MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) Review

Apple consistently refreshes its MacBook Air lineup annually, and 2025 is no exception. The newly released MacBook Air 15 retains its sleek design while offering impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it may not excel in gaming, it excels as a portable powerhouse for everyday tasks.

Purchasing Guide

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is currently available, priced at $999 for the 13-inch model and $1,199 for the 15-inch variant I reviewed. Apple offers customization options, allowing users to upgrade components like RAM and storage for additional costs. For example, a fully specced 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD costs $2,399.

MacBook Air (M4, 2025) – Photos

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Design

The MacBook Air has become synonymous with modern laptop design. Its ultra-thin and lightweight form factor makes it highly portable, weighing just 3.3 pounds—a rarity for a 15-inch device. The unibody aluminum chassis is less than half an inch thick, contributing to its sleek profile. Unlike bulkier gaming laptops, the MacBook Air’s minimalist aesthetic hides its speakers within the hinge, directing sound toward the display. Surprisingly, this unconventional approach works well, leveraging the lid as a natural amplifier.

The fanless design ensures a pristine aesthetic, eliminating the need for ventilation grilles. The bottom panel features only four small rubber feet, protecting the surface from scratches. The keyboard remains unchanged, boasting deep key travel despite the slim build. The TouchID sensor in the top-right corner is both quick and reliable.

The touchpad is expansive, spanning the width between the Command keys, with excellent palm rejection. Apple continues to dominate the touchpad market, maintaining its reputation for excellence.

Port selection, however, is sparse. The left side includes two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector, while the right side houses only a headphone jack. While retaining the headphone jack is appreciated, adding an SD card reader or additional USB-C port would enhance versatility.

Display

Although the MacBook Air isn’t designed for professional creatives, its display is still noteworthy. It boasts vibrant colors, impressive brightness (up to 426 nits), and decent glare resistance. Testing revealed it covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, making it suitable for general use. While not媲美OLED displays, it easily meets expectations for a multi-purpose laptop.

Performance

Benchmarking MacBooks presents challenges due to software limitations. Running fanless, the M4 chip handles productivity tasks admirably but struggles with demanding games. In Total War: Warhammer 3, it managed 18 fps at Ultra settings, improving to 34 fps on Medium. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey fared worse, averaging 10 fps at Ultra and 19 fps on Medium.

Despite these limitations, the MacBook Air shines as a productivity tool. It effortlessly handles multitasking, including dozens of Safari tabs and background music. The 32GB RAM configuration ensured smooth performance even during intensive workflows.

Battery Life

Apple claims up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. During my test, the MacBook Air lasted 19 hours and 15 minutes on local video playback, surpassing Apple’s estimate. Real-world usage confirmed its longevity, allowing multi-day operation without recharging.

The MacBook Air remains a top choice for travelers and professionals seeking a portable, efficient companion.