Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
66,551
35,784


There is a good chance that Apple's first product announcement of 2025 will be updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip.

MacBook-Air-15-Inch-Feature-Blue.jpg

Last month, Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2, and in doing so it accidentally confirmed new MacBook Air models are coming this year (unsurprisingly).

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the new MacBook Air models will be announced "earlier" than some other devices rumored to launch this spring, such as a new iPhone SE and iPad 11. He has repeatedly said the new MacBook Air models are already in production, so a release as early as January or February rather than March or April seems possible.

Below, we recap rumors about the next MacBook Air models.

The new MacBook Air models are expected to be equipped with Apple's already-released M4 chip, which has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.

Apple already updated the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini with M4 chips in late October. Geekbench 6 results showed that the M4 chip is up to 25% faster than the M3 chip in terms of multi-core CPU performance.

Apple recently increased the minimum RAM included in all MacBook Air models from 8GB to 16GB.

Following in the footsteps of the MacBook Pro, the next MacBook Air models will likely have an upgraded 12-megapixel camera with support for Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps you centered on video as you move around. The camera should also support Desk View, which shows both you and an overhead view of your desk.

Center Stage is available in video calling apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The feature was previously limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to Apple's external Studio Display. The new MacBook Pro and iMac models were the first Macs to support Center Stage without needing to rely on a Studio Display.

The new MacBook Air models will likely be equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, whereas the current models have two Thunderbolt 3 ports. And the new models will likely support up to two external displays, even when the lid is open.

The latest MacBook Pro and iMac models can be configured with a nano-texture display, which has a special coating that better scatters light to further minimize glare on the screen. It is possible that Apple will extend this option to the new MacBook Air models, but it might opt to keep the option exclusive to the MacBook Pro for differentiation.

No major external design changes have been rumored for the next MacBook Air models. Apple last redesigned the MacBook Air in 2022.

Article Link: MacBook Air Likely Apple's First Product Update of 2025: What to Expect
 
This would be an instant-buy for me if it had a mini-LED/120Hz display (though mini-LED matters more to me than the refresh rate). I've found I really don't need the computing power offered by the Pro and Max chips. I think an Air would do it for me as far as I what I need from a computer. But now that I've been using mini-LED/ProMotion for three years, the Air's display seems inadequate to me. Unfortunately, it will likely be years before the display on the Air is upgraded significantly (if ever).
 
This would be an instant-buy for me if it had a mini-LED/120Hz display (though mini-LED matters more to me than the refresh rate). I've found I really don't need the computing power offered by the Pro and Max chips. I think an Air would do it for me as far as I what I need from a computer. But now that I've been using mini-LED/ProMotion for three years, the Air's display seems inadequate to me. Unfortunately, it will likely be years before the display on the Air is upgraded significantly (if ever).
Air and standard m-series Pro have minimal spec differentiation and that display is totally worth it if you are not carrying it around 90 percent of the time.
 
This would be an instant-buy for me if it had a mini-LED/120Hz display (though mini-LED matters more to me than the refresh rate). I've found I really don't need the computing power offered by the Pro and Max chips. I think an Air would do it for me as far as I what I need from a computer. But now that I've been using mini-LED/ProMotion for three years, the Air's display seems inadequate to me. Unfortunately, it will likely be years before the display on the Air is upgraded significantly (if ever).
Same although I think I can manage with 60Hz on a larger screen than I can on the small screen of the iPhone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big_D
Center Stage is available in video calling apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The feature was previously limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to Apple's external Studio Display. The new MacBook Pro and iMac models were the first Macs to support Center Stage without needing to rely on a Studio Display.
I have the M4 iMac with this camera. I don't end up using Center Stage much myself. Image quality is great, though, especially the background isolation and quality of virtual backgrounds it enables.

My M1 Air is still performing like a champ, but if the M4 Air had the nano-texture display I'd be tempted to upgrade for that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roronl
I will get one of these to replace my wife's 2017 13" MacBook Air. I will wait until the Back-To-School sale though.

Not sure if I should get 16/256 or 16/512 GB, but her current MacBook Air 8/256 still has about 120 GB free.

I'm still using my 2017 12" m3 MacBook though. coconutBattery claims its battery is still at 90%. Impressive!
 
  • Like
Reactions: ignatius345
I’m very tempted to trade in my M1Pro 14” MBP for one of these. I don’t do any productivity work on my laptop like I thought I would. Mostly I’m using it for email, web browsing, YouTube and writing. A lighter 13” MBA sounds appealing, especially if Apple gives it a 3rd usb-c port.

Not sure how much I’d miss the MBP screen though 🤔
 
I’m very tempted to trade in my M1Pro 14” MBP for one of these. I don’t do any productivity work on my laptop like I thought I would. Mostly I’m using it for email, web browsing, YouTube and writing. A lighter 13” MBA sounds appealing, especially if Apple gives it a 3rd usb-c port.

Not sure how much I’d miss the MBP screen though 🤔

For those needs you could probably go iPad with a bluetooth keyboard case, basically creating a laptop-like tablet. Those can do those 4 things just fine... and double as a tablet too. iPads are lighter than MBair.
 
