The MacBook Air has solidified its reputation as a flagship product for Apple, especially with the introduction of the M-series chips. The M1 MacBook Air was revolutionary, and Apple has taken that winning formula further with the release of the MacBook Air M4. Having used the M2 MacBook Air 13-inch for nearly three years, I was eager to get my hands on the new MacBook Air M4 15-inch in the fresh ‘kinda Blue’ color. Here’s my in-depth review of the MacBook Air M4 after two weeks of usage.
MacBook Air M4 Specifications
Specifications-wise, the MacBook Air M4 introduces several improvements over its predecessors. Below is a quick overview of the specifications:
| Specifications | MacBook Air M4 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M4 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Display | 15.3-inch LCD Display |
| Storage | 256GB |
| I/O Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C Ports 1x Headphone jack 1x MagSafe Charging Port |
| Battery and Charging | 53.8Wh Li-polymer battery 30W USB-C Power adapter |
| Wireless Connectivity | WiFi 6E (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Weight | 2.73 pounds (1.24 kg) |
| Price (starts at) | $999 (€925) |
Just to specify, I tested a fully specced-out MacBook Air M4 with a 15-inch display, 16GB RAM, and 1TB storage.
What’s New in the MacBook Air M4?
With the specifications covered, let’s highlight the new and updated features of the MacBook Air M4. Firstly, it introduces a striking new color option—Sky Blue, replacing the familiar Space Gray. The color leans heavily towards silver, creating a fresh aesthetic for Apple fans tired of standard hues.
Another significant upgrade is the increase in base RAM from 8GB to 16GB, addressing previous complaints regarding value for money. Additionally, the M4 model allows for an upgrade to 32GB RAM, up from the previous cap of 24GB.
On the pricing front, Apple has surprisingly lowered the cost of the MacBook Air lineup. The base model starts at $999 (€925), which is $200 less than the M2 MacBook Air’s launch price and $100 less than the M3 variant. While it might seem unusual for Apple to reduce prices while increasing specs, this strategy may balance out with the introduction of the iPhone 16e priced at $599.
Moreover, the MacBook Air M4 includes a much-improved 12MP webcam, featuring Center Stage functionality, which enhances video call experiences. Compared to the previous model’s 1080p webcam (about 2.1MP), the new webcam offers sharper images and more details, making calls clearer and more professional.
Design and Build Quality
Since the design refresh introduced by the M2 MacBook Air, Apple hasn’t significantly altered its aesthetic. The M4 model features the same 15.3-inch LCD display with 500 nits brightness, unchanged dimensions, and weight as seen in the M3 variant. This design is sleek, user-friendly, and sturdy, ensuring a durable experience.
Switching from my 13-inch M2 model to the larger 15-inch M4 model was a noticeable adjustment. Despite a mere 0.27 kg weight difference, the MacBook Air seemed heftier, with the larger keyboard taking time to get accustomed to. However, the overall design is impeccable, offering a beautiful display, MagSafe charging port, and two USB-C ports on the left side, with the 3.5mm audio jack on the right.
The M4 has upgraded USB-C ports from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4, which, while technically beneficial, mainly allows users to connect two 6K external displays while keeping the laptop lid open.
If you’re left wanting for more new features, the fresh Sky Blue color option continues to break away from Apple’s monochrome palette, embracing a nuanced blend of silver and blue.
M4 Chip Performance
The standout feature of the M4 MacBook Air is undoubtedly the new M4 chip. While not entirely new to the market—it has already made appearances in the iPad Pro, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro—it’s now integrated into the Air lineup. The M4 chip boasts a 10-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, along with a 10-core GPU in the 15-inch model and 8-core GPU in the 13-inch model. Additional enhancements include hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a 16-core Neural Engine, and 120GB/s memory bandwidth.
All MacBook Air models are fanless, relying on passive cooling, meaning they operate quietly. However, this design limitation can lead to thermal throttling under prolonged intense workloads. For instance, during 8K video rendering in Final Cut Pro, the performance dipped.
