Apple Announces New MacBook Air With 13-Inch Retina Display and Touch ID

[BayouTiger]

Yup, particularly on the higher end, the rMB with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM is the exact same price as the MBA with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, but the Air has 2xTB3 to the rMB's 1xUSB-C and a much better CPU and while it's bigger, it's pretty damn close. You have to really need that extra size reduction to want the rMB at this point

Not necessarily. My wife is one that loves her rMB and will have no interest in moving to a larger machine. And for all the ones crying over the 11" Air, they should lay the 12" on top of it and see that the 12" is very nearly the same dimensions but with less weight and MUCH better screen. I think that a 12-13.3-15 makes for the perfect range of sizes and the power is now nicely aligned as the sizes grow. The jump from dual core Air to Quad Pro makes perfect sense. I don't see the nTB sticking around long.

Funny that I see no one commenting on the coolest addition which is Touch ID without a Touch Bar! I actually like the TB on my 13" but I do see that as a really nice package.

As to the keyboard, as usual lots of folks crying about yesterdays news. I've not see any major issues with the Gen3 keyboard. But then I never had a glitch with my Gen2. Maybe not a Thinkpad keyboard, but not bad either.

As to ports, 2X TB3 is a HUGE upgrade over the 12". I do wish they were one on either side as TB3 cables can be short to connect docks unless you spring for an active cable, but I never need more than 2 devices connected.

I love that they have stuck with TB3 over USB-C. I am seeing more and more PC's abandoning the legacy ports as well. Kinda fun seeing all the Surface fans wringing their hands over MS still hanging out in 2015 with still NO TB3 on the surface line. That's crazy for a high end machine!

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

BTW, there're some doubts: i5-8200Y is a 1.3 GHz processor with 3.9 TB and this MBA's processor is claimed to be 1.6 with 3.6 TB

It's can run at 1.6, but then it's drawing 7W**, and - as displayed below - needs a fan:

View attachment 799487

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Now, after the initial exhilaration has passed, I'm actually considering going Pro (13" or 15") instead of the new Air... the more I'm thinking about the 2 core Y-processor, the more unsure I've become...

Decisions, decisions... :S

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** Edit: Even if this - as Viper-FFM points out - is an Apple specific chip, I guess it still draws 7W (or thereabout).

 

[Viper-FFM]

It's can run at 1.6, but then it's drawing 7W, and - as displayed below - needs a fan:



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Now, after the initial exhilaration has passed, I'm actually considering going Pro (13" or 15") instead of the new Air... the more I'm thinking about the 2 core Y-processor, the more unsure I've become...

Decisions, decisions... :S

I'll wait another 6 months for updated 13'' nTB Pro Models with Whiskey Lake

 

[Jmausmuc]

What a cluttered incoherent lineup:
- MacBook
- MacBook Air
- nRB MacBook Pro

All for a similar price point with very few differences.
WHO is still buying a nTb MBP at this Stage?

 

[coolfactor]

Why no rounded corners on the screen like the iPad? That would've made it perfect and unique. Maybe they are saving that for the next MacBook Pro upgrade?

 

[Amorun]

It's can run at 1.6, but then it's drawing 7W, and - as displayed below - needs a fan:



---

Now, after the initial exhilaration has passed, I'm actually considering going Pro (13" or 15") instead of the new Air... the more I'm thinking about the 2 core Y-processor, the more unsure I've become...

Decisions, decisions... :S

How interesting: one person begs for no fan, another - for much power than core M. Use scenarios are so versatile.

 

[Viper-FFM]

Lel,

the old Macbook Air with 5th Gen i5 processor (Launched 2015) is still faster than the crap they released today ​

 

[PatriotInvasion]

I really miss Steve's propensity to discontinue old products when new ones arrive. It made everything clean and easy to understand. Tim's approach is likely (much) better for the bottom line, but creates a bevy of problems for product marketing. The 12" MacBook and 13" MacBook Pro without Touch Bar should be scrubbed from the site today. They make very little sense to buy in comparison to the new Air.

 

[seek3r]

Not necessarily. My wife is one that loves her rMB and will have no interest in moving to a larger machine. And for all the ones crying over the 11" Air, they should lay the 12" on top of it and see that the 12" is very nearly the same dimensions but with less weight and MUCH better screen. I think that a 12-13.3-15 makes for the perfect range of sizes and the power is now nicely aligned as the sizes grow. The jump from dual core Air to Quad Pro makes perfect sense. I don't see the nTB sticking around long.

Funny that I see no one commenting on the coolest addition which is Touch ID without a Touch Bar! I actually like the TB on my 13" but I do see that as a really nice package.

As to the keyboard, as usual lots of folks crying about yesterdays news. I've not see any major issues with the Gen3 keyboard. But then I never had a glitch with my Gen2. Maybe not a Thinkpad keyboard, but not bad either.

As to ports, 2X TB3 is a HUGE upgrade over the 12". I do wish they were one on either side as TB3 cables can be short to connect docks unless you spring for an active cable, but I never need more than 2 devices connected.

I love that they have stuck with TB3 over USB-C. I am seeing more and more PC's abandoning the legacy ports as well. Kinda fun seeing all the Surface fans wringing their hands over MS still hanging out in 2015 with still NO TB3 on the surface line. That's crazy for a high end machine!

Similarly my wife also loves her macbook for the size, but I suspect the pricing difference may make it hard to justify getting a new one vs an air the next time she has to upgrade.