Last edited:
My 15" M2 MBA is freaking badass. A boggling combo of impossibly svelte and shockingly capable. Putting an M4 in this chassis is just stupid. I've been using Macs since the 90s and this M2 MBA is, without question, the Mac I have enjoyed using the most. Makes my corp-issued MBP feel like a cinder block whose slight performance gains (and extra ports) are not at all worth the extra heft. For me. YMMV of course.
 


There is a good chance that Apple's first product announcement of 2025 will be updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip.

MacBook-Air-15-Inch-Feature-Blue.jpg

Last month, Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2, and in doing so it accidentally confirmed new MacBook Air models are coming this year (unsurprisingly).

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the new MacBook Air models will be announced "earlier" than some other devices rumored to launch this spring, such as a new iPhone SE and iPad 11. He has repeatedly said the new MacBook Air models are already in production, so a release as early as January or February rather than March or April seems possible.

Below, we recap rumors about the next MacBook Air models.

The new MacBook Air models are expected to be equipped with Apple's already-released M4 chip, which has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.

Apple already updated the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini with M4 chips in late October. Geekbench 6 results showed that the M4 chip is up to 25% faster than the M3 chip in terms of multi-core CPU performance.

Apple recently increased the minimum RAM included in all MacBook Air models from 8GB to 16GB.

Following in the footsteps of the MacBook Pro, the next MacBook Air models will likely have an upgraded 12-megapixel camera with support for Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps you centered on video as you move around. The camera should also support Desk View, which shows both you and an overhead view of your desk.

Center Stage is available in video calling apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The feature was previously limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to Apple's external Studio Display. The new MacBook Pro and iMac models were the first Macs to support Center Stage without needing to rely on a Studio Display.

The new MacBook Air models will likely be equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, whereas the current models have two Thunderbolt 3 ports. And the new models will likely support up to two external displays, even when the lid is open.

The latest MacBook Pro and iMac models can be configured with a nano-texture display, which has a special coating that better scatters light to further minimize glare on the screen. It is possible that Apple will extend this option to the new MacBook Air models, but it might opt to keep the option exclusive to the MacBook Pro for differentiation.

No major external design changes have been rumored for the next MacBook Air models. Apple last redesigned the MacBook Air in 2022.

Article Link: MacBook Air Likely Apple's First Product Update of 2025: What to Expect
Guys don't forget the iMac has 8 cores CPU on the base model !! The new air could also have 8 cores CPU against 10... I expect the new FaceTime cam, 20h of battery, thunderbolt 4, nano texture and maybe a better screen (maybe not)
 
I’m very tempted to trade in my M1Pro 14” MBP for one of these. I don’t do any productivity work on my laptop like I thought I would. Mostly I’m using it for email, web browsing, YouTube and writing. A lighter 13” MBA sounds appealing, especially if Apple gives it a 3rd usb-c port.

Not sure how much I’d miss the MBP screen though 🤔

MBP displays are definitely better. But it's not like MBA displays are unusable. If A/B testing, you'll likely see differences. But in day-to-day use... It's not unlike the differences in iPhone Pro and iPhone displays. Sure, you can A/B them and point out differences. But if you are only using an iPhone, you'll likely not think twice about your display.

Especially considering your stated use case... You'd LOVE an M4 MBA. It's so light, so capable. I'd be interested to hear your take, should you move from a MBP to a MBA. As a long-time "Pro" user, I was hesitant to pluck down for my MBA. Within about 3 seconds of unpacking, I was smitten. For all the Mcs I've used/owned over all these years, I never fell for one so fast. lol
 
What will be close out prices on the M3? More than the present $200 off?

Generally no. Apple doesn't seem to do "closeouts." Instead they work the inventory down to near nill before rolling out the replacement generation. What's left seems to get cleared out through third party retailers at about the refurb discount range of 10%-15%... unless you wait a few YEARS and then you may get a steeper discount on what will then be a pretty old MBair variant at the time (recall that batch of M1 MBairs at Walmart about a year ago).

Note that we assume M4 MBair will roll out at M3 MBair pricing to conceptually make the latter have a big discount. Nothing stops Apple from jacking UP the price of M4 so that what's left of M3 are relatively cheaper at the "as is" pricing.

For example, what if Apple bumps M4 up $100? Then these $200 off prices can seem like $300 off... or regular pricing can seem like $100 off. If Apple bumped M4 up $200, then "$200 off" would be regular price for M3.

Nothing really surprises with modern AAPL.
 
This would be an instant-buy for me if it had a mini-LED/120Hz display (though mini-LED matters more to me than the refresh rate). I've found I really don't need the computing power offered by the Pro and Max chips. I think an Air would do it for me as far as I what I need from a computer. But now that I've been using mini-LED/ProMotion for three years, the Air's display seems inadequate to me. Unfortunately, it will likely be years before the display on the Air is upgraded significantly (if ever).
But it won’t so you won't be buying it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: galaxian
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.