In March 2025, Apple introduced the MacBook Air M4, the latest evolution of its renowned ultraportable laptop series. Equipped with the advanced M4 chip, this iteration enhances an already popular design, offering notable improvements in performance, connectivity, and user experience. It also comes with a more affordable starting price and introduces a fresh new color option. Designed to meet the needs of students, professionals, creatives, and casual users alike, the MacBook Air M4 delivers impressive value and versatility. This comprehensive article dives into all aspects of the MacBook Air M4, exploring its design, specifications, performance, features, and more to provide a complete overview of this remarkable device.

MacBook Air M4 Full Breakdown.

Design and Build Quality

The MacBook Air M4 retains the modern, flat-edged design introduced with the M2 model in 2022. It remains one of the thinnest laptops on the market, measuring just 0.44 inches thick for the 13-inch model and 0.45 inches for the 15-inch model. The all-aluminum chassis is lightweight and durable, weighing 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg) for the 13-inch and 3.3 pounds (1.49 kg) for the 15-inch.

Apple’s focus on precision is clear in the high-quality design of the keyboard, trackpad, and display hinge. The Magic Keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience thanks to its 1mm key travel and smooth scissor mechanism. At the same time, the Force Touch trackpad remains best-in-class for precision and multi-touch gestures. A notable quirk is the absence of dedicated keyboard backlight brightness controls (previously F5/F6), requiring users to adjust settings via System Preferences. However, third-party apps like Karabiner Elements can remap keys for convenience.

The design includes a notch at the top of the display to house the upgraded webcam, a feature borrowed from the MacBook Pro. While the notch slightly reduces usable screen space in full-screen apps, most users adapt quickly, and macOS optimizes the menu bar to minimize interference.

Display: Liquid Retina Brilliance

The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air M4 features Apple’s Liquid Retina display, with 2560×1664 (13.6-inch) and 2880×1864 (15.3-inch) resolutions. These LED-backlit panels deliver up to 500 nits of brightness, support 1 billion colors, and True Tone technology, which adjusts color temperature based on ambient lighting for a more natural viewing experience.

The displays offer crisp text, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast, making them ideal for everything from document editing to streaming high-definition content. Compared to PC laptops in the same price range, the MacBook Air’s display stands out for its sharpness and color accuracy, though it lacks the mini-LED, HDR, and ProMotion (120Hz) capabilities of the MacBook Pro. Some reviewers have noted that a nano-texture option, as seen on higher-end models, would have been a welcome addition to reduce glare in bright environments.

The M4 Chip: Power and Efficiency

At the heart of the MacBook Air M4 is Apple’s M4 chip, a system-on-chip (SoC) built on TSMC‘s second-generation 3nm process with 28 billion transistors. The base M4 configuration includes:

• CPU: 10-core (4 performance cores, six efficiency cores; 9-core in binned models)
• GPU: 10-core (8-core in entry-level 13-inch model)
• Neural Engine: A powerful 16-core unit capable of performing up to 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS).
• Memory Bandwidth: 120GB/s (LPDDR5X unified memory)

The M4 offers up to 30% faster CPU performance and 20% faster GPU performance than the M3, with significant improvements in power efficiency. The Neural Engine is optimized for Apple Intelligence, enabling on-device AI tasks like text generation, image processing, and enhanced Siri functionality. Unlike the MacBook Pro, the Air’s fanless design relies on passive cooling, which may lead to slight throttling under sustained heavy workloads but ensures silent operation.

The chip supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, dynamic caching, and mesh shading, bringing console-quality graphics capabilities to a thin-and-light laptop. It also introduces AV1 decoding for smoother streaming and better compression in video calls.

Performance: Benchmarks and Real-World Use

The MacBook Air M4 delivers impressive performance in both synthetic benchmarks and everyday real-world tasks. Geekbench 6 scores show a single-core performance of approximately 3,780 and a multi-core score of 14,924, slightly trailing the MacBook Pro M4 (which benefits from active cooling) but surpassing many Intel and Qualcomm-based competitors like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i and Dell XPS 13.

In daily use, the M4 handles routine tasks with ease, whether it’s browsing the web, streaming content, or working with productivity apps. It can also manage more intensive workloads, such as photo editing in Adobe Photoshop or video editing in Final Cut Pro. However, users working on 4K multi-track projects may notice occasional slowdowns due to the lack of fans. File transfer speeds are impressive, with the Air copying 25GB of data at around 1,220 MB/s.

The base 16GB of unified memory (upgradable to 32GB) ensures smooth multitasking, even with dozens of browser tabs, apps, and background processes. For most users, the jump from 8GB (standard in older models) to 16GB eliminates immediate upgrades, though professionals may opt for 24GB or 32GB for future-proofing.

Battery Life: All-Day Endurance

Apple reports that the MacBook Air M4 can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life based on tests involving wireless web browsing and video playback. Real-world usage aligns closely with these figures, with the Air lasting 15–16 hours under typical conditions (mixed browsing, streaming, and light productivity). The 15-inch model, with its larger battery, performs similarly, though heavier tasks like gaming or video rendering reduce the runtime to 8–10 hours.

The Air ships with a 30W USB-C adapter for the 8-core GPU model or a 35W dual-port adapter for the 10-core GPU version. Fast charging via MagSafe or Thunderbolt ports can reach 50% capacity in about 30 minutes with an optional 70W charger. The consistent battery performance across M2, M3, and M4 models reflects Apple’s focus on efficiency, channeling the M4’s power gains into performance rather than extended runtime.

