Apple’s early-2025 MacBook launch was the M4 MacBook Air, available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. Apple announced both on March 5, 2025, with availability beginning March 12. The M4 MacBook Pro family had already been announced in October 2024, so it is a comparison option—not a new early-2025 release.
What’s new in the M4 MacBook Air?
The early-2025 update brought Apple’s M4 chip to the MacBook Air in two sizes. At launch, Apple listed four colors: sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver. Both sizes included a color-matched MagSafe charging cable.
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Apple specified a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU for the Air’s M4 chip. Starting unified memory was 16GB, configurable up to 32GB. Storage capacity depends on the configuration selected at purchase.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Apple advertised up to 18 hours of battery life. That is a manufacturer estimate, based on Apple testing conducted in January 2025; Apple says actual battery life varies with use and configuration. Apple also claimed the M4 Air was up to 2x faster than an M1 Air and up to 23x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. Those are Apple comparisons, not independently reproduced benchmarks.
#1 Best Overall
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Should you choose the 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air?
The key documented difference is screen size: the 13-inch model is the smaller option, while the 15-inch gives you more built-in display area. Consider how often you work away from a desk, whether you routinely keep multiple windows visible, and how much you rely on an external monitor. The launch announcements do not establish a universally better choice for a particular workload.
Price also depends on market and configuration. Apple’s regional launch prices are historical reference points, not current retail quotes:
Rank #2
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
| Market and launch period | 13-inch M4 Air | 15-inch M4 Air |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom, March 2025 | From £999; £899 education price | From £1,199; £1,099 education price |
| Canada, March 2025 | From C$1,399; C$1,249 education price | From C$1,699; C$1,549 education price |
These figures come from Apple’s launch announcements. They do not establish today’s prices; local taxes, stock, discounts, and selected memory or storage configuration can change the amount you pay.
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How many external displays can the M4 MacBook Air run?
Apple says the M4 MacBook Air supports up to two external displays in addition to its built-in screen. The UK specifications list two Thunderbolt ports, MagSafe, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. If your desk setup depends on several wired devices or external storage, check whether your planned connections fit the available ports or require an appropriate hub; confirm compatibility for any specific accessory.
Rank #3
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
How does the M4 MacBook Air compare with the M4 MacBook Pro?
The MacBook Pro with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max was announced on October 30, 2024. It is part of the same broad generation, but it was not the early-2025 MacBook announcement. Apple’s October release specifies Thunderbolt 5 for M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models, while the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M4 chip has Thunderbolt 4.
For a buying decision, first compare the Air’s screen size, configured memory and storage, external-display needs, and ports with the requirements of your work. If those requirements point beyond the Air, examine the relevant MacBook Pro configuration rather than assuming the Air or Pro is faster or better for your particular workload. The cited announcements provide specifications and Apple performance claims, not independent side-by-side testing.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
