MacBook Air Review: Is It Worth Buying?

The MacBook Air has long been a favorite for its sleek design, portability, and performance. With the release of the 2025 MacBook Air featuring the M4 chip, Apple promises even more power, efficiency, and value. But is this latest iteration worth your investment? This review dives deep into its features, performance, design, and overall value to help you decide.

Contents Overview

• Introduction to the MacBook Air M4
• Design and Build Quality
• Performance and M4 Chip
• Display and Multimedia
• Battery Life and Portability
• Apple Intelligence Integration
• Pricing and Configurations
• Pros and Cons
• Is It Worth It?
• Alternatives to Consider
• Final Verdict
• FAQs

Introduction to the MacBook Air M4

Apple’s MacBook Air has been a benchmark for ultraportable laptops since its debut. The 2025 model, powered by the M4 chip, aims to continue this legacy with improved performance, a new color option, and a lower starting price. Available in 13-inch and 15-inch variants, it targets students, professionals, and casual users seeking a balance of power and portability.

This review evaluates whether the MacBook Air M4 lives up to the hype. We’ll explore its design, performance, battery life, and unique features like Apple Intelligence to determine if it’s a worthwhile purchase in 2025.

Design and Build Quality

The MacBook Air M4 retains the sleek, minimalist design introduced with the M2 model in 2022. Its flat, aluminum chassis is both lightweight and durable, making it ideal for on-the-go use.

• Dimensions and Weight: The 13-inch model measures 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches and weighs 2.7 pounds. The 15-inch version is 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches and 3.3 pounds.
• Color Options: Available in Silver, Starlight, Midnight, and a new Sky Blue, which offers a subtle, metallic sheen.
• Build: The anodized aluminum body resists fingerprints, though minor scratches may appear with regular use.

The design hasn’t changed significantly from the M3 model, which might disappoint those hoping for a refresh. The notch housing the webcam remains, and some users find it intrusive on a laptop screen. However, the build quality is top-notch, with a premium feel that rivals more expensive laptops.

Ports: It includes two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, a MagSafe 3 charging port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. While functional, having both USB-C ports on one side can limit flexibility for connecting peripherals.

Performance and M4 Chip

The heart of the MacBook Air M4 is its Apple M4 chip, a significant upgrade over its predecessors. This 10-core CPU (with four performance cores and six efficiency cores) and up to 10-core GPU delivers impressive power for a fanless laptop.

• Benchmarks: In Geekbench 6, the M4 scores around 3,780 (single-core) and 14,924 (multi-core), outperforming the M3 by about 15% and the M1 by up to 60%.
[](https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/macbooks/macbook-air-m4-2025-review)
• Tasks: It handles multitasking, 4K video editing, and light gaming with ease. For example, running Adobe Premiere Pro or playing games like No Man’s Sky at 2048 x 1280 resolution yields smooth performance (40-50 fps).
• Fanless Design: The absence of a fan ensures silent operation but may lead to thermal throttling during extended heavy workloads, with temperatures averaging 49.33°C (120.79°F).

Compared to competitors like the Snapdragon X Elite-powered Dell XPS 13, the M4 holds its own in CPU performance but excels in graphics tasks. For most users, the M4 offers more than enough power for daily tasks, creative work, and even some professional-grade applications.

Display and Multimedia

The MacBook Air M4 features a Liquid Retina display, with the 13-inch model at 2560 x 1664 pixels and the 15-inch at 2880 x 1864 pixels. Both offer 500 nits of brightness and support True Tone for adaptive color temperature.

• Color Accuracy: Covers 117.9% of sRGB and 83.5% of DCI-P3, suitable for casual photo editing but not as vibrant as OLED displays on some Windows laptops.
• Notch: The display notch houses a 12MP Center Stage webcam, which tracks movement for video calls and supports Desk View for top-down perspectives.
• Audio: Four speakers with Spatial Audio deliver rich sound, though the 15-inch model lacks the top-firing speakers found on MacBook Pros.

While the display is sharp and vibrant, it lacks the 120Hz refresh rate or OLED technology found in some competitors, which could enhance gaming or scrolling smoothness.

Battery Life and Portability

Battery life remains a strong suit for the MacBook Air M4, with Apple claiming up to 18 hours of video playback or 15 hours of web browsing.

