• Availability of specific product features, options, and configurations may vary by country and/or region.

1. The recycled materials claim applies to the frame and is based on testing conducted by UL LLC.
2. Testing conducted by Apple in October 2018 using preproduction 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based MacBook Air units with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. When testing the wireless connection, battery life was determined while browsing 25 popular websites at a display brightness level of 75% (12 clicks from minimum brightness). When testing iTunes movie playback, battery life was measured while playing 1080p HD content at 75% display brightness (12 clicks from minimum brightness). In the standby mode test, battery life was measured by allowing the system connected to a wireless network and iCloud account to go into standby mode. At the same time, the Safari and Mail applications were open, and all system settings were left at their default values. Battery life depends on the settings and mode of use of the device. More details on the page.
3. The total greenhouse gas emissions are equivalent to 176 kg CO 2 based on a product life cycle assessment.

The current generation of Apple's lightest laptop is the new MacBook Air with Retina display. It was last updated in the summer of 2019: the MacBook Air received a T2 security chip and an improved keyboard.

The new MacBook Air comes with Intel processors, integrated graphics and up to 16GB of RAM. Battery life is 13 hours. In Russia, the junior model of the new MacBook Air costs 93,990 rubles.

Main materials

About the MacBook Air of the coming year, probably already. And in almost all publications in the new Air, the “butterfly” type keyboard, covered with bad fame, is replaced by folk art with a “normal” one, time-tested. Meanwhile, this is exactly what may not happen. Especially if they have reasons not to do so. The company never admitted that the “world's most advanced keyboard” was a mistake. Most likely, this is just an attempt to save face in the current situation. Someone actually made a mistake - but it was not the performer, not the developer, but someone from the management. And the process, which had to go through all the stages required for it in secret laboratories, is going on before everyone’s eyes.

All the characteristics on the basis of which computer performance is judged in the new MacBook Air either remained the same or even worsened. This is not a speed bump, this is an optimization, and unlike many other phenomena with this name, no one was harmed by it.

On October 30, 2018, 8 years and 10 days after its last redesign, the all-new MacBook Air was born. It was controversial, criticized for its weak graphics subsystem and its increased ($200, nightmare?) price, but it became a sales star of the 2018 holiday season. MacBook Air has shrunk in size. The metal frame around the screen is a thing of the past. The number of pixels on the screen has quadrupled. Retina display with a density of 227 pixels per inch. the “scissors” type, which in recent months was one of the main reasons why the old man with an unfashionable appearance was very popular, has, alas, given way to the “butterfly-III”.

On October 30, 2018, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York became the site of another “Apple” hoax. The reality distortion field was not recorded, but what was presented there delighted and excited the audience. It wasn't boring. Different sources indicate different locations for this event. In addition to BAM, they also call the Howard Gilman Opera House. And the journalists who reported from the epicenter of the event claimed that they were “in the theater.” But the solution, unfortunately, is banal: the Brooklyn Academy of Music has several buildings and four stages. Two of them, including the 2,109-seat Howard Gilman Opera House, are located in the Peter Jay Sharp Building on Lafayette Avenue. This is where it all happened.

A lot is known about this chip, but practically nothing. Much is known about what he should do and what it leads to. What will this lead to in the end? Forecasts ranging from “everything will be great” to “this is suicide.” Where does this path lined with good intentions lead? The world's most unusual iOS device debuted in 2016, in the TouchBar for the MacBook Pro, and caused a strong reaction. Sooner or later something like this could not help but happen. The unique security capabilities of iOS devices aroused the envy of those who designed Macs. Instead of a world of information prosperity and universal love, which the creators of the World Wide Web dreamed of, what happened was what happened.

Once a toy for the rich and a status item (especially in the provinces), in 2017 Air became a budget laptop. Its design has not changed for 7 years. But this time they didn’t quietly update it; it was mentioned at WWDC. It was mentioned in passing, but mentioned. Once upon a time, the MacBook Air filled the halls and was the star of the show. In its current design, it was introduced on October 20, 2010. 10.20.2010, amazing date.

