Apple continues its tradition of annual updates with the new MacBook Air 15 for 2025, featuring yet another iteration of the System on a Chip (SoC). The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) remains a stylish and ultra-portable laptop, perfect for handling everyday office tasks with exceptional battery life and a stunning display. While it may not be ideal for PC gaming, the MacBook Air excels as a versatile and reliable device for getting work 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. Apple offers various customization options, allowing you to tailor the laptop to your needs. For example, you can upgrade to 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 modern laptop, and the 2025 model continues this legacy with its sleek and lightweight design. Weighing just 3.3 pounds, it's remarkably light for a 15-inch laptop, thanks to its thin unibody aluminum chassis, which measures less than half an inch thick. The MacBook Air's thin profile is a hallmark of its appeal, offering a refreshing change from bulkier devices like gaming laptops.
The design is not only thin but also remarkably clean, with the speakers cleverly integrated into the hinge, firing towards the display. This innovative approach, enabled by the fanless M4 chip, allows the lid to act as a natural amplifier, enhancing the sound quality. The fanless design also contributes to the laptop's seamless appearance, with only four rubber feet on the bottom to protect the aluminum surface.
The MacBook Air retains the same excellent keyboard from recent models, featuring deep key travel and a reliable TouchID sensor for quick and secure access. The spacious touchpad, stretching between the 'Command' keys, offers excellent palm rejection, ensuring smooth navigation even during extended use.
However, the port selection could be more generous. The left side includes 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 lack of additional ports like an SD card reader or another USB-C port on the right side is a notable limitation.
Display -------
The MacBook Air's display, while not as advanced as the MacBook Pro's, is still impressive for a productivity-focused laptop. The 15.3-inch, 1880p screen offers vibrant colors and good brightness, covering 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB. In my tests, it reached a peak brightness of 426 nits, slightly below the advertised 500 nits but still suitable for indoor use.
Although it doesn't match the quality of an OLED display, the MacBook Air's screen is more than sufficient for most users. It handled my binge-watching sessions of The Clone Wars with excellent color performance, making it a great choice for both work and entertainment.
Performance -----------
Benchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to the limited compatibility of standard tests with macOS. However, the MacBook Air (M4, 2025) is not designed for gaming, and its performance reflects this. In games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin's Creed Shadows, it struggled to maintain playable frame rates at 1080p, even on medium settings.
Despite these limitations, the MacBook Air shines as a productivity machine. With 32GB of RAM, it handled my demanding workflow effortlessly, keeping up with multiple Safari tabs and background music without a hitch, even on battery power. It also managed light Photoshop work, though it struggled with more intensive tasks like noise filtering in Lightroom.
The MacBook Air's ability to handle everyday tasks with ease, combined with its all-day battery life, makes it an excellent choice for users who prioritize portability and efficiency over raw power.
Battery -------
Apple claims the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours for video streaming and 15 hours for web browsing. In my tests, it exceeded expectations, lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes on local video playback. While this test differs from streaming, it still demonstrates the laptop's impressive battery life.
Over multiple 4-5 hour work sessions, I found the MacBook Air could run for days without needing a recharge, making it ideal for travel. The compact charger is a bonus, allowing you to stay productive without being tied to an outlet.