• Real-World Testing: Tests confirm 14-15 hours for intensive tasks and up to 18 hours for lighter use, outlasting many Windows ultraportables.
[](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-15-inch-2025-m4)
• Portability: At just 0.44-0.45 inches thick, it’s easy to carry, fitting seamlessly into backpacks or briefcases.
• Charging: The MagSafe 3 port frees up USB-C ports, and the included 35W charger (30W for the base 13-inch model) supports fast charging.

The MacBook Air M4’s battery efficiency and lightweight design make it ideal for students and professionals who need a reliable, portable device.

Apple Intelligence Integration

The M4 chip enhances compatibility with Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-driven features in macOS Sequoia 15.3.

• Writing Tools: Proofread, rewrite, or summarize text across apps, adjusting tone or creating content from prompts.
• Image Playground: Generate images from text or existing photos, useful for creative projects.
• Ecosystem Synergy: Features like iPhone Mirroring and cross-device copy-paste enhance productivity for Apple device users.

These features add value for users invested in Apple’s ecosystem, making tasks like content creation and communication more efficient. However, their utility depends on your workflow and familiarity with Apple’s software.

Pricing and Configurations

Apple has lowered the starting price of the MacBook Air M4, making it more accessible.

Upgrades are costly, with each step (e.g., 256GB to 512GB SSD or 16GB to 24GB RAM) adding $200. The base 16GB RAM is a welcome change from the 8GB of past models, but the 256GB base storage may feel limiting for power users.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Powerful M4 Chip: Delivers excellent performance for multitasking and creative tasks.
• Lower Price: Starts at $999, a $100 reduction from the M3 model.
• Long Battery Life: Up to 18 hours, ideal for all-day use.
• Portable Design: Thin, light, and durable for travel.
• Apple Intelligence: Enhances productivity with AI-driven features.

Cons

• No Design Refresh: Identical to M2 and M3 models, with the same notch.
• Expensive Upgrades: Storage and RAM upgrades are costly.
• Limited Ports: Only two USB-C ports, both on one side.
• No OLED or 120Hz: Display lags behind some competitors.

Is It Worth It?

The MacBook Air M4 offers significant value for most users. Its lower starting price, improved performance, and long battery life make it a compelling choice for students, professionals, and casual users. The M4 chip handles demanding tasks like video editing and light gaming, while the fanless design ensures silent operation.

However, it’s not perfect. The lack of a design refresh and limited ports may frustrate some users. Additionally, the high cost of upgrades means you’ll need to carefully consider your configuration. If you already own an M3 or M2 MacBook Air, the performance boost may not justify an upgrade unless you need the new webcam or dual-display support. For M1 or Intel-based MacBook Air owners, the M4 is a substantial leap forward.

Alternatives to Consider

If the MacBook Air M4 isn’t right for you, here are some alternatives:

• MacBook Pro M4: Offers better performance with a fan and a Mini-LED display but starts at $1,599.
• Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon X Elite): A Windows ultraportable with strong performance and an OLED option, priced around $1,200.
• Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i: Features an Intel Core Ultra 7, a vivid display, and competitive pricing at $1,000-$1,200.
• MacBook Air M1: Still available at retailers like Walmart for $599, offering excellent value for basic tasks.
[](https://www.techradar.com/computing/macbooks/is-the-macbook-air-m1-still-worth-buying-in-2025-heres-why-i-think-its-an-unmissable-deal-at-usd599)

Each option has trade-offs. Windows laptops may offer more ports or OLED displays, but they lack Apple’s ecosystem integration and optimized performance.

Final Verdict

The MacBook Air M4 is a stellar ultraportable laptop that balances power, portability, and price. Its M4 chip, long battery life, and sleek design make it a top choice for most users. While it lacks a major design overhaul and has expensive upgrades, the $999 starting price and 16GB base RAM make it more accessible than ever.

For those in the Apple ecosystem or seeking a reliable, high-performance laptop, the MacBook Air M4 is worth the investment. If you need more ports, an OLED display, or don’t rely on Apple’s software, consider a Windows alternative. Ultimately, the MacBook Air M4 remains a leader in its class, delivering exceptional value in 2025.

Written by App Jeevan

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