For years, the M1 MacBook Air stood as one of the most transformative laptops in Apple’s history. Not only did it mark the company’s decisive break from Intel processors, but it also gave everyday users an ultra-efficient notebook with performance that dramatically outclassed its predecessors. At launch, it was a disruptor—lightweight, shockingly quiet, and powered by an ARM-based chip that redefined what entry-level MacBooks could achieve.
But as the market evolves, so do the expectations of modern laptop users. And with Apple now on the fourth generation of its in-house silicon—with the M4 MacBook Air emerging as a flagship model at a surprisingly accessible price point—the value proposition of the M1 Air in late 2025 is rapidly declining. Even a steep Black Friday pricing of $599 is no longer enough to justify its purchase for most people who need longevity, power, and hardware capable of meeting the demands of today’s software ecosystem.
The conversation around budget laptops has shifted. What once made the M1 Air stand out—its forward-looking efficiency—has now become the very thing making it feel outdated.
Understanding the Context: Apple’s Silicon Progression from M1 to M4
Apple’s silicon journey has been a meticulously engineered climb toward maximizing performance-per-watt. The M1 chip was revolutionary in 2020, enabling lightweight laptops to outperform high-end Intel machines while maintaining incredible battery life. However, each generation after M1 introduced not just incremental boosts but foundational advancements in architecture.
The M2 brought graphical maturity and better throughput.
The M3 refined the efficiency curve with a new fabrication process.
The M4 represents a leap into a new design language optimized for AI-accelerated workflows, background tasking, and multi-threaded workloads found in professional environments.
And critically, the M4 MacBook Air now ships with 16GB RAM by default—a response to years of user and developer feedback that 8GB was simply too limiting in 2024 and beyond.
When evaluating laptops in a modern productivity context, memory is no longer a secondary specification. It’s the bottleneck that determines whether your machine can multitask fluidly, especially with cloud-integrated apps, browser-based software, on-device AI processing, and more.
From an industry standpoint, Apple’s silicon roadmap now places the M1 in the “early legacy” category. It is still respectable in raw CPU performance, but its RAM limitation, thermal profile, and restricted I/O bandwidth make it a mismatch for 2025 workflows.
Where the M1 MacBook Air Begins to Show Its Age
Even devoted Apple enthusiasts who once praised the M1 Air for its efficiency now acknowledge its weaknesses in a modern computing landscape. What were once minor quirks have hardened into systemic limitations.
1. The 8GB RAM Ceiling Is No Longer Viable
The most glaring issue is memory. The base M1 Air includes only 8GB of unified RAM, which in 2020 was tolerable, even generous for lightweight tasks such as email processing, document editing, and casual browsing. But in 2025, the average RAM consumption of modern apps has ballooned.
Running multiple Chrome tabs, Slack, Figma, Notion, Zoom, and cloud collaboration tools simultaneously can push memory usage well beyond 8GB. When this happens, macOS begins aggressively swapping data to SSD storage.
That leads to two problems:
- Sluggish multitasking and poor responsiveness
- Accelerated SSD wear, reducing device longevity
This is not theoretical—it is observable in real-world usage. Anyone who has used an M1 Air for more than a couple of years will likely confirm that the system slows significantly under multi-app workloads.
2. The M1’s I/O Capabilities Are Limited
The M1 Air includes:
- Two standard USB-C ports (not Thunderbolt 4)
- No MagSafe charging
- A single external monitor limit
In 2025, these limitations feel restrictive. The M4 Air includes:
- Thunderbolt 4 speeds
- MagSafe 3 charging
- Improved external display support
For users working with external monitors, docking stations, or high-speed peripherals, the M1 Air is now objectively compromised.
3. Aging Design Language and Build
Before Apple unified its hardware design across the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineups, earlier Air models—including the M1—featured the classic wedge shape. While iconic, it lacks modern attributes such as:
- Larger and brighter display
- Slimmer, symmetric chassis
- More durable build
- Smaller bezels and improved webcam notch housing
The M4 Air looks and feels significantly more premium. Apple’s design standard raised the bar, and the M1 model now resembles an earlier era of MacBook engineering.
4. Software Support Longevity Is Now a Serious Consideration
Apple typically provides 7–8 years of major updates for Macs. The M1 is already five years old. While it will not lose support immediately, buyers looking for a laptop to last should understand that:
- The M4 will receive at least 3–4 more years of updates beyond the M1
- New macOS features increasingly lean on upgraded neural engines and enhanced efficiency cores
- On-device AI features may not reach the M1 at all
Longevity is now a major part of evaluating value.
Why the M4 MacBook Air Is Objectively the Better Purchase
All technological progress aside, the main reason experts are no longer recommending the M1 Air—even at historically low prices—is simple:
The M4 Air is only $150 more.
This price gap is small enough that the decision becomes obvious for most shoppers. Here are the core reasons why the M4 Air dominates:
Double the RAM
16GB vs. 8GB
This single upgrade alone justifies the additional $150.
Massively Improved Performance
The M4’s CPU and GPU improvements are substantial:
- Faster neural engine
- Faster unified memory bandwidth
- Better thermal management
- Optimized for multitasking and on-device AI
This results in faster app launching, smoother operation under load, and better machine responsiveness overall.
Premium Modern Design
The new chassis includes:
- Larger display
- Notch housing 12MP webcam
- Slimmer and sturdier build
- More modern aesthetics
It feels like a $1200 laptop, even when sold for $749.
Better Battery Efficiency
Apple’s M4 architecture continues the tradition of all-day battery life, often surpassing the M1 Air by several hours under intensive workflows.
MagSafe Charging Returns
Not only does MagSafe add convenience, but it also frees up USB-C ports—critical for docked workflows.
Should Anyone Still Buy the M1 MacBook Air in 2025?
To be fair, the M1 MacBook Air is not a “bad” machine. In fact, for light users—students, casual web users, and people who mainly perform single-task workflows—it still performs reasonably well. And at $599, it is genuinely attractive from a budget standpoint.
But the reality is:
- The average user now requires more RAM
- Software demands have grown
- Mac lifespan expectations have increased
- The price difference to the M4 is unusually small this year
Therefore, the recommendation is clear:
Unless your budget absolutely caps at $600, the M4 MacBook Air is the better choice in every measurable way.
The M1 MacBook Air’s Legacy
Historically, the M1 Air will be remembered as a product that reinvented consumer laptop performance standards. It proved that ARM-based architectures could outperform traditional x86 CPUs. It set a new industry benchmark for power efficiency. It helped Apple transition its entire Mac lineup into unified silicon.
But in the fast-moving world of consumer technology, legacy does not equal longevity.
The M4 Air represents the future of ultraportable computing. The M1 Air represents the past.
Conclusion: A Great Deal Isn’t Always the Right Deal
Black Friday often tempts consumers with attractive pricing that masks long-term compromises. The M1 Air at $599 looks like a steal, but when the M4 Air—arguably one of the best laptops Apple has built in years—is only $150 more, the smarter investment becomes obvious.
For people wanting a laptop that:
- Will last
- Will handle modern workloads
- Will support future operating systems
- Will retain resale value
- Will deliver superior daily performance
The M4 MacBook Air is the undeniable winner.