MacBook Air M4 Early 2025: Unveiled

Apple's annual update to the MacBook Air continues with the 2025 model, featuring yet another upgrade to the system on a chip (SoC). The new MacBook Air 15, powered by the M4 chip, remains a sleek and portable device ideal for office work, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it may not excel in running PC games, the MacBook Air is designed for productivity and everyday tasks, perfectly embodying the essence of a reliable, on-the-go laptop.

Purchasing Guide

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is now available, with the 13-inch model starting at $999 and the 15-inch model, which I reviewed, at $1,199. Apple offers various upgrade options, allowing you to customize your laptop to your needs. For example, you can configure a 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for $2,399.

MacBook Air (M4, 2025) – Photos

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Design

The MacBook Air has become synonymous with the concept of a laptop due to its iconic design. The 2025 model maintains this tradition, featuring a slim and lightweight build at just 3.3 pounds, which is remarkable for a 15-inch laptop. The unibody aluminum chassis is less than half an inch thick, contributing to its portability.

The design is not only about thinness; it's also about cleanliness and elegance. The MacBook Air's speakers are cleverly integrated into the hinge, firing towards the display. This innovative approach, combined with the fanless M4 chip, allows the laptop's lid to act as a natural amplifier, enhancing sound quality.

The fanless design also results in a seamless look, with only four rubber feet on the bottom to protect the aluminum. The top features a well-loved keyboard with deep travel and a reliable TouchID sensor for quick access. The expansive touchpad offers excellent palm rejection, ensuring smooth navigation.

However, the port selection is somewhat limited. The left side includes two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector, while the right side has only a headphone jack. While the inclusion of a headphone jack is appreciated, additional ports like an SD card reader or another USB-C port on the right would be beneficial.

Display

Although the MacBook Air's display doesn't match the MacBook Pro's in terms of creative capabilities, it remains impressive. The 15.3-inch, 1880p display covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, making it ideal for everyday use. It achieves a peak brightness of 426 nits, suitable for most indoor environments.

The display's color accuracy and brightness make it perfect for streaming shows and movies, enhancing your viewing experience significantly.

Performance

Benchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to the limited compatibility of standard tests with macOS. The fanless M4 chip in the MacBook Air prioritizes efficiency over raw power, making it less suitable for gaming. Games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows struggle to maintain playable frame rates, even at reduced settings.

However, the MacBook Air excels in productivity tasks. With 32GB of RAM, it handles multitasking effortlessly, including managing numerous open tabs and background music playback. It also manages light Photoshop work, though it may struggle with more intensive tasks like noise filtering in Lightroom.

The MacBook Air's strength lies in its ability to perform everyday tasks smoothly, making it an excellent choice for users who need a reliable and portable productivity tool.

Battery

Apple claims the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. My tests, using local video playback in VLC Media Player, showed it could last 19 hours and 15 minutes, surpassing Apple's claim.

While my usual office-based battery tests are not compatible with macOS, my experience over several 4-5 hour work sessions confirmed the MacBook Air's ability to last multiple days without needing a charge. This makes it an ideal companion for frequent travelers, as few flights exceed its battery life. The included charger is compact, enhancing its portability.