If you’re wondering if the Apple M4 MacBook Air is the right laptop for you in 2025, let’s cut straight to it: it’s a powerhouse for most people, especially if you prioritize portability, a quiet experience, and incredible battery life with seriously capable performance. This year, Apple has really sweetened the deal, making the already fantastic MacBook Air even more compelling. We’re talking about a significant upgrade under the hood with the M4 chip, a welcome price adjustment, and some neat feature bumps that solidify its spot as one of the best laptops you can buy. Whether you’re a student, a creative, or just need a reliable machine for daily tasks, the M4 MacBook Air delivers an almost perfect blend of power, efficiency, and elegant design, making it Apple’s best-value laptop right now.
The M4 Chip: A Silent Powerhouse
Let’s be honest, the biggest star of this year’s MacBook Air is definitely the M4 chip. It’s not just a small refresh. this is a serious leap, especially for a fanless laptop. When Apple announced the M4 in March 2025, everyone knew it was going to be fast, but seeing it in the Air model really shows what this chip can do.
Compared to the older M1, the M4 MacBook Air can be up to 2x faster in overall performance. If you’re still clinging to an Intel-based MacBook Air, prepare to be absolutely floored – the M4 is up to 23x faster! That’s a huge difference you’ll feel in every single task you throw at it.
Now, if you’re rocking an M3 MacBook Air, the jump might feel a bit more incremental, but it’s still very much there. In benchmarks, we’re seeing multicore performance roughly 20-23% faster than the M3. What does that mean in real life? Everything from juggling multiple apps, editing photos, or even light video work feels smoother and snappier. This machine flies, and it does so without making a peep.
The M4 chip features a robust 10-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores and an up to 10-core GPU. This means better graphics performance, which is great for gaming or more demanding creative tasks. Seriously, playing games like Civilization VII on this thing is a surprisingly fluid experience.
AI on Your Laptop: The Neural Engine Upgrade
One area where the M4 really shines is with its 16-core Neural Engine. This is Apple’s dedicated hardware for Artificial Intelligence and machine learning tasks, and it’s up to 3x faster than the M1’s Neural Engine. Ubotie colorful gradient rainbow colored retro typewriter keyboard review
What this means for you is that tasks relying on AI, like automatically enhancing photos, removing background noise from videos, or even some of the new Apple Intelligence features in macOS Sequoia, are incredibly fast and efficient. You’ll notice your apps feeling smarter and more responsive when handling these kinds of workloads. It’s like having a little supercomputer for AI right there on your desk, or your lap, completely silently. If you’re into any kind of creative work, you’ll appreciate the speed boost when using apps like Adobe Lightroom or Final Cut Pro, especially when dealing with intelligent features. Check out some great productivity software options to pair with your new MacBook.
Fanless Design: Silent Operation
One of the defining characteristics of the MacBook Air line has always been its fanless design, and the M4 continues this tradition. This means your laptop stays completely silent, no matter what you’re doing.
While the M4 MacBook Pro might pull ahead in sustained heavy workloads thanks to its active cooling system, for the vast majority of everyday tasks and even many demanding burst-performance applications, the M4 MacBook Air is neck and neck. If you’re not constantly rendering 4K video for hours on end, you likely won’t even notice the difference, but you’ll certainly appreciate the peace and quiet. This makes it an ideal choice for quiet workspaces, libraries, or just enjoying your media without any distracting fan noise.
Design and Display: Refined and Radiant
The MacBook Air’s design has been a winner for years, and Apple hasn’t messed with a good thing. The M4 models retain that incredibly thin and light aluminum unibody enclosure, which is less than half an inch thick. It feels premium and sturdy, a perfect companion for life on the go. Satechi dual dock stand review
This year, there’s a fresh color option: Sky Blue. It’s a subtle, metallic light blue that joins Midnight, Starlight, and Silver, replacing the older Space Gray. Many reviewers have noted it’s more muted than it appears in photos, leaning closer to silver in certain lighting, but it offers a nice alternative if you’re bored of the classics. Personally, I think the Midnight still looks stunning, but those fingerprints can be a bit noticeable.
The Liquid Retina Display
Both the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air models boast Apple’s beautiful Liquid Retina display.
- The 13.6-inch model has a 2560×1664 native resolution.
- The 15.3-inch model steps it up to 2880×1864.