Features of MacBook Air

MacBook Air is lightweight and compact, productive and durable. The external design has remained untouched since the days of the first models: it is still the same all-body aluminum Unibody with a “recessed” keyboard. Apple developers said that no one could come up with anything better, and switched from design to “filling”. This statement is supported by a number of tests that have shown that the metal body of the devices, despite its lightness, withstands mechanical pressure and other types of impact well.

The MacBook Air is positioned by the manufacturer as a universal mobile computer. Today, Apple produces 13.3-inch devices, and they weigh just over a kilogram along with a battery that can support 12 hours of operation without recharging.

As for the “internal content,” Maybook Airs, the cost of which is slightly higher than netbooks from other manufacturers, are far ahead of their analogues.

Buy a MacBook Air to get a computer that can do a lot

MacBook Air is equipped with eighth-generation Intel i5 processors clocked at 1.6 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz. The devices are equipped with 8 and 16 GB of RAM.

MacBook Air has proven itself to be a portable computer that is well suited for a variety of tasks on the go. Therefore, the developers did not equip the devices with a powerful video card. It is compensated by the integrated Intel processor, which has the function of borrowing memory from RAM, which allows you to play video files in HD quality.

Devices in this series are lightweight and highly responsive to commands due to the fact that hard drives are replaced with built-in flash memory with a capacity of up to 512 GB. In addition, Apple developers abandoned the use of network cards, while maintaining the ability to wirelessly connect to the network.

Force Touch trackpad. Hand in hand with macOS.

The Force Touch trackpad can recognize a variety of commands, accurately detecting the slightest differences in the pressure applied to a surface. At the same time, any Multi-Touch gestures can be performed on the entire surface of the enlarged trackpad. Your fingers will feel right at home.

Is the MacBook Air's high price justified?

The price of a MacBook Air in Moscow fully corresponds to the high quality and wide functionality of the laptop. If we briefly describe the advantages of purchasing a MacBook Air, we cannot help but note:

• Compact dimensions, light weight and reliability of the laptop. MacBook Air can withstand moderate mechanical pressure and minor impacts.
• All MacBook Air devices are designed for 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
• The gadgets have excellent functionality - they can easily cope with a wide range of different tasks.

MacBook Air remains the ideal workhorse for many business professionals, students, and other users whose work involves working online or away from a desktop PC.

Where MacBook Air and MacBook Pro were compared. If you've decided that an elegant MacBook Air is in your purchasing plans, now you need to decide Which Is the smaller 11-inch or larger 13-inch sibling better for the MacBook Air? In addition, what configuration of a particular model should you choose.

Comparison of MacBook Air models

The 11-inch MacBook Air is Apple's cheapest laptop, starting point, so to speak, with a price tag of $1,000 (well, minus the $1). For this money you will get a laptop equipped with an 11.6-inch display (diagonal) with 1366x768 pixels. It has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of flash memory. By paying an additional $200, you will receive a model with 256GB memory.

The basic 13-inch MacBook Air will cost you just $100 more. There are the same 4GB of RAM and 128GB of flash memory. The 13.3-inch display has 1440x900 pixels. Also, by paying an additional $200, you can increase the memory to 256 GB.

With the lid closed, the height of the MacBook Air -11 is just over a centimeter. The thinnest part is the front - 0.25 cm, the back is only 1.14 cm high. The dimensions of the MacBook Air -13 are from 0.4 cm to 1.94 cm. The width of the 11-inch model is 28.5 cm, the 13-inch - 32.5 cm. Weight: 1 kg and 1.3 kg, respectively.

Both laptops are equipped with stereo speakers and support 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The keyboard of all models has a backlight, the illumination of which is automatically adjusted thanks to installed sensors. It's tempting that the keyboards on the 11-inch and 13-inch models are the same size. All have OS X 10.9 Mavericks and iWork’13, iLife’13 applications installed.

The standard MacBook Air ranges from $999 to $1,299 and is already comparable in price to the base 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (and even $100 more expensive than the 13-inch MacBook Pro with regular display). If you spend $1,850 and order the maximum package, you will get the most sophisticated MacBook Air model.

Let's start comparing models

Maximum mobility or larger screen

How important is a difference of 2 inches?

The 11-inch MacBook Air is something of an ugly duckling at Apple, and is the only laptop available with a 16:9 aspect ratio. All other laptops have a 16:10 screen ratio.

