MacBook Air M4 Early 2025: In-Depth Review

Apple continues its tradition of annual updates with the 2025 MacBook Air 15, featuring the latest M4 chip. This sleek laptop remains the go-to choice for professionals needing a reliable machine for office work, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it may not be the best for running PC games, the MacBook Air excels in its primary role as a versatile, portable device designed to efficiently handle everyday tasks.

Purchasing Guide

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is now available, with the 13-inch model starting at $999 and the 15-inch model, which I reviewed, at $1,199. As expected from Apple, you have the flexibility to customize your system. For instance, you can configure 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 due to its iconic design. Despite its similarity to previous models, the 2025 MacBook Air remains exceptionally thin and light at just 3.3 pounds, an impressive feat for a 15-inch device. The ultra-thin unibody aluminum chassis, less than half an inch thick, contributes to its lightweight nature.

Unlike its MacBook Pro counterpart, the MacBook Air's speakers are cleverly hidden in the hinge, directing sound towards the display. This design choice, made possible by the fanless M4 chip, not only maintains the laptop's sleek look but also uses the lid as a natural amplifier for enhanced audio quality.

The fanless design results in a seamless and clean aesthetic, with only four rubber feet on the bottom to prevent scratching. The top features the same excellent keyboard with deep key travel and a reliable TouchID sensor for quick and secure access. The expansive touchpad offers excellent palm rejection, maintaining Apple's reputation for superior touchpad technology.

The port selection, however, is limited. The left side includes two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector, while the right side only has a headphone jack. While it's commendable that Apple includes a headphone jack, the absence of additional ports like an SD card reader or another USB-C port is noticeable.

Display

Although not aimed at creatives like the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air's display is still outstanding. It's bright, vibrant, and offers decent glare resistance. The 15.3-inch, 1880p display covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, making it a versatile choice for various tasks. With a peak brightness of 426 nits, it's well-suited for indoor use and performs adequately in brighter environments.

While it doesn't match the quality of an OLED screen, the MacBook Air's display is more than sufficient for most users, as evidenced by my enjoyable viewing experience during my rewatch of The Clone Wars.

Performance

Benchmarking a MacBook on macOS can be challenging due to limited compatibility with standard tests. However, the fanless M4 chip ensures the MacBook Air excels as a productivity tool rather than a gaming machine. In gaming tests, performance was predictably low, with games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows struggling at 1080p even on medium settings.

Yet, the MacBook Air shines in its intended role. With 32GB of RAM, it effortlessly handled multitasking with numerous Safari tabs and background music playback, all while running on battery power. It also managed light Photoshop work, though more intensive tasks like noise filtering in Lightroom were challenging. The MacBook Air's ability to handle daily work efficiently and last all day on battery is a testament to its prowess as a productivity laptop.

Battery

Apple claims the MacBook Air's battery can last up to 18 hours for video streaming and 15 hours for web browsing. My testing, using local video playback in VLC Media Player, showed it lasting an impressive 19 hours and 15 minutes, surpassing Apple's claim. While streaming might slightly reduce this duration, the MacBook Air easily powered through multiple 4-5 hour work sessions without needing a recharge.

Ideal for frequent travelers, the MacBook Air's long battery life and compact charger make it perfect for staying productive on the go, whether on flights or in coffee shops.