
| Battery | 70Wh (18+ hours claimed) | 54.4Wh (18 hours claimed) |
| Charging | 65W USB-C charger included | 30W or 35W USB-C (MagSafe 3) |
| Webcam | 1080p with IR | 12MP Center Stage with Desk View |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, microSD, 3.5mm | 2x Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (BE 320MHz) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Weight | 2.75 lbs (1.25 kg) | 2.7 lbs (1.24 kg) |
| Thickness | 0.55" (13.9mm) | 0.45" (11.3mm) |
| OS | Windows 11 (with Copilot+ AI) | macOS Sequoia |
| Price | $1,099 | $999 (base) |
Performance tells an interesting story here. The MacBook Air M4 absolutely crushes the Lenovo in raw processing benchmarks - Apple's silicon is just in a different league right now. During my testing, video exports in Final Cut Pro were noticeably faster than equivalent tasks in DaVinci Resolve on the Lenovo. But here's the thing: for everyday tasks like web browsing, email, document editing, and video calls, both felt equally snappy. Unless you're doing serious creative work, you probably won't notice the performance gap.
The Lenovo's Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (codenamed Lunar Lake) is Intel's efficiency-focused answer to Apple Silicon. It won't win benchmark wars, but it sips power and stays remarkably cool and quiet. I appreciated how the Lenovo never spun up its fans during normal use - it's genuinely silent for typical tasks. The integrated Arc graphics also handled light gaming surprisingly well, running older titles and indie games smoothly.
Display quality reveals the Lenovo's biggest advantage. That 14" OLED panel is genuinely gorgeous with inky blacks, vibrant colors, and HDR 500 True Black certification. Watching HDR content on Netflix looked stunning with perfect blacks and eye-popping contrast. The MacBook's IPS LCD can't compete here - it's a good display with excellent color accuracy, but those LCD blacks just look gray compared to OLED. The glossy coating on both reflects light, though the MacBook's slightly higher brightness helps in direct sunlight.
The Lenovo's touchscreen is something you either care about or don't. I found myself using it constantly for quick scrolls and taps, especially when browsing. Windows 11 handles touch input well, and having that option feels freeing. The MacBook obviously doesn't do touch - Apple insists the trackpad is enough, and honestly, their trackpad is phenomenal. But after using the Lenovo's touchscreen, I kept instinctively reaching for the MacBook's display.
Battery life is where the MacBook flex es its muscles. Apple claims 18 hours and I consistently got 14-16 hours of real-world use with web browsing, documents, and video streaming. The Lenovo's 70Wh battery is physically larger, and Lenovo claims similar runtime, but I averaged 12-14 hours with mixed use. Both easily last a full workday, but the MacBook's efficiency advantage is real. The smaller MacBook battery delivers equal or better endurance through superior power management.
Port selection strongly favors the Lenovo. You get two Thunderbolt 4 ports plus full-size USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and a microSD card reader - basically everything you need without dongles. The MacBook forces you into dongle life with just two Thunderbolt ports and MagSafe charging. I constantly needed adapters for HDMI presentations or USB drives with the MacBook, while the Lenovo just worked with everything.
Webcam quality surprisingly goes to the MacBook. Apple's new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View is legitimately impressive, adjusting to keep you centered and handling mixed lighting beautifully. The Lenovo's 1080p camera is perfectly fine for Zoom calls but noticeably softer and more prone to blown-out highlights. If you're on video calls all day, the MacBook's camera advantage matters.
Software ecosystem is where personal preference dominates. If you're already using an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, the MacBook integrates seamlessly with features like Universal Clipboard, AirDrop, and Handoff. Messages and FaceTime on your laptop feel natural. The Lenovo runs Windows 11 with all the compatibility that entails - any Windows software, any peripheral, any weird enterprise tool your work requires. The Lenovo also gets Windows' AI features through Copilot+, though honestly neither platform's AI tools feel essential yet.
MacBook Air M4 vs Lenovo Slim 7i: Design & Build
Both laptops embrace premium minimalism while revealing their different design philosophies.
Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition Design:
MacBook Air M4 Design:
The MacBook Air M4 is a masterclass in industrial design. The wedge-shaped unibody aluminum chassis feels hewn from a single piece of metal - no flex, no creaks, just solid. At 0.45" thick and 2.7 lbs, it's remarkably thin and light. The Midnight color looks sophisticated (though it's a fingerprint magnet), while the new Sky Blue offers a fresh alternative. Build quality is unimpeachable - this laptop will still feel solid five years from now.