Camera and Audio Upgrades

One standout feature of the MacBook Air M4 is its upgraded 12MP Center Stage webcam, which replaces the older 1080p FaceTime HD camera found in previous models. The new sensor delivers sharper images, better low-light performance, and a wider field of view, enhanced by the M4’s Neural Engine for features like:

• Center Stage: Automatically frames you during video calls, ideal for dynamic settings.
• Desk View: Shows an overhead perspective of your workspace, useful for demos or presentations.

While the resolution of recorded selfies remains 1440×960, the overall video conferencing experience is noticeably improved, rivaling dedicated webcams on competing laptops.

The audio system is equally impressive. The 13-inch model features a four-speaker setup, while the 15-inch adds two woofers for deeper bass. Both support Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking (when paired with AirPods) and Dolby Atmos, delivering rich, immersive sound for music, movies, and calls. The three-mic array with enhanced voice clarity ensures clear communication, even in noisy environments.

Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4 and More

The MacBook Air M4 upgrades its ports to Thunderbolt 4, offering faster data transfer speeds (up to 40Gb/s) and improved power delivery compared to Thunderbolt 3. The port layout includes:

• Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
• MagSafe 3 charging port
• 3.5mm headphone jack

A significant upgrade is support for two external displays at up to 6K resolution (60Hz) with the lid open, making the Air a viable option for multi-monitor setups. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 provide fast, reliable wireless connectivity, with Wi-Fi 6E offering lower latency and higher speeds in supported regions.

macOS Sequoia: Software Enhancements

The MacBook Air M4 ships with macOS Sequoia (version 15.x), which introduces a host of productivity and AI-driven features:

• Apple Intelligence: AI-powered tools for writing, image generation, and smarter Siri interactions.
• iPhone Mirroring: Control your iPhone wirelessly from your Mac, accessing apps and notifications.
• Safari Upgrades: Highlights for relevant site info, a redesigned Reader mode, and Distraction Control to hide ads.
• Window Tiling: Simplified drag-and-drop window management for multitasking.
• Game Mode: Optimizes performance for gaming, reducing background activity.

Starting with macOS Sequoia 15.4, new users can set up their MacBook Air using proximity-based transfer from an iPhone or iPad, streamlining the onboarding process.

Configurations and Pricing

The MacBook Air M4 is available in two sizes with the following base configurations:

• 13-inch ($999): M4 chip (10-core CPU, 8-core GPU), 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
• 15-inch ($1,199): M4 chip (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD

Upgrades include:

• GPU: 10-core GPU for 13-inch (+$ 100)
• RAM: 24GB (+$200) or 32GB (+$400)
• Storage: 512GB (+$200), 1TB (+$400), 2TB (+$800)
• Charger: 35W dual-port or 70W fast charger (varies by configuration)

A fully specced 13-inch model (32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) costs $2,199, while the 15-inch reaches $2,399. The $100 price cut and 16GB base RAM make the M4 Air a better value than the M3, though the 256GB base storage may feel limiting for some.

New Sky Blue Color and Aesthetics

The MacBook Air M4 introduces a Sky Blue color option, replacing Space Gray and joining Silver, Midnight, and Starlight. The subtle, metallic blue hue comes with a matching Sky Blue MagSafe cable, adding a touch of personality without being overly bold. Some reviewers have noted that the color appears more silver than blue in certain lighting, but it’s a refreshing addition to the lineup.

Who Is the MacBook Air M4 For?

The MacBook Air M4 is ideal for:

• Students: Lightweight, long battery life, and sufficient power for note-taking, research, and creative projects.
• Professionals: Handles productivity apps, multitasking, and light creative work (e.g., photo editing presentations).
• Casual Users: Perfect for browsing, streaming, and staying connected on the go.
• Budget-Conscious Buyers: The $999 price point offers premium quality at a more accessible cost.

Users needing intensive video editing, 3D rendering, or high-end gaming may prefer the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro/Max chips and active cooling.

Gaming on the MacBook Air M4

The M4’s 10-core GPU and ray-tracing support make the Air a surprisingly capable gaming machine for a fanless laptop. Titles like Civilization VII and Lies of P run smoothly at medium settings (30–38 fps at 1080p), though demanding games like Borderlands 3 may dip below 30 fps. Benchmarks like 3DMark Solar Bay show the Air competing with Intel-based ultrabooks, and 16GB RAM ensures better texture handling. The Air is more than sufficient for casual and indie gamers, but serious gamers may want a MacBook Pro or a dedicated gaming laptop.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Exceptional performance for a fanless laptop
• Lower starting price ($999) with 16GB RAM
• Stunning Liquid Retina display
• Upgraded 12MP webcam with Center Stage
• Thunderbolt 4 and dual external display support
• Long battery life (up to 18 hours)
• Sleek, lightweight design with a new Sky Blue color

Cons:

• Base 256GB storage is limiting
• No nano-texture display option
• The notch may bother some users in full-screen apps
• Incremental design changes may feel “boring” to M3 owners
• Fanless design throttles under prolonged heavy loads

MacBook Air M4: A Future-Proof, Versatile Powerhouse

The MacBook Air M4 reaffirms Apple’s dominance in the ultraportable laptop market. By pairing the powerful M4 chip with a lower price, upgraded webcam, and enhanced connectivity, Apple has crafted a near-perfect laptop for a broad audience. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it refines an already stellar formula, delivering more performance and value than ever.

Whether you’re drawn to the new Sky Blue hue, the silent fanless design, or the promise of Apple Intelligence, the MacBook Air M4 is a versatile, future-proof device that lives up to its reputation as the world’s most popular laptop. For anyone seeking a balance of portability, power, and polish, the MacBook Air M4 is an easy recommendation in 2025.