It was only a matter of time before the MacBook Air (also known as the world’s most popular laptop) was fitted with Apple’s faster chip, and this week, we see the M4 chip in this super thin machine. The 2025 MacBook Air was announced last week and will be available from today, 12 March. What’s exciting is the inclusion of the M4 chip, which now makes this a powerhouse of a personal laptop. Watch the unboxing of the 13-inch model here:
There’s no change to the dimensions of this M4 version; it comes in two sizes (13-inch and 15-inch), and they are still the same weight as the last two models that came before them. I don’t imagine how Apple can get the MacBook Air any thinner, but I would love to see a 12″ version so it’s even lighter and can be carried in smaller bags.
We have the M4 MacBook Air 13-inch in the new Sky Blue for review. It fits into backpacks, totes and Boston / Speedy-style bags (we recommend putting it in a case if you don’t want to get it scratched).
In the new Sky Blue shade, the M4 MacBook Air is a shimmery matte silvery light blue. It’s almost silver, but with a hint of blue, and as we previously mentioned, it’s incredibly thin. At a height of just 1.13cm for the MacBook Air 13-inch, it’s far thinner than the MacBook Pro 14-inch, which stands at 1.55cm.
Above: The MacBook Air 13-inch on top of the MacBook Pro 14-inch.
We spoke with Meghna Lav of Apple’s Worldwide Mac Product Marketing team to discover more about the M4 MacBook Air. With regard to who the new MacBook Air is for, she says,
“It is for anyone looking for the unmatched combination of performance, portability, and all-day battery life, all in a thin and light, fanless laptop. And macOS Sequoia completes the MacBook Air experience with a host of exciting features for everyone, including easier window tiling and iPhone Mirroring, which allows users to wirelessly interact with their iPhone, its apps, and notifications directly from their Mac.”
We’ve tried the iPhone mirroring application and it works like a charm. So far, we’ve managed to keep our mail app, Safari browser, WhatsApp, WordPress, Music and even Photoshop apps open and running at the same time. It’s a new computer so we wouldn’t expect any lags, but nonetheless it’s impressive and satisfying to work on.
But when is it time to upgrade to this new MacBook Air? Lav says,
“With each new generation of Apple silicon, MacBook Air gets even better and more powerful than the previous generation. For instance, the Neural Engine on the new MacBook Air with M4 is two times faster than the previous generation, meaning AI tasks run faster than before.
Users who are still on an Intel-based MacBook Air, will get a huge difference in performance — up to 23x faster — and up to 18 hours of battery life, which is six hours longer. Users can choose from two sizes — the 13-inch for the ultimate in portability, or 15-inch size, so users have more space to multitask. Its’ strikingly thin and light design enables it to go everywhere with users, whether it’s in their bag or backpack.”
On hand, the NYLON team works across the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad Air (and iPad mini), and of course the iPhone for on-the-go social postings. If you’re deciding between getting either the new iPad Air or the MacBook Air, Lav recommends this:
“Both Mac and iPad are great choices. Many users choose Mac; many choose iPad, and for some customers it’s not either/or and they own both.
When users use Mac with their iPhone and iPad, the experience is even better together. Continuity is a core feature of our platforms and the ultimate expression of bringing together both hardware and software for magical experiences that our users love.”
For the NYLON team, illustration apps like Procreate — together with the Apple Pencil — work better on the iPad, not to mention playing cult games like Fez and Chuchel; but answering emails and writing articles on WordPress are far more productive with a physical keyboard on the MacBook Air. Each device depends on what you hope to achieve with it.
If you’re considering putting a case on your new machine, Lav says, “MacBook Air, like all Apple products, is designed to be durable, reliable and built to last. Some users may decide to add a case as a means of self expression and customisation.”
Got yourself a new MacBook Air? Here are some app and game recommendations by Lav to install on your new machine:
“Civilization VII and Wuthering Waves are demanding titles and run great on the new MacBook Air.
For students, apps like Canva, GoodNotes, Discord, and Bear are incredibly useful. In fact, Bear integrates Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground and Writing Tools so users can take advantage of capabilities like rewrite, proofread, make key points right from the app.
Photo editing apps like Pixelmator Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom, and Affinity Photo and video editing apps like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro are powerful and take full advantage of the capabilities of Apple silicon.”
THE 13-INCH MACBOOK AIR WITH M4 STARTS AT $1,499 AND THE 15-INCH MACBOOK AIR WITH M4 STARTS AT $1,799. BOTH ARE AVAILABLE IN SKY BLUE, MIDNIGHT, STARLIGHT, AND SILVER. YOU CAN ORDER BOTH MODELS THROUGH THE APPLE STORE APP AND ONLINE AT APPLE.COM/SG/STORE. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE AT APPLE STORES AND APPLE AUTHORISED RESELLERS FROM 12 MARCH.