Both screens offer 500 nits of sustained brightness, support one billion colors, and feature P3 wide color gamut and True Tone technology. In plain terms, your photos and videos will pop with vibrant colors and sharp detail, and text looks incredibly crisp. It’s a fantastic display for everything from streaming your favorite shows to detailed content creation.
Yes, there’s still the notch at the top for the camera, but honestly, you get used to it pretty quickly, and most apps don’t wrap around it in a distracting way. One thing to note is that the refresh rate remains at 60Hz, unlike the ProMotion displays on the MacBook Pro. For everyday use, this isn’t an issue, but if you’re coming from a high-refresh-rate monitor, it’s something to be aware of. Still, for its price point, it’s a best-in-class display.
Battery Life: Power Through Your Day and More
If there’s one thing Apple Silicon Macs are known for, it’s their phenomenal battery life, and the M4 MacBook Air is no exception. Apple claims up to 18 hours of video playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing. In real-world testing, many users report similar, if not slightly better, results. One Reddit user even mentioned getting 2 to 3 days of light use web browsing, Google Meet, Canva, Netflix on a single charge! Even with heavier usage, getting through a full workday or two without needing a charger is a common experience. The Frosteam All-in-One Facial Spa: Is This the At-Home Skincare Game Changer You’ve Been Waiting For?
This extended battery life gives you immense freedom to work, study, or enjoy entertainment without constantly hunting for a power outlet. It’s also fast-charge capable with a 70W USB-C power adapter, letting you get up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes. This kind of endurance is a massive advantage over many Windows laptops and makes the MacBook Air an ideal choice for anyone constantly on the move. Don’t forget a good USB-C power adapter for fast charging on the go.
Camera, Audio, and Connectivity: Enhanced Experience
Apple has also brought some welcome upgrades to the multimedia and connectivity features.
Improved Camera and Audio
The M4 MacBook Air now features an upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera. If you do a lot of video calls, this is a big deal. Center Stage automatically keeps you in the center of the frame as you move around, and it can even zoom out to include others if they join your call. This makes video calls much more natural and engaging.
There’s also Desk View support, which gives you a second top-down view of what’s in front of your laptop – handy for demonstrations, though some reviewers found it a bit awkward or low-res. Still, it’s a neat trick to have. Thermomaven mason jar vacuum sealer kit review
For audio, both models feature a three-mic array and a four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. The 15-inch model, with its larger chassis, might offer a slightly fuller sound due to two extra speakers, but both are impressive for such thin devices, delivering clear and natural audio with a good amount of bass.
Ports and Wireless Connectivity
Connectivity gets a nice bump too. You’ll find two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a dedicated MagSafe charging port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Thunderbolt 4 ports are versatile, allowing for fast data transfer and connecting to external displays.
Here’s a significant upgrade: the M4 MacBook Air now supports up to two external 6K displays in addition to the built-in display. This is a huge win for productivity, especially if you like to spread your work across multiple screens. Previously, M3 Air models only supported two external displays if the laptop lid was closed, so this is a genuine step up. If you’re a multi-monitor user, this feature alone could make the M4 Air worth it. You might want to grab a Thunderbolt 4 dock to expand your connectivity options even further.
For wireless, you get Wi-Fi 6E for faster and more reliable internet connections, and Bluetooth 5.3 for connecting your accessories. One small note is that it doesn’t have Wi-Fi 7, which some newer Windows laptops might include, but Wi-Fi 6E is still excellent for most users. Crock pot electric lunch box review
Pricing and Value: A Better Deal Than Ever
Perhaps one of the most surprising and welcome changes with the M4 MacBook Air is its pricing. Apple reduced the starting price by $100 compared to the previous M3 models, and it now comes with a minimum of 16GB of unified memory.
- The 13-inch M4 MacBook Air starts at $999.
- The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air starts at $1199.
This makes the M4 MacBook Air an incredible value, especially when you consider the raw power of the M4 chip and the generous 16GB of RAM in the base model. Many reviewers are calling it Apple’s “best value” laptop, and it’s hard to argue with that. For students, there’s even an education discount, bringing the 13-inch model down to $899.
While upgrading memory or storage can still get pricey e.g., $200 for 24GB RAM, $400 for 32GB. $200 for 512GB SSD, the base configuration is more than enough for most people. If you’re eyeing a premium notebook, the M4 MacBook Air punches well above its weight class in terms of features and performance for the cost.
Who Is the M4 MacBook Air For?
The M4 MacBook Air is truly designed to be the ultimate everyday laptop for a huge range of users.
