Apple consistently releases a new MacBook Air nearly every year, and the 2025 model is no exception. The new MacBook Air 15 continues to be a sleek, lightweight laptop perfect for office work, boasting impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it won't excel at running PC games, the MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is designed for productivity on the go, and that's where it shines.

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is now available, with the 13-inch model starting at $999 and the 15-inch model I reviewed here at $1,199. As always, Apple offers customization options for those willing to spend a bit more. For example, a 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD will set you back $2,399.

MacBook Air (M4, 2025) – Photos

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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 same iconic design as its predecessors, featuring an ultra-thin and lightweight build. Weighing just 3.3 pounds, this 15-inch laptop feels almost weightless. The unibody aluminum chassis is less than half an inch thick, contributing to its sleek profile. The design is clean and minimalistic, with the speakers cleverly integrated into the hinge, allowing them to fire towards the display. This innovative approach not only maintains the laptop's sleek look but also enhances the audio experience by using the lid as a natural amplifier. The fanless design of the M4 chip further contributes to the laptop's clean aesthetic, with no need for air vents, resulting in a smooth, uninterrupted surface.

The keyboard remains a highlight, offering deep travel despite the laptop's thinness, and the TouchID sensor in the top right corner provides quick and accurate access. The touchpad is expansive and responsive, with excellent palm rejection, ensuring a smooth user experience. However, the port selection is somewhat limited, with two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector on the left, and only a headphone jack on the right. While the inclusion of a headphone jack is appreciated, additional ports like an SD card reader or another USB-C port would have been welcome.

Display

The MacBook Air's display, while not as advanced as the MacBook Pro's, is still impressive. 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 testing, it reached a peak brightness of 426 nits, making it suitable for indoor use and reasonably visible in brighter environments. While it doesn't match the quality of an OLED display, the MacBook Air's screen is more than sufficient for everyday tasks and even enjoyable for streaming shows like The Clone Wars.

Performance

Benchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to the limited compatibility of standard tests with macOS. The fanless M4 chip in the MacBook Air is not designed for gaming, and this is evident in its performance. In games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the laptop struggled to maintain playable frame rates even at reduced settings. However, the MacBook Air excels in its intended role as a productivity machine. With 32GB of RAM, it handled multitasking effortlessly, keeping up with numerous open tabs and background applications without a hitch. It also managed light Photoshop work, though it struggled with more demanding tasks like noise filtering in Lightroom. For everyday productivity, the MacBook Air's performance is outstanding, especially considering its thin and light form factor.

Battery

Apple claims the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. In my testing, using local video playback in VLC Media Player, the laptop exceeded expectations, lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes. While this test doesn't replicate streaming conditions exactly, it's clear that the MacBook Air's battery life is exceptional. Over multiple 4-5 hour work sessions, I found the laptop could go days without needing a charge, making it ideal for travelers. The included charger is compact, adding to the laptop's portability and convenience.