Apple continues its tradition of annual updates with the 2025 MacBook Air 15, once again focusing primarily on the System on a Chip (SoC). The new MacBook Air 15, powered by the M4 chip, remains a sleek and efficient laptop perfect for office work, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it may not excel in PC gaming, it's not intended to; the MacBook Air is designed for portability and productivity, making it an ideal companion for everyday tasks.
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. Apple offers customization options, allowing you to upgrade to a 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for $2,399.
MacBook Air (M4, 2025) – Photos
View 6 Images
Design
The MacBook Air has become synonymous with the concept of a laptop. Its design remains unchanged from recent models, yet it continues to impress with its thin and light profile, weighing only 3.3 pounds for a 15-inch laptop. The slim unibody aluminum chassis, less than half an inch thick, contributes to its lightweight nature. This thinness, while not new, is a refreshing change from the bulkier laptops often carried around.
The MacBook Air's design is not just about being thin; it's also sleek and clean. The speakers are cleverly integrated into the hinge, firing towards the display. This innovative placement enhances the sound quality by using the lid as a natural amplifier, a feat made possible by the fanless M4 configuration, which frees up space typically reserved for airflow.
The fanless design contributes to a cleaner aesthetic, with the laptop's bottom featuring only four small rubber feet to prevent scratches. The top features the same excellent keyboard as previous models, with deep travel and a reliable TouchID sensor for quick access. The spacious touchpad, known for its quality, offers excellent palm rejection, ensuring a smooth user experience.
However, the port selection is limited, with 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 lack of an SD card reader or additional USB-C port on the right side is a minor drawback.
Display
The MacBook Air's display, while not as advanced as the MacBook Pro's, is still impressive. It's bright, colorful, and fairly resistant to glare, making it suitable for a variety of environments. The 15.3-inch, 1880p display covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, which is exceptional for a versatile laptop. It reaches a peak brightness of 426 nits, slightly below the advertised 500 nits but still adequate for indoor use.
While it may not match the quality of an OLED display, the MacBook Air's screen is more than sufficient for most users. It's perfect for binge-watching shows like The Clone Wars, thanks to its excellent color performance.
Performance
Benchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to the limited compatibility of tests with macOS. The MacBook Air, with its fanless M4 chip, isn't designed to compete with gaming laptops. In games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it struggles to maintain high frame rates even at reduced settings.
However, the MacBook Air excels in productivity. It's perfect for carrying to a coffee shop for focused work. With 32GB of RAM, it handles multitasking effortlessly, even on battery power. It manages light Photoshop work well, though it may struggle with more intensive tasks like noise filtering in Lightroom. Its ability to handle daily tasks without breaking a sweat, combined with its all-day battery life, makes it a standout choice for productivity.
Battery
Apple claims the MacBook Air's battery can last up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. My test, using local video playback in VLC Media Player, showed it lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes, surpassing Apple's claim. While local playback is less demanding than streaming, the MacBook Air still performed admirably.
During multiple 4-5 hour work sessions, the laptop easily lasted several days without needing a charge. This makes it an excellent choice for travelers, as few flights exceed 15 hours. The included tiny charger is a convenient accessory, allowing you to stay unplugged while checking email or working on the go.
