Apple's New 2018 MacBook Air vs. Old MacBook Air

[BigBoy2018]

Did you seriously list "No glowing Apple logo" as a negative? Seriously, who cares. It doesn't affect the functionality in the slightest. The keyboard is fine, now that it's been fixed in gen3.

The Keyboard is not fixed.

According to iFixit: https://ifixit.org/blog/10319/butterfly-keyboard-teardown/

An excerpt: " On the 2018 keyboard, with the addition of more particulate and some aggressive typing, the dust eventually penetrates under the sheltered clips, and gets on top of the switch—so the ingress-proofing isn’t foolproof just yet. Time will tell how long the barrier will hold up. Following the Mythbusters method of testing, we pushed the keyboard to failure with the higher-grit particulate we used last time: sand. And just like last time, a few poorly placed particles bring the mighty butterfly down to earth, never to click again."

 

[ayvittu]

It's overall a disappointing update for me.
- don't like the Gen3 keyboard, previous MBA was much better
- no SD card - yep, still use that on my photo cameras
- my charger at work would be of no use
- no core i7 option
- laughable 8/128G to start with
- 512G costs a fortune
On a bright side, Retina. But who cares with all the above.
Still going strong on my MBA 2013 with Core i7 and 8/256G, albeit it's becoming a bit sluggish.
Frankly, for $1.2K there are plenty of better, faster laptops, with good keyboards, core i7 and 16/512GB.
I would love to keep MacOS, but not at this price/performance penalty.

Finally someone mentions the obvious. At this price point, the only option remaining is to switch to Windows. It may be worse than MacOS but not >500$ worse for the same specs.

 

[halluxsinister]

Apple in October gave us a major surprise with the launch of an entirely revamped, updated version of the MacBook Air, its most popular and affordable notebook option.

We went hands-on with the MacBook Air last week, and this week, we picked up an older MacBook Air to compare the new model to see just what's different and whether it's still worth buying the old version, which sells for $200 less than the current model.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The previous-generation MacBook Air is a 2015 design, but in 2017, Apple introduced 1.8GHz Broadwell-generation chips that were a slight upgrade from the 1.6GHz chips the machine had previously used. No other changes were made, so technically, Apple's old MacBook Air is outdated by several years.

Design wise, the new MacBook Air features a smaller, slimmer body that weighs a bit less, and the slimmer design is noticeable. It continues to feature the same tapered design as the previous models, and we didn't think the weight difference of a quarter of a pound stood out.

Along with a slimmed down body, the new MacBook Air comes in three color options: Space Gray, Gold, and the traditional Silver. Space Gray and Gold are colors that are new to the MacBook Air lineup.

The biggest change to the 2018 MacBook Air models is the display, which is now Retina and a huge improvement over the low resolution display in the previous MacBook Air. The MacBook Air used to be the sole Apple device sans Retina display, but now Apple uses higher-resolution displays across its entire product lineup.

We thought the MacBook Air's new display offered a significant improvement over the previous MacBook Air's display, but it doesn't quite measure up to the display of the MacBook Pro because it's just not that bright. Brightness can be an issue outdoors in sunlight, so that's something to be aware of.

Design wise, the front of the MacBook Air has been overhauled. Those thick silver bezels from the previous version have been replaced with sleek, slim MacBook Pro-style black bezels that look much, much nicer.

Several other MacBook Pro features have been brought to the new MacBook Air and are upgrades over the previous model. There's a larger Force Touch trackpad, a third-generation butterfly keyboard, better speakers, a Touch ID button for authentication purposes, and a T2 chip for improved security.

Inside, the new MacBook Air is sporting a 7W 8th-generation 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, and unsurprisingly, it's much speedier than the three-year-old processors used in the prior MacBook Air. Apple used to use 15W chips in the MacBook Air models, but this new, lower power 7W chip is both fast and efficient, allowing for longer battery life than ever.

The last super notable change is to the port setup. The new MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack, with Apple eliminating the USB-A ports and the SD card slot from the older model. The addition of Thunderbolt 3 brings the MacBook Air in line with the rest of the Mac lineup and allows it to connect to 4K and 5K displays, faster Thunderbolt 3 storage, eGPUs, and more.