This approach to design makes it, despite its tiny size, more cinematic. This is the form factor you'll see on flat-panel HD TVs. The same aspect ratios are used in movies. It turns out that you see more of the width of the picture than the height. The 11-inch MacBook Air is wider and shorter than its 13-inch brother.

The density of 135 pixels per inch is even higher than the 13-inch model (which has 128 pixels), but the difference is not huge.

Some users love the wide screen, others hate it, claiming that the screen is too narrow. This is a very subjective opinion, so my advice is to look at your work to see what is best for you.

The resolution of the 13-inch MacBook Air is 1440x900. For the same size, it has an even higher resolution than the MacBook Pro without a Retina display. The resolution is higher, but this Not Retina is a very important difference - not in any MacBook Air model No Retina display. This certainly lightens the load on MacBook Air batteries, making them surprisingly resilient. But the MacBook Air becomes less attractive to users who need better quality text and graphics.

Still, when talking about the Retina display, we must take into account that for many years we lived without it. And if you haven’t started using it, then for now you can do without it. The 13-inch MacBook Air displays a pretty decent picture on the screen.

Light weight or independent from a power outlet

How long can you use your MacBook Air without recharging?

Screen size isn't the only major difference between the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. The larger case size allows for a larger capacity battery. The models have 38 Wh and 54 Wh batteries, respectively.

Both MacBook Air models deliver outstanding battery life, thanks in part to the Haswell processor, which is more energy efficient than previous processors. Apple said the 11-inch MacBook Air can last up to 9 hours on a single charge, and the 13-inch MacBook Air can last up to 12 hours. So, if you spend all day away from power sources, the 13-inch model will be the best choice for you.

Slim design or third-party device connection

What can you attach to a MacBook Air?

Both the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air have a 720p camera built into the center above the screen. They have a 1/8-inch headphone jack, two microphones (for better voice recording, or Skype or FaceTime conversations), two USB 3.0 ports (one on each side) and one Thunderbolt port (on the right side). Thunderbolt, regular, not Thunderbolt 2.

Connectivity options for external devices differ only one. The 13-inch MacBook Air has an SDXC card slot on the right side. If you already use or are planning to buy a digital camera that records to an SD card, and also intend to use the MacBook Air to edit photos and videos taken with such a camera, the 13-inch MacBook Air is a convenient choice.

More RAM

If necessary?

4 GB of RAM is standard across the entire MacBook Air line. This is quite enough to run Mavericks, for Internet applications and, in general, for all applications that require normal performance. Well, if you really use RAM intensively: you work with media editors, run many applications at the same time, etc., you should think about 8 GB of memory. It's worth considering buying a MacBook Air with this amount of RAM if you're thinking about the future. Apple releases its devices with a reserve for planned changes. So, for example, a 2010 MacBook Air with 2 GB already works quite slowly with Mavericks.

It is worth saying that you immediately must decide how much RAM you need. It is not possible to add volume by soldering additional memory to the motherboard.

More Flash Memory

If necessary?

This is probably the most difficult question when buying a MacBook Air. If you're moving from another machine, chances are you have apps and files that need to be transferred.

Compared to the 512 GB of hard drive storage that laptops have been using lately, 128 GB of flash memory is quite meager space. Most likely, everything will have to be cut back sharply. Rarely used files can be archived and transferred to an external drive, server, or even cloud storage. It might also be a good idea to use iCloud.

Having decided how do you do it all you will use, consider options

The 256 GB configuration will add $200 to the price of the base model (we get $1,199 and $1,299, respectively). If this is not enough, then we add another $300 to the price received, and we get 512 GB for $1,499 and $1,599, respectively, for the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air.

In any case, increasing flash memory is quite expensive. There are companies like Other World Computing that specialize in SSD drives for older model year MacBook Airs. Please note that they do not yet have SSD storage for the newest MacBook Air. This is due to the use of a new Haswell processor and a change in the entire flash drive operating system.

i7 processor

Is it necessary?

On paper, the MacBook Air looks sluggish compared to the MacBook Pro or some PC laptops. But this is a deceptive look. Flash storage makes a significant difference in operational efficiency. It also helps that the same company (Apple) makes the computer and develops the operating system that runs on that computer. The operating system is carefully optimized to get the most out of the processor.

