MacBook Air M4 reviewed: Iterative update but now more affordable

Reviewers Liked

• Lower starting price than the previous-generation
• Sizable performance uplift from M2 and even from M3
• Supports two external displays (with the MacBook lid open)
• RAM gets a boost, even in the base model
• Best-in-class touchpad
• Sky Blue looks nice

Reviewers Didn't Like

• Some ultraportable Windows laptops outpace it
• Battery life falls off a little versus 2024 model
• Display tech remains solid, but is starting to appear dated alongside OLED
• Apple Intelligence is still a mixed bag
• Expensive upgrades
• Screen is only 60Hz
• Lacks ports
• Notch is still silly

80

A price drop and a performance boost reaffirm Apple’s MacBook Air 13-incher as one of the best buys among mainstream ultraportables.

By PCMag on March 11, 2025

80

The 2025 version of the MacBook Air now starts at its most attractive price point for the best performance yet. Just don't expect something so different than previous versions.

By Gizmodo on March 11, 2025

90

Although this new model doesn't qualify as my dream version (I'll continue to wait for the extra ports, nano-texture glass, and fun color options), it's still an excellent laptop for basic tasks—whether that's for work, school, or fun. Sure, the upgrades continue to feel iterative, but it's nice to see the MacBook Air priced at under $1,000 again without skimping on features.

By Wired on March 11, 2025

90

Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air remains my favorite laptop. The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) has an excellent build and design, working on it is a pleasure, and the M4 provides all the power I need for the widest range of tasks. I appreciate the long battery life, bright, colorful screen, and clear audio. It has enough ports to support my almost always connected external screen, and I’m glad there’s still a vestigial 3.5mm headphone jack. macOS and the supporting Apple ecosystem are unparalleled

By TechRadar on March 11, 2025

92

Once again, Apple’s MacBook Air is the ideal ultraportable for most users. It’s slightly faster, thanks to the M4 chip, and also a bit cheaper with a new $999 starting price.

By Engadget on March 11, 2025

88

For Intel and M1 MacBook Air owners, the performance gap is sizeable enough that upgrading is definitely worth your while. Something to keep in mind, too, is that while the M3 MacBook Air is going away, you might be able to pick one of those up at a deep enough discount, new or refurbished, to make you forget about the features you're not getting with the M4.

By cnet on March 11, 2025

90

The new MacBook Air may not be as seminal a machine as the recently updated Mac Mini, but it’s easily one of the best MacBook Airs Apple has ever released. It’s powerful, well-built, thin and light, has a long battery life, and is even cheaper than the model it replaces. Furthermore, it now comes with 16GB of memory as standard, which addresses one of our longest-standing and biggest issues with Apple’s base configuration MacBooks.

By HardwareZone on March 11, 2025

For existing Mac users, maybe you're worried about the end of Intel Mac support, or you have an M1 Air that's starting to show its age. If you're a PC user, maybe the collection of minor annoyances that come with Windows 11 have you thinking about a switch. Whatever the reason, there's almost never been a better time to be considering a MacBook Air.

By Ars Technica on March 11, 2025

Apple’s 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air laptops are iterative, but they’re cheaper, further cementing them as the no-brainer choice for most people.

By The Verge on March 11, 2025

After all of my testing and typing was done, I’ve returned to the same conclusion I had last year: the 15-inch MacBook Air M4 is the laptop I’m telling nearly everyone to get. Unless you need a laptop small enough for a seat-back tray on a plane (get the 13-inch MacBook Air or think about the iPad Mini), the combination of a larger display with Apple’s nimble M4 performance and excellent keyboard is hard to argue against.

By CNN on March 11, 2025