New M4 MacBook Air reviews find it’s one of Apple’s most compelling laptop updates in recent memory — not because of revolutionary changes, but due to thoughtful refinements and a surprising price reduction. Here’s what reviewers said Tuesday about the new M4 MacBook Air.
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M4 MacBook Air reviews: Small upgrades (and smaller price) make great value
Powered by Apple's M4 chip, this 13-inch laptop delivers excellent performance and extreme efficiency in the same gorgeous design as last year's model. It packs two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe connector for fast charging, with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. It comes in four colors, including an interesting new sky blue.
- Outstanding Apple design
- 18-hour battery life
- Supports Apple Intelligence
- Limited ports
Design and build quality
All reviewers agreed that the new M4 MacBook Air maintains the same chassis design introduced with the M2 model in 2022. As Cult of Mac has noted, changes to the new model are refinements, not an overhaul, but some folks should definitely upgrade to it.
The laptop comes in a familiar flat design with rounded corners that Tom’s Hardware described as having “Apple’s go-to spartan design sensibilities.”
The primary design change is the introduction of a new sky blue color option. But reviewers disagree about its appearance. Gizmodo‘s reviewer expressed frustration with the subtle hue, asking “Will somebody please tell me if the new Apple MacBook Air M4’s ‘Sky Blue’ color is blue or just a cold shade of gray?” Similarly, The Verge noted it “often dulls to looking like any old silver MacBook in warm-toned light.” Tom’s Hardware showed more positivity, calling it “a very subtle sheen that I quite like.”
The build quality remains excellent. The lightweight frame (2.7 pounds for the 13-inch model) continuing to be a major selling point. As Wired‘s reviewer, a self-described MacBook Air devotee since 2012, put it: “As someone always working on the go, I’ve always been drawn to how lightweight it is.”
Solid computing performance
Photo: Cult of Mac/Apple
All publications confirm modest but meaningful performance gains with the M4 chip over previous generations. Tom’s Hardware found the M4 notched a single-core score of 3,780 and a multi-core score of 14,924 in Geekbench 6. The Verge corroborated that, noting over 20 percent higher marks than the M3 in both single-core and multi-core CPU performance.
Gizmodo saw similar results, reporting Geekbench 6 scores of 3,720 in single-core and 14,891 in multi-core, “which is close to 600 points and 2,800 more than the MacBook Air M3.” It also emphasized that the narrower performance delta between generations. “M3 and M4 are closer in capabilities than M1 and M2,” it said. “But if you had waited to jump from earlier Apple silicon to the latest, this has been the best performance gains from the past few generations.”
The Air’s fanless design means sustained performance will eventually throttle under heavy loads. Tom’s Hardware observed this during stress tests: “Its first score of 844 was its highest, and from there it started to plummet to the mid-600’s, with occasional bursts back up to the 700’s.”
For gaming, both Tom’s Hardware and Gizmodo found acceptable performance. Tom’s Hardware reported No Man’s Sky running at 44-50 FPS at 2048 x 1280 resolution with high settings. Gizmodo achieved 50-60 FPS in Resident Evil 4 at 2560 x 1664 resolution with mid-to-high settings.
Same display, not quite enough ports
The M4 Air retains the same Liquid Retina IPS display as previous models, with no changes to resolution or refresh rate (still 60Hz). All reviewers appreciate the display’s brightness and color reproduction. But they note it lacks the mini-LED technology found in the Pro models.
All publications highlighted a big improvement in the M4 Air’s ability to support two external monitors while keeping the laptop open, enabling a true three-display setup. The Verge called this “the M4 Air’s most ‘pro’ new feature.” Wired noted it “truly does wonders for productivity.”
The port selection remains unchanged with two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, a headphone jack and MagSafe for charging. Wired expressed disappointment about the limited ports: “I fully understand that an extensive port selection is usually reserved for the MacBook Pro, but I truly wanted Apple to add at least one extra USB-C port here.”
Improved camera, impressive audio
Photo: Apple
All reviewers highlight the upgraded 12-megapixel “Center Stage” webcam. Tom’s Hardware reported that “video calls looked natural” with the new camera, though still shots were “a bit fuzzy.” Wired noted skepticism about the Center Stage feature itself, finding it “too awkward and sensitive.”
The speakers continue to impress across all reviews. Tom’s Hardware praised them as “incredible” for a laptop this thin, noting that Lights’ “Damage” came through “loud and clear, filling my apartment with sound, including melodic guitars, pounding drums and even a reverberating bass.”
Long battery life
Battery performance remains excellent, with Tom’s Hardware measuring 15 hours and 14 minutes on its battery test. Wired reported approximately 13 hours of real-world use.
The Verge simply stated it “has exceptional battery life that lasts all day (not just squeaking through a workday but confidently getting through your whole day).”
Lower price, better value
All publications emphasize the $100 price reduction as a significant improvement to the value proposition. The 13-inch model now starts at $999 with 16GB of RAM (up from 8GB in previous base models), while the 15-inch starts at $1,199.
The Verge summed up the sentiment: “Apple rarely offers you more for less, especially in its most popular products with the broadest appeal … The MacBook Air is an even better value than before, even against increased tariffs, further cementing it as the no-brainer, no-fuss recommendation for most people who need a basic laptop for around $1,000.”
M4 MacBook Air reviews: Consensus and final thoughts
There’s remarkable consensus among reviewers. While the M4 MacBook Air represents an iterative update, they said, the combination of improved performance, better webcam, enhanced external display support, doubled base RAM and a lower price make it a compelling option.
Tom’s Hardware called it “a really solid value,” while The Verge said “the MacBook Air continues to nail the fundamentals at a fairly affordable price.” Gizmodo recommended it as “the best starting place for those looking to get into Apple’s laptop ecosystem.” Wired maintained it’s “the best MacBook for most people.”
Primary criticisms center on the limited port selection, the continued presence of the display notch and the missed opportunity for more vibrant color options. However, those aren’t deal-breakers given the overall quality and value of the package.
For most users seeking a reliable, efficient and well-built laptop around $1,000, the M4 MacBook Air appears to be the clear choice according to major tech publications.
Powered by Apple's M4 chip, this 13-inch laptop delivers excellent performance and extreme efficiency in the same gorgeous design as last year's model. It packs two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe connector for fast charging, with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. It comes in four colors, including an interesting new sky blue.
- Outstanding Apple design
- 18-hour battery life
- Supports Apple Intelligence
- Limited ports
Watch M4 MacBook Air review videos:
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
