Can a MacBook Air

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Level 1

4 points

Can a MacBook Air

Before just trying it, here's my ask: on a new Macbook Air, M4 256GB: Can it run Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop 2025, and perform basic develop tasks In LR at a reasonable speed? This is with no batch processing no Ai tools, no large layered files. I 'm going to work tethered with a Nikon Z7ii, loading the camera files into the LR Library/Catalog on an external 1T SSD that has in/out transfer speeds of 2000mbps. I could set the camera to Raw+Large JPGs and stress the system even less by just importing the JPGs. This is for large corporate portrait sessions of multiple subjects, just to show subject's their portraits to facilitate selection of favorites. I would use Photoshop on rare occasion, for minimal processing of one image at a time. All serious editing would happen later on a desktop Mac. Thanks... t

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Can a MacBook Air

Posted on Nov 30, 2025 5:46 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

woodmeister50

Level 7

21,009 points

Dec 1, 2025 5:26 AM in response to Dragon650

256 GB is way too small if you intend to use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. These Adobe apps will store copious amounts of data in the hidden user Library folder in the ApplicationSupport folder and can be located nowhere else. These are things like caches, tools and other Adobe add ons, plugins, presets, master databases, etc. This is independent of any photos or libraries.

I would say that a bare minimum of 512GB internal drive would be necessary. I would also suggest getting a MacBook Air with the 24GB RAM. My experiences working with Lightroom is that it can use up RAM in a hurry.

Also note, that what you buy you will need to live with as the RAM and the SSD are not upgradable!

While I do not use Adobe products, I do a lot of photo processing of RAW images and post processing for web with other photo apps (my main set is ON1 PhotoRAW and Affinity Photo).

My machine is an M4 MacBook Air with a 512GB SSD and 24GB RAM and it serves me quite well. I keep all my work in progress photos/libraries on a Thunderbolt drive external drive and then archive on a slower USB3.2 drive.

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Answer 2

Nov 30, 2025 6:38 AM in response to Dragon650

Yes, the MacBook Air M4 is more than capable of handling the apps, tasks and workload that you suggest.

However, the 256 GB base storage you spec is less than optimal in most use cases and I'd suggest you start at not less than 512 GB and maybe even 1TB if that's within budget. It's funny how much additional content can find its way onto our computer drives. If your data management skills are excellent, then 512 GB may work for you.

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Answer 3

Nov 30, 2025 8:20 AM in response to Dragon650

IF you bought directly from Apple, then you have a 14 day window to return the Mac for refund. You could then buy the upgraded version. If you bought from another party, then their return policy would take precedence.

Otherwise, yes, be diligent as you use the Mac. 🤞🏽

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Answer 4

Dragon650 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 30, 2025 8:16 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

thanks, too late to upgrade to 512 since I bought it yesterday. It will prove to be an exercise in personal control. Hopefully the external drive and some personal diligence will keep the little 256 from being overloaded.

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