All of these changes have raised the base price of the MacBook Air. Prior to the October update, the MacBook Air sold for $999, but now the base model sells for $1,199, a $200 premium. Given the scope of the revamp, the $200 upgrade fee is well worth paying for anyone thinking of purchasing a MacBook Air.

Apple is still selling the older model at the same $999 price point, but it's just not worth purchasing because the components are so outdated at this point.

What do you think of Apple's new MacBook Air? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple's New 2018 MacBook Air vs. Old MacBook Air

Note how the comparison was biased entirely in favor of the new “MacBook Air,” which is a MacBook Air in name only. It’s really just another MacBook, which they’ve given the “Air” badge so they can pretend when they stop selling the REAL MacBook Air that they haven’t simply discontinued the best-valued MacBook in the lineup. Here’s what the comparison MISSED:
The REAL MacBook Air has a useable full, real keyboard with good key travel, and proven reliability. The replacement is garbage that can be disabled, it seems, by a speck of DUST. Also, the tactile experience is TERRIBLE. There was insufficient focus on the fact that the loss of the two USB 3.0 (or 3.1, whatever they were,) ports, the Thunderbolt Mini Display Port, and the SD/MMC Card slot, and the MagSafe 2 charging port, reduce the usefulness of the “new” “MacBook Air” because if you want to plug it in to power, that only leaves you with HOW many USB ports? The simple fact that for YEARS the MacBook Air sold TONS of units is proof that people LIKED it, maybe even LOVED it, and now that they’ve replaced it with a MacBook pretending to be a MacBook Air, with ports that in order to use all my USB 1, 2,and 3 stuff, I’d have to shell out even MORE money, on top of the already voluptuated price they want for the thing, means even higher costs, JUST to get back to the same level of functionality I already HAD.

What this means IS: when my current MacBook Air dies, if when I go to replace it, the only thing available isn’t a REAL MacBook Air, I won’t be buying another Apple computer. Because I’m not buying one that can’t run GNU/Linux natively, (thanks to that stupid T2 nonsense,) and I’m not buying one with an ususably crappy keyboard, an unnecessary “force touch” trackpad, which I neither need nor want and I’m sure adds to the price, and whatever features is allegedly has, and given all the features it’s missing... to put it bluntly, I’m not paying EXTRA for LESS. I am sick and tired of Apple trying to force customers into what it thinks of as “the future” by reducing usability and charging even more money for the privilege.

My next computer, whenever I buy another, WILL have USB 3.x ports, it WILL have the ability to run GNU/LINUX NATIVELY if I so desire, and I guess it won’t have a little APPLE anywhere on it.

It’s not just the “MacBook Air”... These days, Apple just isn’t Apple anymore.

 

[plhsnt]

...

What this means IS: when my current MacBook Air dies, if when I go to replace it, the only thing available isn’t a REAL MacBook Air, I won’t be buying another Apple computer. Because I’m not buying one that can’t run GNU/Linux natively, (thanks to that stupid T2 nonsense,) and I’m not buying one with an ususably crappy keyboard, an unnecessary “force touch” trackpad, which I neither need nor want and I’m sure adds to the price, and whatever features is allegedly has, and given all the features it’s missing... to put it bluntly, I’m not paying EXTRA for LESS. I am sick and tired of Apple trying to force customers into what it thinks of as “the future” by reducing usability and charging even more money for the privilege.

My next computer, whenever I buy another, WILL have USB 3.x ports, it WILL have the ability to run GNU/LINUX NATIVELY if I so desire, and I guess it won’t have a little APPLE anywhere on it.

It’s not just the “MacBook Air”... These days, Apple just isn’t Apple anymore.

Wow, so much hate.
The new lineup must really suck for you or you wouldn't have taken the time to type your lengthy reply/rant.

