Apple CEO Tim Cook set the tech world abuzz with a cryptic post on X: "This week," paired with a six-second video flashing the message, "There’s something in the air." Posted at 10:54 AM ET, the teaser has fueled anticipation for an imminent Apple product reveal, with all signs pointing to a refreshed MacBook Air powered by the M4 chip. As of today, March 4, 2025, the tech community is eagerly awaiting what could be a significant update to Apple’s popular lightweight laptop line.
The phrase "something in the air" is a deliberate nod to Apple’s history. In 2008, Steve Jobs used the same tagline to unveil the original MacBook Air, famously sliding it out of a manila envelope to showcase its groundbreaking thinness. Cook’s choice of words suggests a return to that legacy, strongly hinting that the MacBook Air is the star of this week’s show. Industry insiders, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, have reinforced this expectation, reporting on March 2 that an M4 MacBook Air announcement is "imminent" and could land "as early as this week." Gurman noted that Apple has been winding down inventory of current MacBook Air models, a telltale sign of an upcoming refresh.
The M4 chip, first introduced in the iPad Pro in May 2024 and later rolled out to the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini in October 2024, promises a performance boost for the MacBook Air. Compared to the current M3 MacBook Air, launched in March 2024, the M4 offers a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU (up from 8 cores each), faster memory bandwidth, and a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for Apple Intelligence features. Benchmarks suggest the M4 delivers up to 25% better multi-core CPU performance than the M3, though no radical design changes are expected. The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models are likely to retain their sleek, fanless design, possibly gaining upgrades like a 12MP Center Stage camera and Thunderbolt 5 ports for enhanced external display support.
Apple’s timing aligns with its recent pattern of low-key product drops. Last month, Cook posted a similar teaser before the iPhone 16e—a budget-friendly model—debuted via a press release rather than a splashy event. Analysts expect a similar approach here: a detailed Newsroom post and a YouTube video, potentially as early as today or tomorrow, March 5. The M3 MacBook Air marked its one-year anniversary this month, making a spring refresh with the M4 chip a logical step to keep the lineup competitive, especially against the pricier M4 MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,599 compared to the Air’s $1,099 base price.
Could "Air" mean something else? Rumors of an iPad Air update with an M4 chip or even a new AirTag have swirled, but Gurman suggests these are further out—possibly April or mid-2025—while the MacBook Air is the immediate focus. Retail inventories for the iPad Air are reportedly dwindling, but the consensus is that this week belongs to the Mac.
Cook’s tease from his personal X account, rather than Apple’s official channels, adds a layer of intrigue. It’s a subtle flex of his 14-year tenure as CEO, blending nostalgia with forward momentum. For Apple fans, the message is clear: something lightweight, powerful, and quintessentially "Air" is about to land.