Apple continues its tradition with the release of the new MacBook Air in 2025, once again primarily updating the SoC (system on a chip) to enhance performance. The MacBook Air 15 remains a sleek and portable laptop, ideal for tackling office tasks with impressive battery life and a stunning display. While it's not designed to run demanding PC games, the MacBook Air excels at being a reliable, on-the-go productivity tool.
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 customization options for those willing to invest more, such as upgrading 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 epitomizes what many envision when thinking of a laptop. Its latest iteration retains the familiar thin and lightweight design, weighing just 3.3 pounds, which is impressive for a 15-inch laptop. The slim unibody aluminum chassis, less than half an inch thick, continues to be a hallmark of the MacBook Air, making it a pleasure to carry around, especially compared to bulkier gaming laptops.
The design remains sleek and clean, with speakers cleverly integrated into the hinge, utilizing the laptop's lid as a natural amplifier to enhance sound quality. This design choice is possible thanks to the fanless M4 chip, which also contributes to the laptop's smooth, hole-free exterior. Only four small rubber feet are visible on the bottom, protecting the aluminum from scratches.
The MacBook Air retains its excellent keyboard, offering deep key travel despite the thin profile, and the TouchID sensor in the top right corner ensures quick and accurate access. The expansive touchpad, stretching between the 'Command' keys, provides excellent palm rejection, maintaining Apple's reputation for top-tier touchpad experiences.
However, the port selection could be more robust. The left side features two USB-C ports and the MagSafe connector, while the right side only has a headphone jack. While it's commendable that Apple includes a headphone jack, additional ports like an SD card reader or another USB-C port on the right would enhance its utility.
DisplayThe MacBook Air's display, while not designed for professional creatives, delivers vibrant colors and decent glare resistance. The 15.3-inch, 1880p display covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, making it suitable for everyday use and entertainment. It achieves a brightness of up to 426 nits, which is slightly below Apple's 500-nit claim but still adequate for indoor use.
The display's color performance is excellent for casual viewing, making it a great choice for watching shows and movies, such as during a rewatch of The Clone Wars.
PerformanceBenchmarking a MacBook can be challenging due to limited compatibility with standard tests. However, the fanless M4 chip in the MacBook Air prioritizes efficiency over high-end gaming performance. In games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the MacBook Air struggles at 1080p, but it's not meant to be a gaming laptop. Instead, it excels as a productivity machine.
The MacBook Air is perfect for light work, such as multitasking with numerous Safari tabs and streaming music. With 32GB of RAM, it handles these tasks effortlessly, even on battery power. It also manages light Photoshop work, though it may struggle with more intensive tasks like noise filtering in Lightroom. Its thin and light form factor, combined with all-day battery life, makes it ideal for daily use and travel.
BatteryApple boasts that the MacBook Air can last up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. Testing with local video playback in VLC Media Player, the MacBook Air exceeded expectations, lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes. While this test is less taxing than streaming, it still demonstrates impressive battery life.
The MacBook Air's battery easily supports multiple days of work without needing a recharge, making it perfect for travelers. The included compact charger adds to its convenience, allowing you to stay productive without being tethered to a power outlet.
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