Apple’s Spring 2025 Refresh: M4 MacBook Air & iPad 11th Generation
An In-Depth Review
Apple kicked off spring 2025 with significant refreshes to two of its most popular product lines – the MacBook Air and the entry-level iPad. In this comprehensive review, I’ll dive into what makes these new devices stand out, their key improvements, and whether they’re worth your investment.
M4 MacBook Air: The Perfect Balance of Power and Portability
The new M4 MacBook Air featuring the subtle Sky Blue finish
Key Specifications
Apple’s most popular laptop has received a noteworthy upgrade with the M4 chip, bringing impressive performance gains while maintaining its beloved fanless, ultra-thin design.
- Processor: M4 chip with 10-core CPU (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores)
- Graphics: 8-core GPU (base 13-inch model) or 10-core GPU (upgraded configurations)
- Memory: 16GB unified memory standard (doubled from 8GB in previous models)
- Storage: 256GB base configuration (upgradable to 2TB)
- Display: 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display (60Hz, 500 nits brightness, True Tone)
- Camera: Enhanced 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage
- Battery: Up to 18 hours of video playback
- Ports: Two Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Colors: Silver, Starlight, Midnight, and new Sky Blue finish
- Price: Starting at £999 for 13-inch, £1199 for 15-inch in the UK
What’s New?
The M4 MacBook Air represents a refinement rather than a revolution, but the improvements are significant:
- M4 Chip Performance: The new M4 silicon delivers approximately 20-25% better performance than the M3 chip, with particular improvements in AI tasks thanks to its enhanced 16-core Neural Engine.
- Standard 16GB RAM: Perhaps the most welcome change is the doubling of base memory from 8GB to 16GB without a price increase, addressing a long-standing complaint about Apple’s base configurations.
- Enhanced Camera System: The upgraded 12MP camera with Center Stage can now follow you during video calls, a feature previously limited to iPads and iMacs.
- Multi-Display Support: Unlike previous MacBook Airs, the M4 model can now drive two external displays simultaneously (up to 6K at 60Hz each) even with the laptop lid open.
- New Color Option: The introduction of “Sky Blue” replaces Space Gray in the color lineup, though as Marques Brownlee hilariously pointed out in his review, it’s a very subtle hue that sometimes appears almost silver.
Video Review Highlight
As MKBHD notes in his review: “M4 Macbook Air got better and dropped in price… they are on one.” His assessment highlights how this iteration maintains Apple’s winning formula while addressing key pain points like base memory.
Performance Analysis
The M4 chip marks a significant step forward in efficiency and capability. In benchmark testing, the M4 MacBook Air shows impressive gains over its M3 predecessor:
- Single-core performance: ~20% improvement
- Multi-core performance: ~22-24% improvement
- Graphics performance: ~22% boost in graphics-intensive tasks
What’s remarkable is that these gains come within the same passive cooling system – the MacBook Air remains fanless, relying on its aluminum body for heat dissipation. While this means sustained heavy workloads will eventually cause thermal throttling, for everyday tasks and even occasional video editing or 3D work, the performance is exceptional.
Real-World Value
The most impressive aspect of the 2025 MacBook Air refresh might be its pricing strategy. Apple has actually reduced the starting price back to £999 for the 13-inch model (from £1,099 for the M3 version), while doubling the base RAM. This represents a genuine improvement in value – addressing the common criticism that Apple’s base models were underspecced for their price points.
For students, casual users, and even professionals who don’t need the absolute peak performance of the MacBook Pro line, the M4 MacBook Air represents perhaps the best overall value in Apple’s current lineup.
iPad (11th Generation): Budget-Friendly but Mighty
The iPad 11th Generation maintains its modern design with vibrant color options
Key Specifications
The 11th-generation iPad (also called the iPad A16) maintains its position as the entry point to the iPad ecosystem while gaining some meaningful upgrades:
- Processor: A16 Bionic chip with 5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine
- Memory: 6GB RAM (up from 4GB in the 10th gen)
- Storage: 128GB base storage (doubled from 64GB), upgradable to 256GB or 512GB
- Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (non-laminated, 60Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness)
- Camera: 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera with Center Stage
- Connectivity: USB-C port (limited to USB 2.0 speeds), Wi-Fi 6, optional cellular
- Accessory Support: Compatible with Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Magic Keyboard Folio
- Colors: Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver
- Price: Starting at £329 in the UK (Wi-Fi model)
What’s New?