Lucky for you that there are a lot of other brands with great keyboards, far better trackpads, USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet, SD and all those other slots available. Unlucky that all those other brands are also switching to more and more USB-C ports.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Are you referring to the butterfly keyboard being bad in general (all the laptops have it now) or has the 3rd generation butterfly keyboard shown to be as faulty as the 2nd and 1st? I haven't heard the official word on the 3rd generation reliability

its a failure by design ... its just to small - and dust will kill it overtime. the preservative helps a bit, but its not fully dust covered hence it will break sooner or later.

 

[amaze1499]

I checked it out at the store. Nice machine, however I found myself trying to increase the brightness straight away. Its was maxed out already. So, there is a compromise to be made if one wants to use the MBA in daylight conditions.

 

[michael666]

It should be compared to the MacBook more than the old MacBook Air, as it is basically an updated MacBook re-using the "Air" name.

 

[Spectrum]

Lot of negative comments here. Some from people who bought one, used it for a while, and returned it. Respect. But many from people who just want to trash it. Ask people who own one, who've spent more time with it than someone who saw it in a store.

I bought a 2018 MB Air a week ago to replace my early 2015 rMBP. I used the rMBP in all kinds of lighting conditions (though not so much outside) and I never found it wanting for brightness. I did a side-by-side comparison of the new MBA with my rMBP and the MBA display is every bit as bright as the rMBP's display (both are rated at 300 nits). Also, the colors are not washed out or otherwise any less pleasing than the colors on the rMBP. I am happy with the display. Sure, it's not as nice as the display on the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar, which has True Tone. But that computer is a lot more expensive than the MBA.

Some are complaining that the 2018 MBA doesn't have mag safe or the glowing apple logo. But neither does any MacBook or MacBook Pro launched in the past couple of years.

Some are complaining about the replacement of the almost universally loved chicklet keyboard with the divisive butterfly keyboard. Again, all current model MacBooks have this. I loved the previous keyboard, too, and thought I'd hate the new one. But after using it for a few days, I don't mind it at all.

Some are complaining about the need for dongles or USB-C hubs. I am living with this thing now and, at least for me, a single hub is all I need (the Satechi hub with USB-C pass-through, 3 USB-A, ethernet, SD-microSD card, and 4K HDMI). Carrying it around is no trouble at all.

Performance is absolutely fine for me. The fan can be noisy but it rarely comes on. Battery life exceeds my rMBP, which is partly because that computer (and its battery) is 3 years old. But I never got more than 6 hours on that computer, even when new, and I'm easily getting 8 on the new MBA.

The new MB Air isn't for everyone. The MB Pro w/o Touch Bar will be a better choice for people who need more power, and for people who don't think the new Air's screen is bright enough.

Haters gonna hate.

But the Air is a good purchase for some of us. For the rest of you, there are some great options for you. I won't criticize your choices because you know what's right for you, not me.

Of course, anyone can learn to live with things...it is just that I think they have missed what the target market of this laptop need. It is for entry level and students. For them, battery life, cheap storage, and useful ports are much more important than the fastest internal storage, and TB3 connectivity. I doubt many MacBook airs are ever connected to any external display, or storage, let alone something that needs TB3 bandwidth.

By contrast, SD card slot and regular USB connections are much more useful for the regular user in this bracket.
In particular they permit the addition of cheaper onboard flush-fitting USB or SD storage, something that USBC kills due to the tiny size of the socket.

Better battery life is welcome of course, as is the screen update. But for a past user, hiking price 20% plus the price of a dock, cables or upgraded internal storage, is just going to price this thing too high for what it offers.

Justifying carrying additional cables or a dock around to maintain USBA and SDcard is just a pain when they used to be there. Loss of MagSafe is also annoying. I liked it when you get a second MagSafe laptop, since you accumulate chargers that you can keep in multiple locations and then not to travel with them. In the short term, moving to USBC breaks that additional small benefit. Not to mention that MagSafe is just generally a much better tech.

 

[crsh1976]

The retina display is an awesome addition, but for me it's offset by this awful butterfly keyboard Apple is slapping on all models - typing on a work-issued 13-inch rMBP from 2016 has me hating it with a passion.

