On March 5, 2025, Apple announced to the world that their MacBook Air would be receiving a refreshment model to further enhance the laptop's capabilities. On the surface level, there are virtually no differences between this year's model and last year's, but inside the chassis is where we can see the real changes that Apple has made to their sleekest laptop on offer.
Boasting now up to 18 hours of battery life and an M4 chip, the MacBook Air for 2025 is the highest level of performance that the series has ever seen. Apple has stated that the M4 chip is up to two times faster than the MacBook Air M1 edition, and up to a staggering 23 times faster than their intel-based model. The 2025 edition also maintains more AI capabilities thanks to its Neural Engine. This enhances everything from automatic camera frame centering to AI image upscaling.
With this entry-level (yet still powerful) chip paired alongside the 13" and 15" models, the MacBook Air is the best possible option for those who are looking for decently powerful processing power whilst maintaining a high level of portability. On top of that, the price has been lowered by $100, putting the MacBook Air at $999, making it just a tad more affordable compared to the 2024 model.
Other changes to the M4 MacBook Air
Aside from the M4 chip and other internal improvements, what else does the MacBook Air have to offer to you as a consumer?
Less noticeable changes have been made to the outside of the laptop, such as a 13.6" LCD panel, which offers a 60hz refresh rate, a four-speaker sound system, as well as a three-mic array. The port selection comes with two USB Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe charging cable to prevent detachment via a magnetic connection, and a traditional headphone jack. The M4 MacBook Air also has the added security benefit of Touch ID to ensure that no one but yourself can have access to your laptop, while also allowing you to make payments and sign into accounts.
Coming in the same variety of colors as 2024's selection of silver, midnight, and starlight, the M4 MacBook Air is now available in the vibrant sky blue. Depending on your individual style, there is a good amount on offer here to make sure that your laptop fits your personalized flair.
Revision or redundant: Is the M4 MacBook Air worth it?
Every time a company revises their products, it is fair to wonder whether there was any need to make said changes in the first place. As the old adage goes: "if it isn't broken, don't fix it."
That being said, the M4 MacBook Air boasts enough improvements to justify its newest refreshment. The M4 chipset will make work and play faster than ever, and the machine learning capabilities paired with the LCD panel will make images truly pop. The cherry on top is the extra $100 shaved off to make for a more affordable machine.
Whether it is worth it comes down to you, the consumer. If you are in the market for a fast, high-quality, trustworthy laptop that will more than suit your needs, then the M4 MacBook Air for 2025 is certainly a worthy contender.