MacBook Air M4 Early 2025: Unveiled and Reviewed

Apple's annual tradition of refreshing the MacBook Air continues into 2025, with the latest model featuring the new M4 chip. This iteration of the MacBook Air 15 maintains its reputation as a sleek and efficient laptop, perfect for office tasks, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display.

While it may not be the go-to choice for PC gaming enthusiasts, the MacBook Air excels in its primary role: as a dependable companion for everyday productivity. Its lightweight design and robust performance make it the ideal device for users on the go, ensuring you can get things done efficiently, wherever you are.

Purchasing Guide

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is available for purchase, with the 13-inch model starting at $999 and the 15-inch model, which I reviewed, at $1,199. Apple offers customization options for those looking to enhance their system, 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 has become synonymous with the concept of a laptop for many users, and it's easy to see why. Despite its design remaining largely unchanged from previous models, the MacBook Air's slim profile and lightweight build, at just 3.3 pounds, continue to impress, especially for a 15-inch device.

The thin unibody aluminum chassis, less than half an inch thick, contributes to its low weight and sleek aesthetic. The MacBook Air's design is not just about being thin; it's also about maintaining a clean look, with even the speakers cleverly concealed within the hinge, facing the display. This innovative placement not only saves space but also enhances sound quality, using the laptop's lid as a natural amplifier.

The fanless M4 configuration further enhances the MacBook Air's clean design, eliminating the need for ventilation holes and resulting in a seamless, elegant appearance. The only visible elements on the bottom are the four rubber feet, designed to protect the aluminum surface from scratches.

The MacBook Air retains its exceptional keyboard, offering deep key travel and reliable TouchID functionality for quick and secure access. The spacious touchpad, extending between the 'Command' keys, delivers excellent palm rejection, ensuring smooth navigation even during extended use.

While the MacBook Air excels in many areas, its port selection is more limited, featuring two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector on the left, and a headphone jack on the right. Although the inclusion of a headphone jack is appreciated, the absence of an SD card reader or an additional USB-C port on the right side is noticeable.

Display

The MacBook Air's display, while not as advanced as the MacBook Pro's, remains a standout feature. It offers vibrant colors and good brightness, covering 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, which is impressive for a versatile laptop. With a peak brightness of 426 nits, it performs well in indoor settings and is adequate in brighter environments.

Although it doesn't match the quality of an OLED display, the MacBook Air's screen is more than sufficient for most users, delivering an enjoyable viewing experience, whether you're working or watching shows like The Clone Wars.

Performance

Benchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to the limited compatibility of common tests with macOS. However, the fanless M4 chip in the MacBook Air is not designed for high-end gaming. In games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, performance is limited, with frame rates struggling at 1080p settings.

Despite its gaming limitations, the MacBook Air shines as a productivity tool. It effortlessly handles multitasking, with 32GB of RAM ensuring smooth operation even when managing numerous Safari tabs and running background applications like Apple Music. The laptop also manages light Photoshop tasks well, though it may struggle with more intensive operations like noise filtering in Lightroom.

The MacBook Air's ability to handle daily tasks without breaking a sweat, combined with its all-day battery life, makes it a top choice for users seeking a reliable and portable work machine.

Battery

Apple claims the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. My testing, using local video playback in VLC Media Player, exceeded these claims, with the laptop lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes. While streaming video might slightly reduce battery life, the MacBook Air's endurance is impressive, allowing for multiple days of use on a single charge during typical work sessions.

This exceptional battery life makes the MacBook Air an ideal choice for frequent travelers, offering the freedom to work without constantly seeking a power outlet. The compact charger included in the box further enhances its portability, making it a perfect companion for those on the move.