Apple has officially lifted the curtain on its latest MacBook Air models, powered by the all-new M4 chip. With improved speed, better efficiency, and new AI-driven enhancements, the 2025 MacBook Air lineup delivers a compelling mix of performance and portability. The 13-inch and 15-inch models both benefit from longer battery life, an upgraded 12MP Center Stage webcam, and support for multiple external displays—making them Apple’s most advanced Air models yet.
But perhaps the biggest surprise? A price cut. Apple has dropped the starting price of the MacBook Air lineup by $100, making the 13-inch model start at $999 and the 15-inch model at $1,199. This move signals Apple’s push to make its laptops more accessible, particularly for students, creatives, and professionals looking for a balance of power and affordability.
What’s New with the M4 MacBook Air?
The M4 chip represents a leap forward in Apple’s silicon technology. Built on a more advanced 3nm process, it offers improved performance-per-watt, allowing users to run demanding applications faster without draining battery life. Apple claims the new chip provides up to a 20% boost in CPU performance over its M3 predecessor, alongside faster GPU speeds for graphics-heavy tasks like video editing, gaming, and AI-based applications.
Notable Upgrades and Features:
- Up to 18 Hours of Battery Life – Thanks to the efficiency of the M4 chip, users can expect all-day usage on a single charge.
- Support for Two External Displays – Unlike previous models, the M4 MacBook Air can now drive two external monitors when the laptop lid is closed, improving productivity for professionals.
- New 12MP Center Stage Camera – Video calls look better than ever with auto-framing technology, keeping users centered even if they move around during meetings.
- Wi-Fi 6E Support – Faster wireless speeds and improved connectivity in high-density environments.
- New Color Option: Sky Blue – Joining the classic Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight, this fresh hue adds a splash of personality to the lineup.
Why This Release Matters
The MacBook Air has long been Apple’s best-selling laptop, known for its thin and lightweight design. This latest iteration maintains its signature portability while delivering desktop-class power in an ultra-slim chassis.
The price drop makes this release even more significant. Apple is likely positioning the new Air against popular Windows ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13, ASUS ZenBook, and Microsoft Surface Laptop—many of which have seen price increases due to rising manufacturing costs. By offering more power at a lower price, Apple is sending a clear message: the MacBook Air is not only the best ultrabook in its class but also one of the most competitive in price-to-performance ratio.
Availability and Pre-Orders
Pre-orders for the M4 MacBook Air start today, and the first units will hit store shelves on March 12. With its improved performance, longer battery life, and lower entry price, this release could be one of Apple’s most popular MacBook Air launches in years.
Whether you’re a student looking for an affordable yet powerful laptop, a professional in need of a lightweight productivity machine, or just someone eager to get their hands on the latest Apple silicon, the M4 MacBook Air is shaping up to be one of the best laptop choices of 2025.
Key Takeaways
- The new MacBook Air features the M4 chip with up to 18 hours of battery life and a 12MP Center Stage camera
- Pre-orders start March 5, 2025, with shipping beginning March 12
- The updated models come with a lower starting price and a new sky blue color option
Overview of the M4 MacBook Air
Apple’s new M4 MacBook Air brings significant improvements in performance, better camera quality, and expanded memory options while lowering the starting price. The laptop maintains its thin profile while adding exciting new capabilities.
Design and Build
The M4 MacBook Air keeps the same sleek design as previous models, with its signature wedge-shaped aluminum chassis. Apple added a new Sky Blue color option alongside the standard Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight finishes. The laptop remains incredibly thin and lightweight.
The laptop comes in two sizes:
- 13-inch model: Ultra-portable option
- 15-inch model: Larger screen without much weight increase
Both versions feature MagSafe charging, two Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The build quality remains premium with an all-aluminum body that feels sturdy yet light.
The keyboard and trackpad are unchanged from the previous generation, with comfortable key travel and precise tracking that Apple users expect.
Display Features
The display on the M4 MacBook Air continues to use the Liquid Retina technology with vibrant colors and sharp text. Both the 13-inch and 15-inch models offer:
- P3 wide color gamut
- True Tone technology
- 500 nits of brightness
- Anti-reflective coating
The screen supports over a billion colors, making it great for photo editing, watching videos, or everyday work. Text appears crisp and clear even during extended use.
The bezels remain slim around all sides, maximizing screen space while keeping the overall footprint small. The display includes a notch at the top housing a significantly improved camera.
Chipset and Performance
The new M4 chip powers the MacBook Air with impressive specs and capabilities. It features a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, delivering substantially more power than the previous M2 model.
Key performance features include:
- Support for up to 32GB of unified memory
- 256GB base storage (configurable higher)
- Faster Neural Engine for AI tasks
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
The M4 chip makes everyday tasks snappier and handles more demanding workloads like video editing with ease. Apple claims the new MacBook Air is more powerful while maintaining the same excellent battery life.
Despite being a spec-bump update, the performance improvements are meaningful for both casual and professional users.
Software and User Experience
The new M4 MacBook Air comes with enhanced software capabilities that take full advantage of its powerful chip. The improved system performance and tailored applications create a smooth, responsive experience for users of all types.
Operating System
The M4 MacBook Air runs the latest macOS version out of the box, optimized specifically for the new M4 architecture. This tight integration between hardware and software creates noticeable performance improvements in everyday tasks.
