Apple’s MacBook Air remains a top choice among MacBooks, offering a blend of performance and affordability. If you’re considering joining the Apple ecosystem or upgrading your current machine, the upcoming M4-powered MacBook Air might be just what you’re looking for. We’ve compiled everything we know so far about this highly anticipated laptop.
alt text: An image showcasing the Apple logo.
Release Date and Pricing
Current predictions point to a spring 2025 release for the next MacBook Air. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman initially suggested a spring launch, aligning with the M3 MacBook Air’s March 2024 announcement. However, Gurman later refined this to calendar Q1 2025 (January-March), suggesting an imminent release.
The appearance of “MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025)” and “MacBook Air (15-inch, M4, 2025)” references within macOS 15.2 further solidifies the 2025 launch.
Pricing is expected to mirror the M3 MacBook Air’s $1,099 starting price, reflecting the iterative nature of this update. The fate of the lower-priced M2 model remains uncertain. Gurman has suggested Apple might retain the M2 due to reported M3 chip production challenges.
alt text: A user interacting with a MacBook Air connected to an Apple Studio Display.
Design Expectations
Don’t anticipate a significant redesign. The M4 MacBook Air will likely retain the current design language, with major aesthetic changes reserved for future iterations. Apple’s typical four-year redesign cycle suggests it’s too soon for a visual overhaul. Consequently, the 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch size options should remain.
alt text: A MacBook Air being used in an Apple store environment.
Performance and New Features
The M4 chip is the star of this update. Higher-tier chips like the M4 Pro, Max, and Ultra are improbable, given the MacBook Air’s passive cooling system and target audience. Based on the M4 MacBook Pro, we anticipate a similar 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration, possibly with a lower-binned option for cost-effectiveness.
Expect a 16-core Neural Engine with improved efficiency, potentially increased memory bandwidth (from 100GB/s to 120GB/s), and maximum memory/storage of 24GB/2TB, respectively.
alt text: A user working on a MacBook Air connected to two external monitors.
The 3nm fabrication process shared by the M3 and M4 suggests modest performance gains over the M3 rather than a revolutionary leap. However, the upgrade from the 5nm M2 to the 3nm M3 was substantial.
Multi-monitor support may also see improvement. 9to5Mac reports the M4 MacBook Air might lift the M3’s two-external-display limitation (when closed). This speculation stems from the M4 MacBook Pro’s enhanced display support, hinting at improved bandwidth capabilities in the M4 chip.
alt text: A person playing a video game using a PlayStation controller on a MacBook Air.
While rumors circulated about OLED displays for future MacBooks, including the Air, recent reports indicate a potential 2029 launch, significantly later than the initially projected 2027 timeframe.
Conclusion
The M4 MacBook Air promises a refined experience with performance enhancements and potential improvements in multi-monitor support. While not a radical redesign, the M4 chip upgrade positions it as a compelling option for those seeking a balance of power and portability within the Apple ecosystem.
