MacBook Air M4 Early 2025: Unveiled

Apple continues its tradition of annual updates with the 2025 MacBook Air 15, featuring yet another iteration of its system on a chip (SoC). The latest MacBook Air remains a stylish and portable powerhouse, ideal for office work, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it may not excel in running PC games, the MacBook Air 15 is designed to be the go-to device for everyday productivity, effortlessly handling tasks on the go.

Purchasing Guide

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. Apple offers various customization options, allowing you to upgrade your system to meet your needs. For example, a 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD can be yours for $2,399.

MacBook Air (M4, 2025) – Photos

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Design

The MacBook Air has become synonymous with the modern laptop, and the 2025 model continues this trend with its sleek and lightweight design. Weighing just 3.3 pounds, the 15-inch MacBook Air is remarkably thin, thanks to its unibody aluminum chassis, which measures less than half an inch thick. This thinness doesn't compromise the laptop's clean and elegant look, with the speakers cleverly integrated into the hinge, allowing the lid to act as a natural amplifier for enhanced sound quality.

The fanless design of the MacBook Air, enabled by the M4 chip, not only contributes to its sleek appearance but also enhances its portability. The bottom of the laptop is nearly seamless, featuring only four small rubber feet to protect the aluminum surface. The top side retains the excellent keyboard from previous models, offering deep key travel and a reliable TouchID sensor for quick and secure access. The spacious touchpad, known for its exceptional quality, continues to set a high standard in laptop design.

While the port selection is somewhat limited, with two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector on the left and a headphone jack on the right, the MacBook Air remains a practical choice for everyday use. Although additional ports like an SD card reader would be welcome, the current configuration aligns with the laptop's slim profile.

Display

Although the MacBook Air doesn't match the creative capabilities of the MacBook Pro, its display is still impressive. The 15.3-inch, 1880p screen offers vibrant colors and good brightness, achieving 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB. While it may not reach the peak brightness of 500 nits advertised, it still performs well in various lighting conditions, making it ideal for indoor use and suitable for casual entertainment.

Performance

Benchmarking the MacBook Air can be challenging due to the incompatibility of many standard tests with macOS. However, the fanless M4 chip ensures efficient performance for productivity tasks. While the MacBook Air may struggle with gaming, even at reduced settings, it excels in multitasking and everyday work. With 32GB of RAM, it handles multiple Safari tabs and background music effortlessly, even on battery power. Light Photoshop work is manageable, though more demanding tasks like noise filtering in Lightroom may push its limits.

Battery

Apple claims the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. In our tests, the laptop exceeded expectations, lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes during local video playback. Though streaming might slightly reduce this duration, the MacBook Air's battery life is exceptional, making it perfect for travelers and those needing a reliable device for extended work sessions without frequent charging.