Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4)

Joe Osborne from PCMag praises the 2025 Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) as the best iteration yet in Apple’s 15-inch Air lineup, highlighting its lower starting price, improved M4 processor, and upgraded 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam. He appreciates the new Sky Blue color option and the laptop’s lightweight, slim design that offers more workspace without sacrificing portability. However, Osborne notes that while the Air remains a strong value, it faces growing competition from similarly priced Windows laptops that offer better OLED displays, more ports, and longer battery life. The review emphasizes that the MacBook Air’s performance and battery improvements are solid but no longer class-leading, and the lack of significant design updates or additional ports limits its appeal. Osborne recommends the M4 model mainly for Apple loyalists or those upgrading from older versions, suggesting others wait for a more substantial refresh. Overall, the review balances enthusiasm for Apple’s refinements with cautious realism about the competitive landscape.

Andrew E. Freedman from Tom’s Hardware highlights the Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) as a refined and compelling ultrabook that balances performance, design, and value. Praising its fanless M4 chip for fast, quiet burst workloads and improved webcam, ports, and a subtle new “sky blue” color, Freedman notes Apple’s $100 price cut makes this model more attractive than ever. The review emphasizes the excellent build quality, vivid 15.3-inch display, and impressive six-speaker sound system, while acknowledging limitations like thermal throttling under sustained loads, the persistent display notch, and lack of Wi-Fi 7 or Face ID. Battery life remains strong but only marginally improved. Unique insights include detailed performance benchmarks, real-world gaming tests, and nuanced observations on keyboard tweaks and macOS Sequoia features. Overall, Freedman regards the MacBook Air M4 as a solid value and a top choice for those seeking a premium, efficient laptop under $1,500, especially for quick tasks rather than heavy sustained workloads.

Matt Hanson from TechRadar highlights the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as an excellent, refined update to Apple’s popular large-screen thin and light laptop. Praising its impressive price cut and solid base specs—including a 10-core CPU/GPU and 16GB unified memory—he emphasizes the model’s standout features like the richer six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers and the clever 12MP Center Stage webcam with Desk View. Hanson notes the design remains stylish and portable, with subtle improvements such as the new Sky Blue color and MagSafe cable matching the chassis. While the M4 chip delivers smooth, efficient performance and excellent battery life, the reviewer cautions that the upgrade from M3 or M2 models is modest, making it less compelling for recent owners. He also points out minor drawbacks like the continued use of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Overall, Hanson recommends the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) especially for users upgrading from older Intel-based Macs or Windows laptops, calling it arguably the best 15-inch laptop currently available.

Andrew Cunningham from Ars Technica highlights the Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) as a rare example of a laptop that addresses previous major complaints while delivering solid performance and value. He praises Apple’s decision to standardize 16GB of RAM at the base level and lower the starting price to $999, making it more accessible than last year’s model. The M4 chip offers noticeable CPU and GPU improvements, maintaining excellent efficiency and battery life in a fanless design. Cunningham appreciates the refreshed uniform-thickness design and the new Sky Blue finish, though he finds the display notch still awkward and the port selection limited. The upgraded 12MP webcam and support for two 6K external displays are notable enhancements. However, he notes that some premium features like ProMotion and nano-texture displays remain exclusive to MacBook Pros, which may disappoint power users. Overall, he considers the M4 Air a dependable, well-rounded laptop that suits most users without complicated upgrade decisions, marking it as the default choice for many.

Mark Coppock from Digital Trends praises the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4, 2025) as a near-perfect large-display thin-and-light laptop, highlighting its impressive blend of portability, build quality, and performance. The M4 chipset delivers meaningful speed improvements over its predecessor, especially in single-core and multi-core tasks, making it a strong choice for productivity and light creative work. Battery life is excellent, supporting multi-day use, and the display offers bright, accurate colors with solid contrast, though it lacks OLED technology. The keyboard and Force Touch trackpad receive high marks for comfort and precision. Criticisms include limited port selection and a slightly bendable lid, which prevent it from achieving a perfect score like the smaller MacBook Air 13. While pricier than many competitors, its combination of speed, design, and efficiency makes it a compelling option for most users, except heavy gamers or creators who may require more specialized hardware.

Luke Larsen from WIRED highlights the Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) as a compelling evolution in Apple’s laptop lineup, praising its blend of sleek design, improved performance, and enhanced versatility. He notes the M4 chip’s significant gains in CPU and GPU power, along with the new support for dual external displays without needing to close the lid, making it a more adaptable choice for hybrid workers and small business owners. The review emphasizes the laptop’s fanless design, delivering silent operation even under load, though with some thermal throttling. Larsen appreciates the larger 15.3-inch screen and superior six-speaker audio setup, which enhance media consumption and productivity. While he critiques the port placement and Apple’s high storage upgrade costs, he finds the overall price drop and feature set make the 15-inch MacBook Air easier to recommend than before. Unique insights include the AI capabilities of the M4’s Neural Engine and a balanced comparison with competitors like the Microsoft Surface Laptop.

Ben Sin from Forbes highlights the Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) as a solid, incremental update that refines an already dominant laptop without drastic changes. Praising the M4 chip’s improved efficiency, longer battery life, and enhanced GPU performance—30% faster than the M3—he notes smooth video editing and the ability to connect three displays simultaneously as standout benefits. The review appreciates the excellent display quality, keyboard, and speakers, while expressing mild disappointment over the unchanged design, limited port selection, and lack of a higher refresh rate or OLED screen. Sin values the price drop amid rising tech costs and finds the 15-inch size ideal for productivity on the go. He also commends macOS Sequoia’s new multitasking features. Overall, the review conveys a cautiously enthusiastic tone, recognizing the MacBook Air’s continued leadership through subtle but meaningful improvements, making it a compelling choice for users seeking reliable performance and value.

Joshua Goldman from CNET highlights the Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) as a versatile and refined laptop that builds on the strengths of its predecessors with modest but meaningful improvements. Praising its fanless design, long battery life of around 15 hours, and enhanced performance—especially compared to older Intel and M1 models—he notes the M4 chip’s balanced CPU and GPU upgrades make it suitable for photo editing and light gaming. Unique features like the 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with Desk View and support for two external 6K displays add practical value. However, Goldman points out some design quirks, such as the camera notch and all ports clustered on one side, and criticizes the relatively small base 256GB SSD with costly upgrades. While the update is not revolutionary, the price drop and refined features make the M4 Air a compelling choice, particularly for users upgrading from much older MacBooks, though those with recent M3 or M2 models may find fewer reasons to switch.