- Students: With its incredible battery life, lightweight design, and capable performance, it’s perfect for lugging to classes, typing up essays, and handling research. The 13-inch model is often recommended as the best laptop for students.
- Professionals: Whether you’re in an office or working remotely, the silent operation, robust multitasking capabilities, and excellent webcam make it ideal for productivity, video conferences, and managing documents.
- Creatives Light to Moderate: If you’re dabbling in photo editing, graphic design, or even lighter video editing, the M4 chip delivers impressive speed. The gorgeous Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color is fantastic for accurate visual work. For heavy-duty 3D rendering or prolonged 8K video editing, a MacBook Pro might be a better fit due to active cooling, but the Air handles a lot more than you might expect.
- General Users: For web browsing, email, streaming, social media, and managing your digital life, the M4 MacBook Air is frankly overkill, but in the best possible way. It means you’ll have a lightning-fast, future-proof machine that will feel responsive for years to come.
- Anyone Upgrading from Older Macs or Windows Laptops: If you’re coming from an Intel Mac or an M1 MacBook Air, this will feel like a truly transformative upgrade in speed and efficiency. Even M2 users might see benefits, particularly with the camera and external display support, although the performance jump is less dramatic.
M4 MacBook Air vs. M4 MacBook Pro
This is a common question, and it’s easy to get confused. Here’s a quick rundown: Aquasonic icon review
- Performance: For most tasks, especially burst performance, the M4 MacBook Air is incredibly close to the M4 MacBook Pro. The Pro generally has better sustained performance due to its fan, which prevents throttling during extremely heavy, prolonged workloads.
- Display: The MacBook Pro offers a Liquid Retina XDR Mini-LED display with ProMotion up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and higher brightness. The Air’s Liquid Retina is excellent, but it’s a standard LED panel at 60Hz.
- Ports: The Pro typically has more ports, including an HDMI port and an SD card slot, in addition to Thunderbolt ports. The Air keeps it minimal with two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
- Price: The Air is significantly more affordable, especially with its recent price cut.
My take? For the vast majority of users, the M4 MacBook Air is more than enough, offering 90% of the Pro’s performance and features at a much lower cost and in a lighter, fanless design. If you need the absolute best display, more built-in ports, or regularly push your machine to its limits for hours on end, then the MacBook Pro is still the way to go. Otherwise, save some money and enjoy the Air. Many users on Reddit feel the same way, recommending the Air over the Pro for most people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Apple M4 MacBook Air worth it in 2025?
Absolutely! The M4 MacBook Air, released in March 2025, offers a significant performance boost, especially over older M1 or Intel models, excellent battery life up to 18 hours, and a refined design, all at a lower starting price of $999 for the 13-inch model. It’s widely considered one of the best value laptops available for most users.
What are the main improvements in the M4 MacBook Air over the M3 model?
While the M4 MacBook Air maintains a similar design to the M3, the key upgrades are: the more powerful M4 chip offering around 20-23% faster multicore performance, a base configuration with 16GB of unified memory up from 8GB, an upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera, and support for up to two external 6K displays simultaneously while using the built-in display. It also comes with a new Sky Blue color option.
How long does the battery last on the M4 MacBook Air?
The M4 MacBook Air boasts impressive battery life, with Apple officially stating up to 18 hours of video playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing. Real-world usage often confirms this, with some users even reporting 2-3 days of light use on a single charge.
Can the M4 MacBook Air handle demanding tasks like video editing or gaming?
Yes, for many demanding tasks, the M4 MacBook Air performs exceptionally well. The M4 chip, with its 10-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, can handle photo editing, graphic design, and even light to moderate video editing with ease. It can also run modern games like Civilization VII smoothly. However, for extremely prolonged, heavy workloads e.g., hours of 4K video rendering, the fanless design means it might eventually throttle performance more than a actively-cooled MacBook Pro. OnePlus Buds 4 Review: Your New Daily Drivers?
What’s the difference between the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air?
The primary differences are screen size and physical dimensions. The 13-inch model is more compact, while the 15-inch offers a larger display for more screen real estate, which is great for multitasking. The 15-inch model also starts with a slightly more powerful GPU 10-core GPU as standard and has a slightly larger battery, though both offer comparable battery life. The 15-inch also gets two extra speakers for slightly fuller sound. Both models share the same M4 chip performance characteristics, Liquid Retina display technology, and overall design.
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