Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review roundup should you buy Apple's new lightweight laptop?
Date:
Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:20:01 +0000
Description:
The MacBook Air M4 reviews are in here's the verdict on Apple's latest lightweight laptop.
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A year on from the M3 MacBook Air , Apple has announced the latest version of its lightweight laptop. Launched alongside the ultraportable MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) , the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) adds a few key improvements to a proven formula.
Like its predecessor, the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is a streamlined large-screen laptop with a silent design and excellent performance, courtesy of Apples cutting-edge M4 chip. In a rare twist, it also comes in cheaper
than the previous edition: prices start at $1,199 / 1,199 / AU$2,099.
But does the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) offer good value for money? And is it worth upgrading if you already own the M3 MacBook Air?
Weve pulled together the biggest reviews from across the web and distilled
the results below, to help you decide which MacBook is best for you. First up is the feedback from our own experience The MacBook Air M4 reviews TechRadar: "An excellent thin and light laptop, and one of the best 15-inch laptops you can currently buy" (Image credit: Future) The good Impressive performance Lower entry price Silent fanless design The bad Not a major upgrade Lack of Wi-Fi 7
Our MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review concludes that its the best 15-inch laptop you can buy. We complimented its brilliant thin and light design and found that it offers a more immersive sound experience than the 13-inch version. We also acknowledged that the lower price makes it a better model
for less money.
We did observe that its more of a refinement than a complete reimagining and noted that the improved performance of the M4 chip, while very good, doesnt justify the upgrade if you already have an M2 or an M3 MacBook.
That said, we still found it a solid performer that can handle any day to day task, with battery life good enough for several work days on a single charge. Together with webcam improvements and the usefulness of a larger screen, we rated the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as excellent value for money. The Verge: Continues to nail the fundamentals at a fairly affordable price. (Image credit: Future) The good Full-day battery life Thin, light design Excellent everyday laptop Loud speakers The bad Limited basic storage Not enough ports Throttled performance
The Verge s MacBook Air (M4) review agrees with most of our feedback. It notes that the new version offers even better value, making it an excellent choice for most peoples everyday needs. The main reservation relates to the lackluster spec of storage on the base-level version, though it does note the increase from 8GB to 16GB of RAM.
Unlike us, The Verge reviewed both the 13-inch and 15-inch versions together at the same time. Like us, it found that the two extra speakers on the
15-inch allow it to get quite loud without sounding distorted.
It concludes that the new models dont do anything groundbreaking but continue to nail the fundamentals at a fairly affordable price. That includes some solid performance gains over the M3, along with exceptional battery life and
a great keyboard. The Verge also comments that the haptic trackpad is the
best around. CNET: Sits in the Goldilocks Zone of Apple's MacBook lineup (Image credit: Future) The good Screen size and weight Efficient performance Cheaper starting price The bad Expensive storage Costly RAM upgrades No ProMotion display
CNET s review shares many of those opinions. It sees the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as an update that adds incremental improvements to an already fantastic laptop, awarding it an impressive 9/10.
It echoes the view that the performance gains aren't enough on their own to necessitate an upgrade from an M2 or M3 model but identifies the lower price and bigger screen as two reasons to change. CNET has plenty of praise for the 15.3-inch display, which offers more space for open windows and Chrome tabs, as well as streaming.
Like The Verge, CNET has a word to say about the M4s storage options, balking at the semi-outrageous charge of $200 to double the storage to a 512GB SSD. Even so, it thinks the roomy display, trim design and new lower starting
price mean the 15-inch M4 should be viewed as the default Air. Wired: The 15-inch MacBook Air has finally come into its own. (Image credit: Future) The good Lower price Sharper webcam Powerful M4 chip Keyboard and trackpad The
bad Extra storage is expensive One-sided port layout
Wired joins CNET in awarding the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) a score of 9/10, noting that it improves upon the previous model in noteworthy ways while also dropping the price. The key takeaway is that its a more well-rounded option overall, with an increase in performance and capabilities, paired with a
lower price.
It notes that the core design hasnt changed, but that people are still marveling at it, including the excellent keyboard and trackpad. Wired does bemoan that all the power connections are on the left side, but applauds the addition of support for up to two external displays.
Wired notes no discernible performance difference between the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, but find that the extra screen real estate of the larger model makes a huge difference, without giving up sharpness. In summary, it rates the 15-inch M4 as a clear winner. Engadget: The ideal ultraportable for most users (Image credit: Future) The good Rapid performance Streamlined design Strong battery life Great touchpad and keys The bad Not enough ports Screen refresh rate
Like others, Engadget notes that the M4 chip isnt a transformative upgrade
for the MacBook Air, reporting that it couldn't actually feel a difference. But it still finds the new 15-inch model a no-brainer purchase and rates it
as a nearly flawless ultraportable.
As elsewhere, Engadget praises several aspects of the Airs impressively thin design, describing the keyboard as a dream to type on and stating that it has one of the best trackpads around. It also commends the battery life and appreciates the tracking feature of the Center Stage camera, even if the upgrade isnt exactly earth-shattering.
Like The Verge, Engadget reviewed the 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the MacBook Air M4 together. It acknowledges the benefits of both, finding that the smaller one is definitely easier to travel with but the larger has the more immersive screen. The Engadget review does wish for more ports and a faster screen refresh rate but fundamentally sees the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as heads and shoulders above the competition. The MacBook Air M4 verdict (Image credit: Future)
While opinions on finer details might differ, theres a strong consensus in
the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) reviews: every reviewer felt that Apples new 15-inch laptop gets close to the sweet spot in terms of price, performance, and screen size.
Every review commented favorably on the models new lower price and the
general sentiment is that it offers better value and a superior everyday user experience than the previous edition. That includes an excellent trackpad and keyboard, plus extra speakers.
Most of the reviews agree on the drawbacks, which will be familiar to owners of previous verions of the MacBook Air. Apple hasnt been generous with the ports, while the base-level storage capacity is limited and the cost of upgrading is high.
The main audience for the smaller MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is students and regular travelers. The 15-inch otherwise offers fuller sound and a larger display without much additional weight.
Almost all of the reviews conclude that the performance improvements
delivered by the M4 chip dont warrant upgrading if you already own a MacBook Air 15-inch (M3). But for everyone else, this is one of the best 15-inch laptops you can buy. You might also like I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is the best ultraportable and the new price makes it even more appealing The best MacBook and Macs: top Apple desktops and laptops
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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/macbooks/should-you-buy-apples-new-lightwe ight-laptop-apple-macbook-air-15-inch-m4-review-roundup
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