Is it normal for MacBook Air M4 to heat up easily?

Well, it depends on what "basic usage" is for you. But I would say that what you experience is probably not normal.

Heat usually comes from CPU usage. If you just transferred all your stuff from your old machine or did a system update, then there may be a day or so where the system expends a lot of CPU updating things like spotlight. You can see what is going on CPU-wise via Activity Monitor (in the Utilities folder). Sort by CPU or energy to see which, if any, processes are heating things up.

You can also look for software conflicts and other problems which may be responsible via EtreCheck. You can post its report here. Someone might spot something.

Note that MBAs do not have cooling fans.

All internal heat must be “rejected” by the case itself.

Therefore an MBA — when working normally — may indeed feel significantly warmer than many fan-cooled laptops.

That said, it IS important to use it on a hard, smooth surface which DOES allow air circulation.

Are you running Apple’s onboard AI on your new M4 which you maybe weren’t on your M1?

I’m “spent” 🤷🏼

Sorry.