Honestly, if you’ve been around the sneaker scene for more than a week, you know the Drill. Every few years, rumors start swirling. Someone leaks a pixelated photo. The internet loses its mind. This time, it's the 2025 White Cement 4, and let me tell you, the hype is actually justified for once.
Most people think a "retro" is just a carbon copy of the last time a shoe dropped. That's mistake number one. This year's release is fundamentally different from the 2016 pair that’s currently crumbling in your closet. We aren't just talking about a fresh coat of paint; we’re talking about a complete structural overhaul.
The Big $225 Question
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: the price. $225.
Yeah, it hurts. In 1989, these were $110. In 1999, they were $100 (briefly). By 2016, we were at $220. Now, Nike has bumped it up another five bucks, and while that seems minor, it pushes the Air Jordan 4 further into the "luxury" bracket of sportswear. You’re paying for the "Remastered" treatment, which basically means Nike is trying harder to not mess up the shape this time.
Why the 2025 Version is Actually Different
If you put the 2016 pair next to the 2025 White Cement 4, the differences start to pop.
First, the shape. Jordan Brand has been obsessed lately with the "SB" cut—the one we saw on the Pine Green SB 4s. It’s got a sleeker, more aerodynamic toe box. It doesn't have that "boxy" or "cliff" look that plagued some of the older retros. The 2025 pair adopts this refined silhouette. It feels more like the original 1989 pair Tinker Hatfield actually designed.
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Then there’s the "Cement" itself. The Tech Grey on the wings and midsole has a specific splatter pattern. Too many dots and it looks fake; too few and it looks cheap. This year, the speckling is more random, more chaotic, and frankly, more authentic.
- Leather Quality: It’s a thick, tumbled Summit White leather. Not that plasticky stuff from the early 2010s.
- The Heel Tab: Yes, it has the Nike Air logo. If it had a Jumpman, there would probably be a riot in the streets of Soho.
- The Padding: They’ve beefed up the ankle collar. It feels plush, almost like the industrial blue 4s we saw recently.
A History of Falling in Love (and Crumbling Midsoles)
The White Cement 4 is a movie star. Literally.
When Buggin’ Out got his shoes scuffed in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, the 4s became a cultural icon. It wasn't just about Michael Jordan hitting "The Shot" over Craig Ehlo anymore. It was about Brooklyn. It was about street culture.
We saw a retro in 1999, which many purists still claim is the "best" because of the leather quality. Then came the 2012 release—which was, frankly, a bit of a disaster. The grey was too dark, and the Jumpman on the heel just felt wrong to the OG collectors. The 2016 pair fixed the logo but still had that stiff, modern shape.
The 2025 White Cement 4 is the culmination of all those lessons. It’s the "apology tour" for every time they got the shade of grey slightly off.
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Technical Specs for the Nerds
The style code for this monster is FV5029-100.
If you're hunting for a pair, you'll see "Summit White/Fire Red/Tech Grey/Black" on the box. The "Fire Red" is strictly for the Jumpman on the tongue and the "Flight" text. The rest is that clean, monochromatic vibe that goes with literally everything you own.
Sizing is always a debate with 4s. Some people say go up half a size because the pinky toe "pinch" is real. However, with the new 2025 shape being a bit more forgiving, most of us are sticking to True to Size (TTS). If you have wide feet, maybe reconsider, but the new internal padding helps a lot with the break-in period.
How to Actually Buy Them Without Losing Your Mind
It’s 2026 now, and the May 24th release date has passed, but the market is still moving.
Retail was $225, but the resale market hasn't gone as nuclear as people expected. Why? Because Nike actually made a decent amount of these. They knew everyone wanted them.
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If you're looking for a pair now, check the usual suspects like GOAT or StockX, but keep an eye on local boutiques. There were restocks in July and August that cooled the prices down. You can likely find a pair for around $260-$280 if you’re patient. Anything over $350 is someone trying to retire off one pair of sneakers—don’t be that person.
Checklist for Authenticity
- The Netting: It should run parallel to the lace stays, not straight up and down.
- The Speckle: It shouldn't look like perfect circles. It should look like someone flicked a toothbrush at the shoe.
- The "Nike Air" Alignment: Ensure the "Air" is centered under the Swoosh on the heel tab.
The Actionable Truth
If you want the most "accurate" version of this shoe since 1989, the 2025 release is it.
Don't hold out for a "Reimagined" version with fake aging or cracked leather—this is the clean, OG look everyone actually wanted. Verify the "SB" style shape before you buy, as that's the dead giveaway for the 2025 production run.
Check the production dates on the inner tag. If they were made in late 2024 or early 2025, you’re looking at the real deal. Skip the 2016 pairs unless you find a steal; the midsoles on those are entering the "danger zone" for hydrolysis where the foam starts to turn into powder.
Grab the 2025 edition, wear them immediately, and don't let them sit in a box. These shoes were meant to be on the pavement, not on a shelf.