The standard 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor is optimized for MacBook Air. But if you're willing to shell out $150, you'll get a dual-core Intel Core i7 processor. Besides the 30 percent difference in clock speed, there are other differences within the i7. It has an additional megabyte of cache memory - 4 MB instead of 3 MB on i5. The cache stores frequently used data. More cache means more data can be stored on the chip, which means the i7 is faster.

Turbo Boost acceleration technology for i5 and i7 automatically turns on the fastest cores. This Turbo mode practically doubles the frequency - from 2.6 GHz on the i5, to 3.3 GHz on the i7.

Both processors use integrated graphics—Intel 5000 HD Graphics—and the i7 processor handles graphics faster than the i5. If you want maximum performance, it's worth spending $150 on an i7 processor. But in principle, this is not at all necessary - a standard processor more which is enough for everyday use.

Who should buy the 11-inch MacBook Air

If weight and size are the main criteria for choosing a laptop, the 11-inch MacBook Air is your machine. It's slightly larger than the iPad Air (though more than twice as heavy), but it's a fully functional Mac that can do whatever you want. The 11-inch MacBook Air is a great computer for kids in schools and students who want a device that's lightweight and flexible.

There are a few compromises that you accept - a smaller (by about 20%) display and the lack of an SD card slot. If this is not important for use, then the lightweight, small 11-inch MacBook Air will be the ideal mobile laptop.

Who should buy the 13-inch MacBook Air

The 13-inch model in the basic configuration is $100 more expensive. But it has a larger screen, better battery life, and a slot for an SD card. Before the October update, the MacBook Pro was a near-perfect combination of lightness, performance and price. With the release of the MacBook Pro with Retina display and Apple's announcement of new pricing, a $200 difference separates the base 13-inch MacBook Air from the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. But spending that $200 will get you a significantly faster processor, better graphics performance, a much better screen, more RAM and storage (up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of flash storage). With two Thunderbolt 2 ports and an HDMI port, your connectivity to external devices will greatly increase. The MacBook Pro with Retina display is about 200g heavier.

Bottom line: If you're not willing or able to pay for a MacBook Pro with Retina display, or if you want lighter weight, longer battery life and don't bother comparing the two machines, the MacBook Air is an amazing, lightweight laptop.

By the way, you can look at the review of the MacBook Air-13 made directly by the buyer.

Haven't made your choice yet? Please visit Apple's pages and dedicated forums. It's even better if you leave your comments right here. One thing is for sure: thanks to brilliant engineers, Apple has created an incredibly airy computer that you can use autonomously for a long time, making the MacBook Air a fantastic travel companion.

Apple developers tend to change something in new products only when it is necessary for better functionality. This circumstance may explain the incremental and very impressive upgrade of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (available for $999). While the device uses the same aluminum unibody design and many of the same components as its predecessors, the new gadget is complemented by one of the latest Intel Core i5 CPUs.

However, even with this modest improvement (and the cost of last year's base model), the Apple MacBook Air 13 is ahead of the competition in terms of performance and boasts an impressive 17-18 hours of battery life. Thus, this device is today the best choice for everyday general tasks among mid-range ultraportable laptops.

Design and characteristics

The 13-inch MacBook Air has the following dimensions: 22 cm in length and 32 cm in width, and its weight is about 1300 grams. The body tapers in thickness from 1.7 cm at the rear to 0.5 cm at the front. Other 13.3-inch laptops (such as the LenovoYoga 3 Pro are a little thinner and lighter, but you won't have any difficulties if you intend to constantly carry the Apple MacBook Air 13 with you. The ultrabook is not only small in size and weight , but also has a compact, streamlined shape, so you can easily fit it into any bag or backpack.