The Lenovo Slim 7i counters with its own aluminum unibody in Luna Grey. At 0.55" thick and 2.75 lbs, it's marginally thicker and heavier but still impressively slim. The matte aluminum finish resists fingerprints better than the MacBook's. Build quality feels very good though not quite matching Apple's legendary rigidity. There's the tiniest bit of keyboard deck flex if you really press, but nothing concerning for daily use.
Keyboard and trackpad experiences differ notably. The MacBook's Magic Keyboard remains the gold standard with perfect key travel, tactile feedback, and a satisfying typing experience. The large Force Touch trackpad is unmatched - smooth, precise, and responsive with excellent palm rejection. The Lenovo's keyboard is also excellent with good travel and comfortable spacing, though key feedback feels slightly mushier. The trackpad is smooth and responsive but smaller and slightly less precise than Apple's.
Lenovo Slim 7i or MacBook Air M4: Owner Reviews
Let's see what actual buyers are saying about living with these ultraportables:
Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition Owner Reviews:
Praises: "That OLED screen is absolutely stunning. Coming from an IPS laptop, the difference in contrast and colors is jaw-dropping. Blacks are truly black and HDR content looks incredible."
"Love having all the ports I actually need without carrying a dongle bag. HDMI for presentations, USB-A for my peripherals, and the SD card reader is clutch for my photography workflow."
***
Drawbacks: "The display reflections are pretty bad in bright environments. That glossy OLED looks amazing in controlled lighting but becomes frustrating in bright offices or near windows."
"Battery life is good but not amazing like reviewers claimed. I get about 8-10 hours with normal use, nowhere near the 15+ hours they advertised. Still acceptable but overpromised."
MacBook Air M4 Owner Reviews:
Praises: "This thing is ridiculously fast and stays silent all day. I can have 20 browser tabs open, Spotify playing, and be editing photos and it never stutters or heats up. The efficiency is unreal."
"The ecosystem integration is what makes this worth it for me. Copy something on my iPhone and paste it on my Mac, AirDrop files instantly, answer texts from my laptop - it all just works seamlessly."
***
Drawbacks: "Only two USB-C ports is frustrating. I'm constantly plugging and unplugging things or carrying a hub. For the price, Apple should include more ports."
"The base 256GB storage fills up way too fast. Should've spent the extra $200 for 512GB but Apple's upgrade prices are ridiculous. Be warned - you'll probably need more storage."
Lenovo Slim 7i and MacBook Air M4 Alternatives
If neither laptop quite fits your needs, here are two strong alternatives worth considering:
- ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: A Windows alternative with 14" 2.8K OLED touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, excellent port selection, and competitive $899 pricing for similar features to the Lenovo.
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: A Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite-powered alternative with 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen, impressive battery life, premium build quality, and Windows on ARM for Mac-like efficiency.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED offers similar specs to the Lenovo but at a lower price point. You get that gorgeous OLED display, solid performance from Intel chips, and good build quality. The main trade-offs are slightly shorter battery life and less premium feel compared to the Lenovo. But if saving $200 matters, it delivers most of what makes the Lenovo appealing.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 targets folks wanting MacBook-like efficiency in Windows. The Snapdragon X Elite chip delivers impressive battery life and runs cool and quiet like the M4. The touchscreen is excellent, build quality feels premium, and it integrates nicely with Windows features. Just be aware that some Windows apps still have ARM compatibility issues, similar to early M1 Mac struggles.
Should You Buy the Lenovo Slim 7i or MacBook Air M4?
After five weeks of daily use with both the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition and MacBook Air M4, both prove you can get flagship ultraportable performance without spending $2000.
Choose the MacBook Air M4 if you value ecosystem integration and long-term value. The M4's performance and efficiency are genuinely impressive, battery life is class-leading, and macOS offers stability with minimal maintenance. If you're already using an iPhone or iPad, the seamless integration is worth the price of admission. The MacBook also holds its resale value remarkably well - a three-year-old MacBook still commands 50-60% of original price.
Choose the Lenovo Slim 7i if you need Windows compatibility and want more versatility. That OLED touchscreen is genuinely better for media consumption, the port selection eliminates dongle hassles, and the larger base storage (1TB vs 256GB) provides more breathing room. It's also easier to justify if you need specific Windows software or prefer the flexibility of the Windows ecosystem.
For most people, the MacBook Air M4 is the smarter long-term investment. It costs the same or less, delivers better real-world battery life, stays silent and cool, and will remain fast and supported for years. But the Lenovo isn't a compromise - it's a genuinely excellent Windows ultraportable with real advantages in display quality and connectivity. Your choice ultimately depends on whether you value ecosystem lock-in or platform flexibility more.