The 2025 MacBook Air with M4 chip delivers impressive performance in a sleek package. While its stunning design, vibrant display and long battery life make it a standout choice for most users, some may find the limited port selection and thermal throttling during intensive tasks disappointing. Overall, it represents a solid, if premium-priced, option.

Design and Build Quality

The MacBook Air features a 100% recycled aluminum chassis that’s both premium and portable at 1.13 kg (13-inch) and 1.49 kg (15-inch). The new Sky Blue finish joins Midnight and Silver options. Its minimal ports lag behind competitors like the Dell XPS 13.

Display

The Liquid Retina display (13.6-inch, 2560 x 1664 pixels or 15.3-inch, 2880 x 1864 pixels) produces vibrant colors with 500 nits of brightness, outperforming the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i outdoors. The 60Hz refresh rate falls short of the ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED’s 120Hz.

Software

MacOS Sequoia includes Apple Intelligence with enhanced Siri. Continuity features create seamless integration with other Apple devices – an advantage over Windows alternatives like the HP Spectre x360.

Performance

The M4 chip features an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, paired with 16GB RAM (upgradable to 24GB) and storage from 256GB to 2TB SSD. It handles multitasking effortlessly – running 4K streams and Photoshop simultaneously – delivering 20% better performance than the M3. Compared to the Intel Core Ultra 7 in the Dell XPS 13, the M4 shows superior efficiency, though the XPS edges ahead in multi-core processing.

Gaming is adequate for casual titles like Hades, but AAA games cause thermal throttling due to the fanless design, unlike the actively cooled ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. For coding and light editing, it’s exceptionally responsive, though sustained workloads reveal cooling limitations.

The base 16GB RAM provides an advantage over competitors like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i’s 8GB starting point. For everyday professional and creative work, the performance-to-efficiency ratio makes it a strong contender.

Battery Life

The MacBook Air delivers 15-16 hours of browsing and 12-14 hours of video playback, outperforming the HP Spectre x360. The 35W MagSafe charger reaches 50% in 30 minutes.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The Magic Keyboard offers comfortable 1mm key travel with Touch ID. The Force Touch trackpad remains unrivaled in responsiveness, surpassing the Dell XPS 13’s offering.

Ports and Connectivity

Two Thunderbolt 4 ports plus MagSafe provide limited options compared to the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i’s more generous selection. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 deliver excellent wireless connectivity.

Audio and Webcam

The four-speaker system with Spatial Audio lacks the bass depth of the ASUS ZenBook 14. The 12MP Center Stage webcam outperforms the Dell XPS 13’s 1080p camera.

Thermal Performance

The fanless design keeps the operation silent but allows warming to 40-45°C under load, causing throttling during intensive tasks – less effective than active cooling solutions like in the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Sleek, eco-friendly design with Sky Blue option
• Powerful M4 chip with 16GB standard RAM
• Excellent battery life
• High-quality display and webcam

Cons

• Limited ports requiring dongles
• Performance throttling under heavy loads
• Speakers lack bass
• Premium pricing

Market Buzz

Online retailers show positive feedback for the design, performance, and battery life, with some disappointment about throttling and limited ports.

Pricing

• 13-inch (16GB/256GB): ₹99,900
• 15-inch (16GB/256GB): ₹124,900
• Maximum (24GB/2TB): ₹184,900

Value for Money

At ₹99,900, it justifies its cost through performance, build quality, and ecosystem benefits, offering better value than the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i for Apple users.

Final Verdict

The 2025 MacBook Air M4 balances power and portability for Indian consumers seeking a premium ultrabook. Despite thermal limitations and sparse connectivity, its battery life and ecosystem integration make it compelling.