MacBook Air M4 Early 2025: In-Depth Review

Apple's annual tradition continues with the release of the 2025 MacBook Air 15, showcasing yet another iteration focused primarily on updating the System on a Chip (SoC). This year's model, powered by the new M4 chip, maintains the MacBook Air's reputation as an elegant, portable laptop ideal for office work, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display.

While the MacBook Air 15 isn't designed to excel in PC gaming, its strength lies in its efficiency and portability, making it the perfect companion for everyday productivity tasks. Its lightweight and sleek design ensure you can carry it effortlessly wherever you go, ready to tackle any work that comes your way.

Purchasing Guide

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is now available, starting at $999 for the 13-inch version and $1,199 for the 15-inch model reviewed here. As is customary with Apple, you have the flexibility to customize your device, with upgrades like a 15-inch MacBook Air equipped with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD available for $2,399.

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Design

The MacBook Air has solidified its status as the quintessential laptop, and the 2025 model continues this trend with its unchanged, yet iconic, design. Weighing just 3.3 pounds, this 15-inch laptop is remarkably light, thanks to its thin unibody aluminum chassis, which is less than half an inch thick. This sleek profile not only enhances portability but also contributes to a clean aesthetic, with the speakers cleverly integrated into the hinge.

Unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air features speakers that fire towards the display from the hinge, a design choice that surprisingly delivers robust sound. The fanless M4 configuration allows for this innovative speaker placement, which uses the laptop's lid as a natural amplifier, enhancing audio quality.

The fanless design also lends to a seamless and sophisticated look, with the bottom of the laptop featuring only small rubber feet to prevent scratching. The top of the device retains the beloved keyboard from recent years, offering deep key travel and a reliable TouchID sensor for quick access. The expansive touchpad, known for its superior functionality, remains a standout feature, ensuring smooth and accurate navigation.

On the connectivity front, the MacBook Air includes 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, the absence of additional ports like an SD card slot or another USB-C on the right side is noticeable, reflecting the compromises made for maintaining the laptop's slim profile.

Display

The MacBook Air's display, while not matching the professional-grade capabilities of the MacBook Pro, is nonetheless impressive. The 15.3-inch, 1880p screen offers vibrant colors and decent glare resistance, achieving 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 adequately in brighter environments.

Though it doesn't feature OLED technology, the display's quality is more than sufficient for most users, making it an excellent choice for enjoying media, such as binge-watching your favorite shows with vivid clarity.

Performance

Benchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to the limited compatibility of traditional tests with macOS. The fanless M4 chip in the MacBook Air 15 is not designed to compete with gaming laptops, and this is evident in gaming performance. For instance, in Total War: Warhammer 3, the laptop struggled to reach 18 fps on Ultra settings, improving to 34 fps on medium settings. Similarly, Assassin’s Creed Shadows managed only 10 fps on Ultra and 19 fps on medium settings at 1080p.

However, the MacBook Air excels in its intended role as a productivity machine. With 32GB of RAM, it handles multitasking effortlessly, whether you're managing numerous Safari tabs or working on light Photoshop projects. Its ability to maintain performance on battery power is particularly noteworthy, making it an ideal choice for professionals on the go.

Battery

Apple boasts that the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. In our tests using local video playback in VLC Media Player, the laptop surpassed these claims, lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes. While streaming might slightly reduce this duration, the MacBook Air's battery life is exceptional, supporting multiple work sessions without needing a recharge.

This makes the MacBook Air an excellent choice for travelers, as it can easily outlast most flights. The included compact charger adds to its convenience, allowing you to stay productive without being tethered to a power outlet.