Resolution and screen properties

Compared to the 1920x1080 or even higher resolution found on average Windows laptops today, the MacBook Air's 1440x900 resolution seems relatively small, but that's only in theory. In fact, the screen looks contrasty and bright when using the gadget. This permission should be sufficient for everyday tasks, such as creating and editing office documents and using a web browser. If you need a higher screen resolution, but you prefer only Mac laptops, you will want to opt for more expensive devices - the Apple MacBook with a 2,304 x 1,400 screen parameters or the latest 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro with a 2560 x 1600 screen. Unfortunately, there is currently no option to achieve a high-resolution Retina Display on the Apple MacBook Air 13 - this will increase the cost and weight of the device, as well as reduce battery life. At the same time, this indicator is sufficient for watching videos and reading text documents, since what is displayed on the screen looks very clear.

Possible connections and available connectors

The built-in ports are no different from those found on the previous model. On the left side of the device there is a headset jack, two microphones, a USB 3.0 port, and a MagSafe 2 power connector. On the right side there is a compact slot for an SDXC card, a Thunderbolt 2 port and another USB 3.0 port. At first glance, such options for connecting components seem to be few, but today this is quite typical for devices in the ultraportable category, and this will be enough for many users. You'll have to use an adapter to connect an HDMI cable or other ports, but the Thunderbolt port functions at a high level with the mini-Display Port without an adapter. Wireless connection is carried out using 802.11ac Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth 4.0, and provides high-quality and uninterrupted communication with the Internet or other devices.

Keyboard Features

The keys on the keyboard are backlit and the rubber finish gives it a great look and makes it easy to use. Thus, typing is smooth and soft, without causing finger fatigue during long work. There is a lightweight trackpad for multi-touch capabilities. However, the trackpad lacks the additional mouse button options found in other Apple devices - the 12-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook laptops - but support for these settings can be seen in most third-party apps. Like all Mac gadgets, the Apple MacBook Air 13 lacks a touchscreen.

Specifications

Many users will agree that the Apple MacBook Air 13 Early could use more RAM, as the default 4GB is a bit low for a $1,000 Ultrabook. You can only upgrade to 8GB of RAM at the time of your initial purchase, so it's advisable to consider beforehand whether it's worth spending the extra $100 to power multitasking or multimedia projects. Flash storage is also relatively low at 128GB, but that's less of an issue these days - online cloud storage is quite inexpensive. Fortunately, the system is completely protected from viruses.

The RAM is PCIe-based, making it faster than SATA-based solid-state drives (SSDs) and flash memory found in older ultraportables. This helps boot the system and applications in just a few seconds. The MacBookAir comes with a one-year warranty, putting it on par with competing Windows devices.

Performance and multitasking

The gadget is equipped (1.6 GHz) with integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics 6000. As testing shows, the Apple MacBook Air 13 laptop works very well when opening multimedia programs. Ultimately, the device proves to be much faster when performing multimedia tasks when compared to the Apple MacBook.

Results for 3D tests are predictably mediocre given the integrated graphics. The operating system should be fast enough for simple games like Diablo III, but running the power-hungry GrandTheftAuto V at high quality settings won't work.

Battery life

Another indicator of the great performance of the Apple MacBook Air 13 i5 is its battery performance. With continuous use of the ultrabook, the battery life is 17 hours 36 minutes. This is almost two hours longer than the previous generation model. Unlike the MacBook Air, the longest-lasting portable Windows laptop - the Acer Aspire S7-393-7451 - requires only about 10 hours of charging. This way, you can watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy on this device, and the ultrabook will still have enough battery power to watch the first two films of the Dark Knight trilogy. That's an insane amount of power for a traditional laptop.

Conclusions and final verdict

In 2015, the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air 13 early laptop outperformed its main competitors on both Mac and Windows. This is primarily due to its long battery life. The classic design of its case and mountings is one of the components that manufacturers of other ultraportable devices have been trying to emulate over the past 5 years, with varying degrees of success.

Despite this, the original design still looks fresh. Its characteristics far exceed those of a standard laptop. Thus, its high cost is well worth it, especially if you need to work with various programs and access the Internet every day.

It only has 4GB of RAM, but paying an extra $100 can double that. Therefore, if you plan to multitask regularly, it makes sense for you to make the additional expense.

Given its high performance and, especially, impressive battery life, the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air 13 MD760ru can be considered a gadget that offers more than enough capabilities, quite capable of displacing its predecessor from the market. Today, this is the best choice among ultraportable laptops, despite its not at all low cost. In this case, it can be argued that you are paying for excellent product quality.