Apple launched M3-powered MacBook Air laptops just like the MacBook Air 13-inch M3 and MacBook Air 15-inch M3 again in March of 2024, and we might even see Apple M4-driven equivalents quickly. Given the recognition of the MacBook Airs, refreshed fashions with M4 chips are inevitable.
Though Apple hasn’t formally introduced the MacBook Air M4 line, rumors counsel these laptops might arrive in early 2025 — a full 12 months after the Apple M3 fashions. We don’t have plenty of particulars in the intervening time, however we count on these laptops will seemingly retain the identical design as the present fashions, with the largest distinction being the M4 chip inside.
Here’s all the things we’ve heard thus far in regards to the MacBook Air M4.
MacBook Air M4: Rumored launch date
According to Bloomberg reporter and Apple tipster Mark Gurman, Apple will reportedly launch the MacBook Air M4 in Q1 of 2025. If true, count on these laptops to reach between January and March.
Apple launched the M3 MacBook Airs in March 2024. Because of that, I believe March 2025 is the most probably launch window. That mentioned, it’s attainable the laptops might arrive later. After all, the MacBook Air M2 dropped in July 2022. I don’t suppose we’ll have to attend that lengthy for M4 MacBook Airs, but it surely’s arduous to inform for sure.
I actually consider the MacBook Air M4 launch date can be earlier than the important back-to-school buying season.
MacBook Air M4: Rumored design
Gurman’s sources declare that the MacBook Air M4 fashions “will look just like the present design launched in 2022.” Apple will quickly start manufacturing new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs codenamed J713 and J714. This declare aligns with a earlier report from show analyst Russ Young, who mentioned show panel shipments for the brand new MacBook Airs would start in October (through MacRumors).
All trendy MacBooks, together with the MacBook Airs, have the flat utilitarian design launched with 2021’s MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch. Apple will seemingly hold this design round for a few years (if not longer), so it’s not shocking that the M4 Airs seemingly aren’t getting a redesign.
MacBook Air M4: Potential specs and efficiency
While Apple reportedly received’t redesign the MacBook Air, the corporate’s skinny and light-weight laptop computer will allegedly have the identical Apple M4 chip because the iPad Pro M4 and MacBook Pro 14-inch M4. This chip packs a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU and a Neural Engine that may hit 38 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of AI efficiency.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Geekbench (single/multi-core) | Handbrake (Video modifying) |
| MacBook Pro M4 | 3,807 / 15,114 | 4:27 |
| MacBook Pro M3 | 3,163 / 11,968 | 5:38 |
| Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon X Elite) | 2,797 / 14,365 | 4:47 |
| Dell XPS 13 (Intel Lunar Lake) | 2,660 / 10,846 | 8:35 |
| Asus ProArtwork PX13 (AMD Ryzen, RTX 4050) | 2,847 / 15,203 | 3:36 |
On Geekbench, which measures total CPU efficiency, the MacBook Pro M4 we reviewed turned in sooner scores on the single-core take a look at than the M3 mannequin and crushed competing Windows laptops. On the multi-core take a look at, the M4 MacBook Pro was on par with the Asus ProArtwork PX13 with an AMD Ryzen chip, but it surely beat the Dell XPS 13 with each Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Lunar Lake chips.
Considering the MacBook Air is a fanless laptop computer and is, due to this fact, extra vulnerable to thermal throttling, I count on a drop in efficiency in comparison with the MacBook Pro, which has inside followers. That mentioned, don’t count on a large efficiency distinction. If something, the M4 MacBook Air might ship efficiency on par with the M4 iPad Pro, which nonetheless surpassed competing tablets and even some laptops within the Geekbench benchmark take a look at.
In phrases of battery life, the M4 MacBook Pro lasted for an epic 18 hours and 31 minutes in our battery life take a look at. The MacBook Air laptops have smaller batteries than the MacBook Pros, so I don’t suppose we’ll see equal battery life. However, I do count on longer endurance than the M3 MacBook Airs, which lasted a little bit over 15 hours. It’s attainable the M4 MacBook Airs might final near 16 hours.
MacBook Air M4: Outlook
Since Apple hasn’t introduced the MacBook Air M4, it’s greatest to take all rumors with a wholesome dose of skepticism. That mentioned, it’s a secure guess we’ll see M4-powered MacBook Airs earlier than the summer season of 2025.
We’ll replace this put up with any new MacBook Air M4 experiences and rumors as we hear them, so keep tuned for extra!