Benchmarking results confirm that the M4 MacBook Air is approximately 25% faster than the M3 MacBook Air in both single-core and multi-core Geekbench scores, and around 10% better in graphics performance. Therefore, upgrading from an M3 might not be justified. However, users moving from the M1 MacBook Air will experience almost double the performance.
The M1 model scores 2402 in single-core tests and 8608 in multi-core tests. In comparison, the M4 MacBook Air scores 3770 in single-core and 14687 in multi-core tests, illustrating significant performance improvement.
Apple emphasized the M4 chip’s advanced Neural Engine for AI tasks. To test this, I ran a local LLM model using LM Studio and generated 1859 tokens at a rate of 17.77 tokens per second, with the initial token generated in just 0.27 seconds, demonstrating rapid performance for various tasks.
This performance was achieved with the 16GB variant, and I did notice slight stuttering when running Death Stranding while also rendering a 4K video in the background.
MacBook Air M4 Battery Life
In the battery department, the MacBook Air M4 truly excels. Apple claims it can provide up to 18 hours of battery life, and real-world tests came close to that benchmark. My usage typically involved multiple tabs open on Chrome and Safari, extensive Notion usage for project management, communication through Slack, and playing Apple Music in the background.
In regular usage, the MacBook Air M4 consistently managed to last around 16 hours before needing a charge. During more intensive tasks, such as rendering a 4K video in Final Cut Pro and running a local LLM model, it still delivered an impressive 12-hour battery life.
The laptop comes with a 35W Dual USB-C adapter and a color-matched braided charging cable. Charging it to full capacity takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes using the included adapter.
Drawbacks of the MacBook Air M4
While I’ve covered numerous positives about the MacBook Air M4, there are a few critiques to address. Firstly, the 60Hz LCD display feels outdated in 2025 for a $1,000 (€925) laptop. In this price segment, many Windows counterparts offer OLED displays with significantly higher refresh rates. It’s time for Apple to consider adding mini-OLED options for the MacBook Air.
Additionally, the limited number of ports may deter some users. I understand that this is an entry-level offering, but for a laptop with such advanced capabilities, it feels somewhat limiting. It would be beneficial if Apple integrated at least an Ethernet and SD card port in future models.
Should You Buy the MacBook Air M4?
Your key query now may be: Is the MacBook Air M4 worth purchasing? More importantly, who is it suitable for? If you are considering an upgrade from an M2 or M3 MacBook Air, it may not be worth your while as the performance differences are minimal. However, if you are coming from an M1 MacBook Air, the advantages are substantial.
Upgrading from an M1 MacBook Air, you can anticipate a performance boost between 60-70% in GPU, CPU, and graphics capabilities. Alongside this, you’ll enjoy a modern design and a device that is future-ready. If you’re weighing the MacBook Air M4 against the MacBook Pro M4, which costs $1,599 (€1,475), the Pro offers a mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, around 6 hours more battery life, and additional ports like HDMI and an SDXC card slot.
Your specific needs will ultimately guide your decision. For everyday tasks, the MacBook Air M4 stands out. If you’re a student, take advantage of Apple’s educational pricing, making the MBA M4 available for just $899 (€825), an unbeatable deal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are the key features of the MacBook Air M4?
The MacBook Air M4 features the Apple M4 chip, a 15.3-inch LCD display, improved 12MP webcam, enhanced RAM options (up to 32GB), and new color options, including Sky Blue.
2. How does the MacBook Air M4 compare to the M1 and M2 models?
The M4 offers significantly upgraded performance, with over double the performance improvement compared to the M1, and around 25% better than the M2 in benchmarks.
3. What is the battery life of the MacBook Air M4?
The MacBook Air M4 can last up to 18 hours on a single charge under ideal conditions, with real-world testing reflecting around 16 hours for standard usage.
4. Is the MacBook Air M4 good for students?
Yes! The MacBook Air M4 is an excellent choice for students due to its affordability, remarkable performance, and extended battery life. It’s especially appealing with Apple’s student pricing of $899 (€825).
5. Are there any limitations to the MacBook Air M4?
While the MacBook Air M4 has many strengths, some limitations include a lack of high refresh rate on the LCD display and a limited number of ports, which might not satisfy all users.