The performance of apps on the M4 MacBook Air from Apple astonished me.

      Apple is debuting a range of new products this spring, including a new MacBook Air equipped with the M4 chip, an updated iPad Air featuring the M3 chip, and a refreshed Mac Studio desktop, available with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chip options. While fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the highly sought-after M5 chip devices, such as the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro later this year, Apple has introduced the expected updates for its early-year products. The MacBook Air and iPad Air receive annual enhancements, while the Mac Studio is being updated for the first time since 2023.

      Most changes to the devices primarily involve hardware improvements and upgrades in AI support, while the overall external designs remain largely intact. Apple is keen to highlight the Apple Intelligence app integration, which is both functional and user-friendly. The brand finds itself competing with various on-device AI experiences, including Microsoft’s Copilot+ on PCs and Chromebooks filled with Google Gemini.

      The starting prices for the new products are set at $1,000 for the MacBook Air, $600 for the iPad Air, and $2,000 for the Mac Studio, with multiple configurations available at higher price points. Remarkably, the highest configuration of the Mac Studio comes with a staggering price of $14,000.

      I had the opportunity to interact with demos of several applications on the 2025 MacBook Air, iPad Air, and Mac Studio, and I was impressed by the performance delivered by the M4 and M3 chips. The devices exhibit remarkable capabilities, particularly when handling creative tasks, catering to both enthusiasts and professionals alike. This lineup offers something for everyone.

      The 2025 MacBook Air is available in both 13-inch and 15-inch Liquid Retina display options. Apple has not made significant alterations to the external design of the laptop. Key features remain unchanged, including the MagSafe 3 charging port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The laptop can support two 6K external displays in addition to the built-in screen.

      However, a new Sky Blue color has been introduced, marking the discontinuation of the Space Gray option. At first glance, under bright lighting, the Sky Blue appears to have a silvery hue that might be similar to the Silver variant of the MacBook Air. Yet, when observed in shadow, the light blue reveals its beauty. It's comparable to how Starlight and Silver can appear similar in certain lighting conditions, while Midnight offers a deep blue undertone. The available color options also include Starlight, Midnight, and Silver. If I had to select a color, I'd probably lean toward Starlight, which is striking against the yellow background and invites creativity with custom backgrounds and its glimmering gold tone.

      In handling the smaller 13-inch MacBook Air, I found the device true to its name, weighing in at 2.7 pounds. The laptops felt lightweight and easy to maneuver. The 0.44-inch thick build is one of the slimmest available. Although I could only view the larger 15-inch model in a visual demo, it maintains a slim profile at 0.45 inches high and weighs 3.3 pounds. The size variation is likely to influence consumer preferences. Personally, I prefer the smaller configurations of all MacBook models, especially as an owner of an older 13-inch MacBook Pro.

      Despite being wiped for fingerprints between users, I didn't notice any scuffs while handling the devices. Previous MacBook Air models were notorious for attracting fingerprints until Apple used an anodized seal. The Sky Blue finish showed minimal fingerprints, and I would feel confident choosing Midnight without worrying about oils from my hands.

      Apple demonstrated various applications and features on the 15-inch MacBook Air, including the 12-megapixel Center Stage camera offering 1080p video quality, alongside the Pixelmator Pro app. Another demonstration highlighted the new macOS Sequoia feature, Window Tiling. The notes app, Bear, features integration with Apple Intelligence. Apple mentioned that the popular application Blender runs five times faster on the M4 MacBook Air compared to the M1 model. Additionally, they showcased the open-world RPG Wuthering Waves on the MacBook Air, which demonstrated high frame rates and smooth gameplay during the previous demos, operating on battery power alone with no drops in performance. Apple indicated that the device had essentially reached its peak thermal performance and power efficiency after running all day.

      Importantly, the 2025 MacBook Air is the first model that can be configured with up to 32GB of memory. Both models offer up to 18 hours of battery life.

      **M3 iPad Air**

      The iPad Air utilizes the M3 chip to enhance its graphic capabilities and AI functionalities. It is available in 11-inch and 13-inch Liquid Retina display sizes and is compatible with the Magic Keyboard,