Sell MacBook Air M4: Still Worth It in 2026?
By The SellMacBooks Team | Published 8 July 2026 | Updated 25 August 2026
Selling a MacBook Air M4 in 2026 is still a strong move if you are switching machines. The M5 is now the current Air, so the M4 sits one generation behind: around £720 for a 13-inch and £820+ for a 15-inch in good condition. That is still close to its launch-window peak, and better than waiting for the next step-down.
Why people sell a one-generation-old Air
The M4 Airs we buy do not come from people who regret buying them. They come from people whose situation changed: a switch to a MacBook Pro, a move to a desk mini, a work-issued laptop, or needing the cash. In every case the same logic applies: a decided sale should happen while demand is still deep.
There's a common instinct to wait because the laptop still feels new. Used Mac value only goes one way, and it moves fastest at generation boundaries. The M4's biggest step already landed with the M5; from here the slope is gentler, but waiting still costs money.
What an M4 Air is worth by spec
Indicative UK buyback values, August 2026, good working condition:
| Model | Base spec | Upgraded spec |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13" M4 | ~£720 | ~£820 (24GB/512GB) |
| MacBook Air 15" M4 | ~£820 | ~£920 (24GB/512GB) |
Want current-generation figures instead? See Sell MacBook Air M5.
RAM is the lever to watch. With 16GB as a common floor, 24GB and 32GB configurations stand out and quote £60-£120 higher. Storage above 256GB adds steadily. Colour makes no difference to the price, though Midnight machines showing fingerprint wear can grade slightly lower.
Faulty M4 Airs hold value unusually well: around £330 for a cracked-screen 13-inch, because nearly-new displays and boards are what repairers pay for. Describe the fault honestly for an instant quote.
The window after the M5 launch
Air values fall in steps at Apple launch events. The M4 is no longer current, but it is still the sweet one-behind slot buyers trust. Selling now usually returns more than selling after the following Air refresh.
The practical sequence: get a fixed quote (locked for 14 days), keep using the machine until your replacement arrives, then wipe it properly and post it with the free insured label.
If yours is an older or newer Air
The M5 is the current peak. The M3 is two generations back, the M2 still trades well, and the M1 remains Britain's most-bought used Air. Our MacBook Air value guide prices every generation side by side.
How to get the top quote for your M4 Air
Three things lift an M4 Air quote. First, know your spec exactly, especially memory. Second, describe condition honestly. Third, sell to a specialist rather than a marketplace: eBay fees and Apple store credit both shrink the net. A fixed buyback quote is the whole number, paid by bank transfer within 24 hours of inspection. See our trade-in comparison and best place to sell.
The bottom line
One generation behind is often the smartest sell window: buyers still want the machine, and you avoid the next launch cliff. Two minutes on the quote form settles the number: fixed, locked for 14 days, paid within 24 hours of inspection.
Good to know
Quick answers
Everything sellers ask us before posting their Mac - answered straight.
How much is a MacBook Air M4 worth in the UK in 2026?
Indicatively around £720 for a 13-inch in good condition and £820+ for the 15-inch, with 24GB and 32GB RAM configurations quoting higher. Faulty M4 Airs typically fetch 45-50% of working value because parts stay in demand.
Is the M4 still worth selling now the M5 Air is out?
Yes if you are changing machines. The M4 is one generation behind, not obsolete. Its steepest drop already happened when the M5 landed; selling now still beats waiting for another refresh.
Does the 15-inch MacBook Air M4 hold value better than the 13-inch?
They depreciate at similar rates, but the 15-inch starts roughly £100 higher and sells slightly faster on the used market. Big-screen budget Macs stay in steady demand.