MacBook Air M4 (Early 2025) Reviewed

Apple's annual refresh of the MacBook Air continues with the 2025 model, featuring the latest M4 system on a chip (SoC). This iteration, the MacBook Air 15, retains its reputation as a sleek, portable workhorse designed for office tasks, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it may not be the go-to choice for PC gaming, the MacBook Air excels in its primary role—enabling productivity on the go.

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is now available, starting at $999 for the 13-inch model and $1,199 for the 15-inch model reviewed here. As with all Apple products, customization options are plentiful, allowing you to upgrade to a 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for $2,399.

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Design

The MacBook Air epitomizes the modern laptop, remaining thin and light at just 3.3 pounds for the 15-inch model. Its unibody aluminum chassis, less than half an inch thick, contributes to its featherweight status. This sleek design has become a hallmark of the MacBook Air, offering a refreshing change from bulkier alternatives like gaming laptops.

The design is not just about thinness; it's remarkably clean. The speakers, ingeniously placed behind the hinge, fire towards the display. This configuration, combined with the fanless M4 chip, allows the laptop's lid to act as a natural amplifier, enhancing audio output. The fanless design also ensures a smooth, uninterrupted aesthetic, with only four small rubber feet on the bottom to prevent scratching.

The keyboard remains a highlight, featuring deep key travel and reliable TouchID integration for swift, secure access. The expansive touchpad offers excellent palm rejection, maintaining Apple's reputation for top-tier touchpad experiences.

Port selection remains minimal, with two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector on the left, and a headphone jack on the right. While the inclusion of a headphone jack is appreciated, additional ports like an SD card reader would be a welcome addition.

Display

The MacBook Air's display, while not matching the MacBook Pro's prowess, is a standout in its class. The 15.3-inch, 1880p screen delivers vibrant colors, hitting 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB. With a peak brightness of 426 nits, it's well-suited for indoor use and holds up admirably in brighter environments. Although it doesn't feature OLED technology, the display's performance is more than sufficient for everyday use and entertainment.

Performance

Benchmarking the MacBook Air on macOS presents challenges, as many standard tests are incompatible. However, the fanless M4 chip ensures it's optimized for productivity rather than gaming. In games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, performance is modest, but the MacBook Air shines in its intended role—handling office work and multitasking with ease.

With 32GB of RAM, the reviewed model effortlessly managed heavy multitasking, including dozens of open tabs and background music, even on battery power. Light Photoshop tasks were handled well, though more intensive operations like noise filtering in Lightroom pushed its limits. For daily productivity, the MacBook Air's performance and endurance are exceptional.

Battery

Apple claims the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours for video streaming and 15 hours for web browsing. Testing with local video playback, the laptop surpassed expectations, lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes. While streaming might slightly reduce this duration, the MacBook Air's battery life is robust, making it ideal for travel and extended work sessions without the need for frequent charging.