Users will notice faster app launches and smoother multitasking. The system handles memory management more efficiently, which means less lag when switching between resource-heavy applications.
Battery optimization is a standout feature in this macOS version. The system intelligently manages power consumption based on user patterns and app demands. This contributes to the impressive 18-hour battery life that Apple claims for the new MacBook Air.
Security features have also been enhanced with improved on-device processing for sensitive tasks.
Pre-installed Applications
The M4 MacBook Air comes with a full suite of Apple’s core applications, all optimized for the new chip. These include updated versions of Safari, Photos, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.
The FaceTime app received special attention to work with the new 12MP Center Stage camera. The camera automatically keeps you centered in the frame during video calls, even when you move around.
Apple has also included several productivity tools that take advantage of the M4’s neural engine:
- Advanced voice-to-text transcription that works offline
- Enhanced photo editing with AI-powered suggestions
- Smart file management that predicts which files you’ll need
These applications run natively on the M4 chip, meaning they open quickly and run efficiently without draining the battery.
Connectivity and Expansion
The new M4 MacBook Air models continue Apple’s trend of minimal but thoughtful port selection. Both the 13-inch and 15-inch versions come with two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports for high-speed data transfer and external display connections.
These versatile ports support charging, video output, and data transfer at up to 40Gb/s. Users can connect external storage, monitors, and other accessories through these ports.
The MacBook Air also keeps the 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature many appreciate as wireless headphones haven’t completely replaced wired options. This jack supports high-impedance headphones for improved audio quality.
MagSafe charging returns in this generation, freeing up both Thunderbolt ports for accessories while the laptop charges. The magnetic connector detaches easily if someone trips over the cord, protecting the laptop from damage.
Wireless Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth 5.3
These wireless standards ensure fast, reliable connections for everyday tasks. Wi-Fi 6E offers improved performance in congested networks compared to older standards.
For external displays, the M4 MacBook Air supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. This limitation remains unchanged from previous M-series models, though it meets most users’ needs.
The laptop ships with a compact 35W dual USB-C power adapter that can charge two devices simultaneously, or users can opt for the faster 70W USB-C power adapter for quicker charging times.
Pricing and Availability
Apple has cut prices for its new M4 MacBook Air lineup despite current tariff pressures. The 13-inch model starts at $999, while the 15-inch version begins at $1,199.
Both new MacBook Air models can be pre-ordered now and will officially launch on March 12, 2025.
Customers can choose from several colors, including a stunning new “sky blue” option. The base models come with these specs:
- 13-inch: $999 with 16GB RAM
- 15-inch: $1,199 with 16GB RAM
Memory and storage upgrades are available for an extra cost. The price drop of $100 comes as a welcome surprise to many consumers.
The new M4 chip brings more power to the Air lineup while maintaining the same sleek design users have come to expect. Apple stores and authorized retailers will have the devices in stock starting March 12th.
Education pricing may offer additional discounts for eligible students and teachers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple’s new M4 MacBook Air brings several improvements and changes that many users are curious about. Here are answers to the most common questions about this exciting release.
What is the anticipated release date for the MacBook Air with the M4 chip?
The M4 MacBook Air was announced in early March 2025. Based on Apple’s typical timeline, the new MacBook Air models should be available for purchase within one to two weeks after the announcement.
Shipping usually begins shortly after pre-orders open. Apple typically follows a consistent pattern with product releases following announcements.
How much will the new MacBook Air with the M4 chip cost?
Good news for budget-conscious buyers – Apple has announced a price cut for the new M4 MacBook Air models. This reduction applies to both the 13-inch and 15-inch versions.
The exact pricing structure offers more value compared to previous generations. This makes the powerful M4 chip more accessible to a wider range of customers.
What are the latest updates regarding the MacBook Air with the M4 chip?
The M4 MacBook Air brings modest but meaningful improvements over the M3 models. The performance boost includes enhancements to both CPU and GPU capabilities.
One standout feature is the new ability to support two external monitors with the laptop lid open. This addresses a limitation that existed in previous models.
What new features can we expect from the MacBook Air equipped with an M4 processor?
The M4 MacBook Air maintains the same physical design as the current models. Apple has not refreshed the external appearance for this release.
The major improvements are internal, with the M4 chip offering better performance than the M3. Users can expect six significant changes, including enhanced CPU and GPU capabilities.
The dual external monitor support is perhaps the most practical and useful upgrade for many professionals and power users.
When was the official announcement made for the M4 MacBook Air?
Apple officially announced the M4 MacBook Air in early March 2025. The announcement came through Apple’s standard channels, including a press release and updates to their website.
The timing aligns with Apple’s spring update cycle for Mac products. This follows their pattern of refreshing the MacBook Air line approximately once per year.
Where can individuals find official discussions or rumors about the M4 MacBook Air?
Apple’s official website provides complete information about the new M4 MacBook Air models. This includes detailed specifications, pricing, and availability.
For discussions and rumors, MacRumors forums offer extensive conversations about the new devices. Reddit’s Apple community also has active threads discussing the latest features.
Tech sites like The Verge provide in-depth coverage of the announcement with analysis and comparisons to previous models.
