Apple’s M4 MacBook Air, released in March 2025, has garnered attention for its impressive performance and battery longevity. Equipped with the powerful M4 processor, this laptop offers configurations up to 24GB of unified memory and display options of 13 or 15 inches, supporting over a billion colors. Apple advertises up to 18 hours of battery life for the MacBook Air, with claims of up to 24 hours under certain conditions. However, real-world usage often varies based on individual habits and tasks.
Understanding Battery Performance
The M4 MacBook Air’s battery life is influenced by how the device is used. Light tasks like web browsing and document editing consume less power, allowing the laptop to last longer between charges. Conversely, resource-intensive activities such as gaming or video editing engage the performance cores more heavily, leading to faster battery depletion. For instance, while Apple claims up to 18 hours of battery life, real-world tests have shown varying results. In a continuous web surfing test at 150 nits brightness, the MacBook Air lasted approximately 14 hours and 51 minutes, slightly less than the advertised duration but still impressive. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/laptops/macbook-air-m4-review?utm_source=openai))
Real-World Usage Scenarios
In practical terms, users have reported substantial battery endurance. One user noted that after a full day of mixed-use—including video calls, benchmarking, photo editing, and writing—the battery remained at about 15% after over eight hours of screen-on time. ([howtogeek.com](https://www.howtogeek.com/macbook-air-m4-review/?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that for typical daily tasks, the M4 MacBook Air can comfortably last a full workday without needing a recharge.
Battery Capacity and Efficiency
The M4 MacBook Air features a 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, a slight increase from the previous model’s 52.6-watt-hour capacity. This enhancement, combined with the M4 chip’s efficiency, contributes to the laptop’s commendable battery performance. Tests have shown that the M4 model delivers approximately an hour more battery life compared to its predecessor under similar workloads. ([hostbor.com](https://hostbor.com/m4-macbook-air-review/?utm_source=openai))
Charging Options
Apple provides different charging adapters based on the MacBook Air model. The base 13-inch version comes with a 30W USB-C power adapter, while the 15-inch model and upgraded 13-inch configurations include a 35W dual USB-C port adapter, allowing simultaneous charging of the MacBook and another device. For faster charging, users can opt for Apple’s 70W adapter, sold separately. ([xatakaon.com](https://www.xatakaon.com/reviews/m4-macbook-air-2025-review-opinion-with-specs-and-price?utm_source=openai))
User Experiences
User experiences highlight the variability in battery life based on usage patterns. For example, a user reported that their M4 MacBook Air lasted several days without charging when used primarily for light tasks like web browsing and document editing. However, engaging in more demanding activities like gaming significantly reduced battery life, with the laptop lasting only a few hours under heavy load.
Conclusion
The M4 MacBook Air stands out for its balance of performance and battery efficiency. While Apple’s advertised battery life figures provide a general guideline, actual endurance will depend on individual usage patterns. For users engaged in everyday tasks, the MacBook Air can reliably last a full day or more without needing a recharge. However, those involved in more intensive activities should anticipate shorter battery life and plan their charging routines accordingly.
