The arrival of a new year often brings anticipation for updated technology, and Apple has delivered with the latest iteration of its beloved MacBook Air. The 2025 MacBook Air, now powered by the M4 chip, makes its debut, prompting the question: does this refresh solidify its position as the best laptop for most people? While the overall design remains familiar, several key enhancements and a more attractive starting price point make this new model a compelling option, especially for those looking to upgrade or join the macOS ecosystem.
A Subtle Yet Distinct Refresh
At first glance, the M4 MacBook Air might seem like a carbon copy of its predecessors. The iconic thin and light aluminum build, available in both 13-inch and 15-inch screen sizes, remains unchanged. You'll still find the comfortable chicklet-style keyboard, the spacious and responsive trackpad, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, the convenient MagSafe charging port, and the trusty headphone jack. The silent, fanless operation that MacBook Air users have come to expect is also present.
However, a keen eye will spot the introduction of a new colour: Sky Blue. This subtle, pale blue hue replaces the Space Grey option and offers a fresh aesthetic, though some might find it so light that it appears almost silver in certain lighting conditions. Alongside Sky Blue, you can still choose from the classic Silver, Starlight, and Midnight finishes. Even the included USB-C to MagSafe cable now comes in a matching Sky Blue. For those meticulous about their Apple devices, it's worth noting that the Sky Blue on the MacBook Air has a slight difference compared to the blue on the updated M4 iPad Air.
Another minuscule but telltale sign of the new model is a slightly altered icon on the mute button. This might seem like an insignificant detail, but it's another way to identify the latest generation.
Powering the Future: The M4 Chip
The most significant upgrade lies within: the M4 chip. While the exterior might be largely the same, this new silicon promises enhanced performance and efficiency. The M4 chip boasts a more powerful 16-core Neural Engine, geared towards accelerating Apple Intelligence features.
While some of these AI capabilities, like Image Playground, might seem like novelties, others offer practical benefits. Features such as quicker and more accurate background cutouts and faster single-click photo enhancement demonstrate the M4's processing prowess. Everyday tasks also feel snappier, and the M4 remains highly capable for productivity, web browsing, and media consumption. Even demanding tasks like editing 4K video for social media can be handled smoothly. However, for professional workflows involving heavy rendering or intensive applications, the MacBook Pro with its active cooling and potentially more powerful M4 Pro or Max chips might still be the preferred choice.
One notable improvement enabled by the M4 chip is the ability to support two external displays with the laptop lid open. This was not possible with the previous M3 MacBook Air. Now, users can connect to two external monitors at up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, in addition to the built-in display, significantly enhancing multitasking capabilities.
Enhanced Value: More for Your Money
Perhaps the most welcome change is the reduction in the starting price. The base model of the M4 MacBook Air now starts at $999 USD (or $899 with the student discount). This is a $100 decrease compared to the launch price of the M3 MacBook Air. This price adjustment makes the M4 MacBook Air an even more attractive value proposition in the competitive laptop market.
Furthermore, Apple has made 16GB of unified memory (RAM) standard across the M4 MacBook Air lineup. Previously, the base models often came with 8GB, which some users found limiting, especially for future-proofing and running more demanding applications. This increase to 16GB ensures smoother multitasking and better performance, especially when utilizing memory-intensive features like Apple Intelligence. The base storage remains 256GB SSD. While this might be sufficient for many, users with larger media libraries might consider upgrading to 512GB or utilizing external SSDs, though Apple's internal storage upgrades can be quite costly. It's worth noting that the 512GB SSD models often exhibit faster read and write speeds compared to the base 256GB option.
Familiar Excellence: Display, Keyboard, and Trackpad
The Liquid Retina display on the M4 MacBook Air remains impressive, offering excellent colour accuracy (covering 99% of the P3 gamut) and good brightness. While it's not the Mini-LED XDR display found on the MacBook Pro, it's still a solid panel for everyday use, photo and video editing where colour accuracy is crucial, and watching media. Some sources note a slight improvement in contrast ratio compared to the previous M3 model. However, it's worth noting that the display still operates at a 60Hz refresh rate, which might not be as smooth as the 120Hz or OLED displays found on some competing Windows laptops in this price range. Additionally, the lack of a nanotexture option for reducing glare might be a drawback for those who frequently work outdoors or in brightly lit environments.
The backlit Magic Keyboard continues to provide a comfortable and responsive typing experience. Similarly, the Force Touch trackpad is widely regarded as one of the best in the industry, offering precise control and haptic feedback.
Enhanced Communication: Webcam and Audio
The M4 MacBook Air receives an upgrade to its front-facing camera, now featuring a 12-megapixel sensor with Center Stage support. This allows the camera to automatically pan and zoom to keep you in the frame during video calls. While some users might find this feature useful, others may not utilize it frequently. The wider field of view also enables features like Desk View, though some might consider this more of a novelty. The audio quality remains excellent for both calls and media consumption, with the 15-inch model boasting a six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers for richer sound compared to the 13-inch's four-speaker setup
Battery Life: Reliable All-Day Performance
Apple continues to claim an up to 18-hour battery life for video playback. Real-world usage will vary depending on the tasks being performed, but the M4 MacBook Air generally offers excellent battery endurance, easily lasting through a full workday for most users. While some Windows laptops have shown significant gains in battery life recently, the MacBook Air remains a strong performer in this aspect.
Should You Upgrade?
For users with older, Intel-based MacBooks or those looking to switch from a Windows PC, the M4 MacBook Air represents a significant upgrade in performance, efficiency, and overall user experience. The improved Neural Engine and Apple Intelligence features further enhance its capabilities.
If you are currently using an M1 MacBook Air, the M4 offers substantial performance gains, making it a worthwhile upgrade, especially if you find your current machine struggling with more demanding tasks. The updated design, brighter display, MagSafe charging, and improved camera are additional benefits.
However, if you already own an M2 or M3 MacBook Air, the performance improvements offered by the M4 might be less compelling. While there are incremental gains in processing and graphics, and the standard 16GB of RAM is a plus, the overall experience might not feel drastically different for everyday use. The design remains identical, and all M-series chip Macs support Apple Intelligence features. Unless you specifically need the dual external display support or are coming from an 8GB RAM configuration on your M2 or early M3 model, upgrading might not be essential.
Final Verdict: An Easy Recommendation
The M4 MacBook Air continues to be a remarkably capable and highly recommended laptop for a vast majority of users. The combination of Apple's efficient M4 chip, the sleek and portable design, the excellent keyboard and trackpad, the brighter display, the increased base RAM, and the now more attractive starting price makes it a standout choice in its class. While some areas, like the display's refresh rate, could see future improvements, the M4 MacBook Air delivers a premium experience and exceptional value, solidifying its position as a top contender in the laptop market for 2025 and beyond. For those seeking a reliable, powerful, and user-friendly laptop for everyday tasks, productivity, and even some creative work, the M4 MacBook Air remains an easy recommendation.