The 11th-generation iPad keeps the modern all-screen design introduced with the 10th-generation model while making these key improvements:
- Processor Upgrade: The A16 Bionic chip delivers nearly 30% better performance than the A14 in the previous model, despite having one fewer CPU core (5 vs 6).
- More RAM and Storage: The base RAM increases from 4GB to 6GB, and storage doubles from 64GB to 128GB at the same starting price.
- Price Drop: The starting price has actually decreased compared to the 10th-generation iPad, which launched at a higher price point than previous entry-level iPads.
Video Review Highlight
As Riley from ShortCircuit points out in his review, this 11th-generation iPad represents Apple “doing some okay stuff” in the budget segment, with increased performance and storage at a lower price point.
Performance Analysis
The A16 chip provides a significant performance boost over the previous generation:
- Geekbench single-core: 22% improvement
- Geekbench multi-core: 23% improvement
- GPU performance: 22% improvement
For everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, video calls, and media consumption, this entry-level iPad now has more than enough power. It can even handle light gaming and photo editing with ease.
Limitations to Consider
While the 11th-generation iPad offers excellent value, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- Display Technology: Unlike the iPad Air and Pro models, it has a non-laminated display without an anti-reflective coating, making it more prone to reflections.
- USB Connectivity: The USB-C port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds (480 Mbps).
- Apple Pencil Compatibility: Only works with the USB-C Apple Pencil or the 1st Generation Pencil with an adapter.
- No Apple Intelligence: Unlike the M4 MacBook Air, this iPad doesn’t support Apple Intelligence features.
Value Proposition
The iPad (11th Generation) represents a significant value improvement in Apple’s lineup. By doubling the base storage to 128GB while reducing the price to £329, Apple has made their entry-level tablet much more competitive against the growing field of Android alternatives.
For students, families, or anyone looking for a capable tablet for entertainment, web browsing, and light productivity, the 11th-generation iPad offers an excellent balance of performance and affordability.
Should You Upgrade?
For MacBook Air Users
- If you have an M2 or M3 MacBook Air: The performance gains may not justify an immediate upgrade unless you specifically need the improved Neural Engine for AI tasks or the ability to connect multiple external displays.
- If you have an M1 MacBook Air: The cumulative improvements from M1 to M4 are substantial, especially with the doubled base RAM. If your current machine is feeling constrained, the M4 Air represents a worthy upgrade.
- If you have an Intel MacBook Air: The performance difference will be dramatic – potentially 3-5x faster depending on your specific model. The upgrade is highly recommended for the significant improvements in performance, battery life, and heat management.
For iPad Users
- If you have the 10th-generation iPad: The performance improvements alone probably don’t justify an upgrade, but if you need more storage and are considering buying a higher-capacity model anyway, selling your current iPad and getting the 11th-gen might make financial sense.
- If you have a 9th-generation or older iPad: The modern design, USB-C connectivity, and significantly improved performance make this a compelling upgrade path if you want to stay in the iPad ecosystem without spending on the more expensive Air or Pro models.
- If you’re deciding between this and iPad Air: The Air offers a laminated display with anti-reflective coating, M3 chip with better performance, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. If these features matter to you, the extra investment might be worthwhile. If not, the standard iPad offers better value.
Conclusion
Apple’s Spring 2025 refresh demonstrates a welcome focus on value. Both the M4 MacBook Air and the iPad (11th Generation) deliver more for less than their predecessors, addressing common criticisms about Apple’s pricing strategy.
The M4 MacBook Air maintains its position as perhaps the best all-around laptop for most users, with its combination of performance, battery life, build quality, and now improved base specifications. Meanwhile, the 11th-generation iPad strengthens Apple’s position in the competitive tablet market by offering a capable device at a more accessible price point.
While neither product represents a radical redesign, the thoughtful improvements to performance and value make them compelling options for both new buyers and those looking to upgrade from older models.
What do you think?
Are you planning to upgrade to one of these new Apple products? Which features matter most to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!