MacBook Air M4 Early 2025: In-Depth Review

Apple continues its annual tradition with the release of the 2025 MacBook Air, which again focuses on updating the System on a Chip (SoC). The new MacBook Air 15 remains a sleek and stylish laptop, ideal for tackling office tasks with its impressive battery life and stunning display.

While it's not designed for heavy PC gaming, the MacBook Air excels in its primary role: being a reliable, portable device for everyday productivity. It's the perfect companion for those who need a laptop to efficiently get things done 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. As with all Apple products, you have the flexibility to customize your system for an additional cost. For example, 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 term "laptop" for many, and it's easy to see why. The 2025 model retains the iconic design of its predecessors, offering an ultra-thin and lightweight form factor that weighs just 3.3 pounds, making it exceptionally portable for a 15-inch laptop.

The slim profile is achieved through its unibody aluminum chassis, which measures less than half an inch thick. This design not only contributes to its portability but also maintains a sleek and clean aesthetic, with the speakers cleverly integrated into the hinge. This innovative placement not only conserves space but also enhances sound quality by using the laptop's lid as a natural amplifier.

The fanless design, enabled by the M4 chip, further enhances the laptop's clean look by eliminating the need for air vents. The bottom of the laptop features only four rubber feet to protect the aluminum from scratches.

The MacBook Air continues to feature the same high-quality keyboard that Apple has refined over the years. It offers deep key travel and reliable performance, with a TouchID sensor in the top right corner for quick and secure access. The spacious touchpad also excels, providing excellent palm rejection and smooth navigation.

However, the port selection could be more comprehensive. The left side offers two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector, while the right side has only 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 on the right side is a notable limitation.

Display

Although not aimed at creative professionals like the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air's display is still exceptional. It boasts vibrant colors and good brightness, with decent glare resistance. The 15.3-inch, 1880p display covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, which is impressive for a versatile laptop. It reaches a peak brightness of 426 nits, suitable for indoor use and most outdoor environments.

While it doesn't match the quality of an OLED display, the MacBook Air's screen is more than sufficient for most users, delivering a fantastic viewing experience for entertainment and productivity.

Performance

Benchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to the limited availability of compatible tests for macOS. Given its fanless M4 chip, the MacBook Air isn't designed to compete with gaming laptops. In gaming tests, it struggles to maintain smooth frame rates, with games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows performing poorly at 1080p.

However, the MacBook Air shines in its intended role as a productivity machine. It effortlessly handles multitasking with 50 Safari tabs open and Apple Music playing in the background, thanks to its 32GB of RAM. It also manages light Photoshop work, though it may struggle with more demanding tasks like noise filters in Lightroom. Its ability to handle daily tasks efficiently while maintaining long battery life is a significant advantage.

Battery

Apple claims the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours for video streaming and 15 hours for 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 this test differs from streaming, the results still highlight the MacBook Air's impressive battery life.

During multiple 4-5 hour work sessions, the MacBook Air demonstrated its ability to last several days without needing a recharge, making it an ideal choice for travelers. The included compact charger is another plus, allowing you to stay productive without being tethered to an outlet.