Apple consistently releases a new MacBook Air each year, with the 2025 model following suit by introducing the latest System on a Chip (SoC) upgrade. The MacBook Air 15 (M4, Early 2025) remains a sleek and portable laptop, perfect for powering through office tasks with exceptional battery life and a stunning display. While it may not excel at running PC games, the MacBook Air continues to serve its primary purpose as a reliable, on-the-go productivity tool.

The MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025) is now available, with the 13-inch model starting at $999 and the 15-inch model, which I reviewed, at $1,199. As with all Apple products, you have the flexibility to customize your system. For example, you can configure a 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for $2,399.

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The MacBook Air has become synonymous with the concept of a laptop for many users, and it's easy to see why. The 2025 model retains the familiar design of its predecessors, boasting an ultra-thin and lightweight profile at just 3.3 pounds, making it ideal for a 15-inch laptop. The thinness is achieved through a unibody aluminum chassis that measures less than half an inch thick, a hallmark of the MacBook Air's design.

Unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air features speakers cleverly integrated into the hinge, which direct sound toward the display. This innovative approach not only maintains the laptop's sleek aesthetic but also utilizes the lid as a natural amplifier, enhancing audio output. The fanless design of the M4 chip contributes to the laptop's clean and minimalistic look, with only four rubber feet visible on the bottom to protect the aluminum surface.

The keyboard remains a standout feature, offering deep key travel despite the laptop's thin profile. The TouchID sensor, located in the top right corner, provides quick and accurate access to the device. The expansive touchpad, which spans the space between the 'Command' keys, offers excellent palm rejection, ensuring smooth and reliable navigation.

The MacBook Air's port selection is modest, with two USB-C ports and a MagSafe connector on the left side, and a headphone jack on the right. While the inclusion of a headphone jack is appreciated, the lack of additional ports, such as an SD card reader or another USB-C port, is a notable limitation.

The display on the MacBook Air, while not matching the MacBook Pro's capabilities, is still impressive. The 15.3-inch, 1880p screen covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB, making it suitable for a variety of tasks. It achieves a peak brightness of 426 nits, which is slightly below the advertised 500 nits but still sufficient for most indoor environments. The display's color accuracy and brightness make it an excellent choice for everyday use and entertainment.

Benchmarking the MacBook Air is challenging due to the limited compatibility of standard tests with macOS. However, the fanless M4 chip ensures that the laptop excels in productivity tasks rather than gaming. In games like Total War: Warhammer 3 and Assassin's Creed Shadows, the MacBook Air struggles to maintain smooth frame rates, but this is not its intended use. Instead, it shines as a portable productivity machine, capable of handling multitasking with ease, thanks to its 32GB of RAM configuration.

The MacBook Air's battery life is one of its strongest features. Apple claims up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of web browsing. In my testing, the laptop surpassed these claims, lasting 19 hours and 15 minutes during local video playback. This impressive battery life makes the MacBook Air an ideal companion for travelers and those who need a reliable, long-lasting laptop for work.