M4 MacBook Air: Pricing, Release Date, Design, Performance, Battery Life, and More
- Apple just dropped the M4 MacBook Air—faster, cheaper, and rocking a fresh new color.
- Apple quietly bumped the base RAM—8GB just wasn't cutting it anymore.
- If you’ve been holding onto an M1 or Intel MacBook, this upgrade might be worth your attention.
Apple has officially introduced the M4 MacBook Air, bringing a fresh upgrade to its popular ultra-thin laptop. The announcement, made via a press release on March 5, confirmed months of speculation—some of which was fueled by Apple itself after references to the device were spotted in macOS 15.2.
Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at the launch two days prior with a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “There’s something in the Air.” It was a nostalgic nod to the original 2008 MacBook Air reveal, reinforcing Apple’s commitment to keeping the Air lineup at the forefront of lightweight computing.
Photo via Apple // Apple's 2025 MacBook Air refresh is here, and more powerful than ever thanks to Apple's latest M4 chipset.
Pricing and Availability
Apple’s latest MacBook Air is available in both 13-inch and 15-inch models, with pre-orders open now and shipments starting on March 12. Here’s a quick breakdown of the pricing:
| Model | Price | Difference from M3 |
|---|---|---|
| 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) | $999 | -$100 |
| 15-inch MacBook Air (M4) | $1,199 | -$100 |
Apple has also discontinued both the M2 and M3 MacBook Air models, leaving only the M4 version in its lineup at this price point.
Design
Apple has stuck to the sleek aluminum design that users are familiar with, but there's a notable addition—a new Sky Blue color. This metallic light blue finish, Apple says, "creates a dynamic gradient when light reflects off of its surface."
While midnight, starlight, and silver remain, space gray has been axed. Aside from the color change, the laptop retains the same dimensions and weight:
- 13-inch MacBook Air: 2.7 pounds
- 15-inch MacBook Air: 3.3 pounds
Photo via Apple // Apple's 2025 MacBook Air may look the same on the surface, but there are some hardware tweaks this year.
Display
The Liquid Retina displays remain unchanged, available in:
- 13.6 inches (2560×1664 resolution)
- 15.3 inches (2880×1864 resolution)
- 500 nits brightness
- P3 wide color gamut + True Tone
Apple has yet again reserved ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) for the MacBook Pro lineup, meaning Air users are still capped at 60Hz. A notable improvement is external display support. The M4 MacBook Air can now drive two 6K external displays—something its predecessor could only do if the laptop’s lid was closed.
Performance
Apple’s M4 chip brings a significant performance boost, featuring:
- 10-core CPU
- 8-core GPU (configurable up to 10 cores)
- 16-core Neural Engine
Apple claims twice the performance of the M1 MacBook Air, with iMovie video editing and Photoshop tasks also running up to twice as fast compared to the M1. The Neural Engine is said to be three times faster than in the M1, making AI-driven tasks significantly smoother.
For memory and storage:
- Base RAM starts at 16GB (up from 8GB in M3)
- Option to upgrade to 32GB
- Storage options remain: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Photo via Apple // A close-up look at Apple's new M4 MacBook Air.
Battery Life
Despite the power boost, battery life remains unchanged from the M3 model, rated at:
- Up to 18 hours of video playback
- Up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing
However, Apple has slightly increased battery capacity to 53.8 watt-hours (up from 52.6 watt-hours in M3).
Webcam and Desk View
The 1080p webcam remains, but Apple now states it features a 12MP resolution—though it’s unclear if this is a hardware change or simply a rebranding of previous specs.
One key addition is Center Stage, Apple’s AI-driven feature that automatically keeps you centered in frame during video calls. Another new feature is Desk View, which simulates a top-down view of your desk using AI, without needing to reposition the laptop.
Final Thoughts
The M4 MacBook Air may not be a radical redesign, but it packs meaningful upgrades:
- More power with M4
- New Sky Blue color
- Improved external display support
- More RAM (16GB default)
- Subtle webcam and AI enhancements
- Lower starting price ($999)
Photo via PCMag Australia // The Apple M4 MacBook Air is truly a wonderful laptop, and worth the consideration of Apple, Windows and Linux users alike.
If you’re using an M1 MacBook Air or an Intel MacBook, this is a significant upgrade. However, if you already own an M3 MacBook Air, the improvements may not justify an immediate switch.
With Apple continuing to refine its Mac lineup, the M4 MacBook Air cements itself as one of the best ultra-thin laptops on the market—at an even more competitive price point.
Recommended by the editors:
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