And I'm with you on the touch ID without the touch bar, I'm really really hoping it represents the next evolution of the lower end 13" Pro as well.

 

[polaris20]

Can I do two-factor authentication with TouchID and password/Apple Watch? Otherwise, kinda pointless for Apple Watch users.

 

[weezerr]

View attachment 799487

Odd, why not put in the 15 watt Whiskeylake if you are using a fan?

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

How interesting: one person begs for no fan, another - for much power than core M. Use scenarios are so versatile.

I really didn't like the 5W chip in the original rMB; that was just plain awful. (I didn't really mind the keyboard, though )

I'll wait another 6 months for updated 13'' nTB Pro Models with Whiskey Lake

AAAAAAAAARGH! Don't mess with my head like that...

 

[Wags]

Air 2018 vs Pro 2018:
- non P3 display
- less bright display (300 nits vs 500 nits)
- no true tone display
- less storage
- slower CPU/GPU
- 2 Thunderbolt ports vs 4 on Pro
- Bluetooth 4.2 vs 5.0
- no Touch Bar
+ Touch ID comes as a standard feature and doesn’t require the Touch Bar
+ new gold color
+ supposedly better battery life

I personally don’t care about the storage, true tone, slower CPU, fewer ports and the Touch Bar. But the compromises with the display and older Bluetooth are frustrating.

Where seeing lower nits and non P3?
Not listed on tech specs. Assuming since not listed ?

 

[elhungarian]

I really hope the will update the 13inch MBP with no TouchBar to Whiskey-Lake processor.

And the keyboard. I won’t buy a laptop with gen 1 or 2...

 

[0970373]

Still love the size of my old 11" Air.

Same. My 2011 11" is still kicking, slowly kicking, but still kicking. I think I can hold out until we start to see refurb models on the Apple site.

 

[cyberone]

Yeah, was waiting for this MBA 18, but gonna wait now for the next MBP iteration. Since there was no MBP 18 event, they'll sure have a 2019 event.

Machine should last a few years. Paying a few hundred $$$ more will be worth to swallow.

Was expecting an ultra low energy consuming processor, etc.

 

[Amorun]

I really didn't like the 5W chip in the original rMB; that was just plain awful. (I didn't really mind the keyboard, though )

Using this rMB like a typing machine, I was satisfied even with this anemic chip and the silence was like a music to my ears. I hoped Apple would produce some sort of a 14 rMB. The new MBA comes close, but the fan...

 

[Ma2k5]

Looks like non Touch Bar 13” is done now

Confused why people would opt for a 13” Touch Bar for that matter, price dependent of course

Because it is still more powerful, using 15w CPU's as opposed to 5W CPU's.

 

[Rogifan]

I really miss Steve's propensity to discontinue old products when new ones arrive. It made everything clean and easy to understand. Tim's approach is likely (much) better for the bottom line, but creates a bevy of problems for product marketing. The 12" MacBook and 13" MacBook Pro without Touch Bar should be scrubbed from the site today. They make very little sense to buy in comparison to the new Air.

I agree with you re: non-touchbar MBP. But the retina MacBook is a new product, is using different chips and is fanless. If Apple got rid of it everyone would question why it ever existed in the first place and the narrative would be it was a failed design. What if this is the laptop that will eventually be ARM? Apple presenters never mentioned Intel on stage today which was curious. I do think Apple should have lowered the price of the MacBook, maybe it should be the $999 entry laptop.

 

[Rocko99991]

Like it but not running to replace my 6 month old Air. Remember along with the price you are going to have to get a dongle to connect all your USB-A and other items such as reader for your camera card. Sometimes I think Apple is just too much into thin and light - not that I don't like thin and light but I'd go for function first.

Removed Magsafe, SD Slot. This is a big deal.

 

[Rogifan]

Considering power of the new A12X, it would be a rather healthy guess.

There really is no other reason to keep it around. I thought Apple might combine it, the non Touch Bar MBP and the MBA into one entry level product. Since they didn’t I can only conclude the rMB will eventually become an ARM Mac. I thought they needed to kill the Air but apparently they felt the branding was too strong. Just a shame going into the holidays there is no $999 retina Mac. That would have flown off shelves. $1199 is a bit more complicated.

 

[Rocko99991]

Anyone still bitching about the keyboard is insane. There is more than enough travel in the keyboard! Let go of the past. I truly can not see how anyone wouldn’t like it or need more depth. Hurts your fingers? Get out of here

It's too early to see if this one fails.

 

[Amorun]

I do think Apple should have lowered the price of the MacBook, maybe it should be the $999 entry laptop.

We're being prepared by Apple for a new prices level. BTW, did you notice that Apple didn't lower prices on existing iPad Pro 10.5, despite it's being close to 1.5 year old?

 

[DipDog3]

US$ 1.199? No, thank you, Apple.
US$ 1.299 I could get a MBP far more powerful.

13” MBP doesn’t have TouchID, is that the only difference?

 

[k2focus]

But throttling has been a normal process of every computer ever.

I have not seen a wide spread report of logic board failures. I have seen a lot of conjecture.

not to the extent of apple computers. when your number one goals are thinness, looking cool, and being quite you run into issues. modern gaming PC laptops run i7 and i9K version with 1080 ti's with 4k screens and don't suffer issues. they do it by making it thicker, adding vents, and fans. there is no way around it, and apple users think that no one has solved it because apple hasn't, but everyone else has figured it out already.