It's quite surprising to me, Apple had some of the very best notebook keyboards on the market for decades, and yet they managed to completely screw it up.

 

[Spectrum]

The retina display is an awesome addition, but for me it's offset by this awful butterfly keyboard Apple is slapping on all models - typing on a work-issued 13-inch rMBP from 2016 has me hating it with a passion.

It's quite surprising to me, Apple had some of the very best notebook keyboards on the market for decades, and yet they managed to completely screw it up.

I know what you mean. This summer I had two 2008 era MBPros finally die. Now THEY had a really good keyboard for typing on. The 2011 model I still use is OK...and I can hope that it keeps going for another 2-3 years (based on the lifespan of the 2008's), but time is a-ticking...

Not sure what I will buy to replace the 2011 when it does finally pack up. Replacing a machine with 2TB of internal storage and a decent keyboard is going to prove tricky...and expensive. Funnily enough I even still use the CD/DVD drive on occasion...

 

[Zzzoom]

"Given the scope of the revamp, the $200 upgrade fee is well worth paying for anyone thinking of purchasing a MacBook Air."

So, in other words: technological progress is dead in the tech sector?

 

[MacBH928]

Why does Apple include touchID on their devices if they think FaceID is better? every macbook comes with a built in camera.
[doublepost=1542278320][/doublepost]

I know what you mean. This summer I had two 2008 era MBPros finally die. Now THEY had a really good keyboard for typing on. The 2011 model I still use is OK...and I can hope that it keeps going for another 2-3 years (based on the lifespan of the 2008's), but time is a-ticking...

Not sure what I will buy to replace the 2011 when it does finally pack up. Replacing a machine with 2TB of internal storage and a decent keyboard is going to prove tricky...and expensive. Funnily enough I even still use the CD/DVD drive on occasion...

I think they still sell the MBP from 2015 with magsafe and the old keyboards

 

[BigBoy2018]

Note how the comparison was biased entirely in favor of the new “MacBook Air,” which is a MacBook Air in name only. It’s really just another MacBook, which they’ve given the “Air” badge so they can pretend when they stop selling the REAL MacBook Air that they haven’t simply discontinued the best-valued MacBook in the lineup. Here’s what the comparison MISSED:
The REAL MacBook Air has a useable full, real keyboard with good key travel, and proven reliability. The replacement is garbage that can be disabled, it seems, by a speck of DUST. Also, the tactile experience is TERRIBLE. There was insufficient focus on the fact that the loss of the two USB 3.0 (or 3.1, whatever they were,) ports, the Thunderbolt Mini Display Port, and the SD/MMC Card slot, and the MagSafe 2 charging port, reduce the usefulness of the “new” “MacBook Air” because if you want to plug it in to power, that only leaves you with HOW many USB ports? The simple fact that for YEARS the MacBook Air sold TONS of units is proof that people LIKED it, maybe even LOVED it, and now that they’ve replaced it with a MacBook pretending to be a MacBook Air.

1000 likes. But hey, it's still a MacBook 'Air' because it still has that stupid wedge shape. Apple might as well just sold us a special case that gives the 12" MacBook a wedge shape and then said "voila! now your MacBook is a MacBook 'AIR'!!! Aren't you all in love with it just like the old MacBook Air!?!?"
[doublepost=1542279163][/doublepost]

I think they still sell the MBP from 2015 with magsafe and the old keyboards

They stopped selling that about a year ago Rip ... Van Winkle.

 

[dilbert99]

That is one sexy looking machine. But Apple gear is just going up and up in price.

 

[BigBoy2018]

It's quite surprising to me, Apple had some of the very best notebook keyboards on the market for decades, and yet they managed to completely screw it up.

Hey, it's an un-noticable 2mm thinner! That sliver of extra thinness and .5 ounce of less weight is EASILY worth having a computer that's a ticking time bomb with a crappy keyboard.

 

[MX20]

I think it's time for Apple to choose a new leader. Most of the  product lineup is a catch-up version with some noticeable compromise over keyboard usability, speed, and loss of MagSafe.

For the first time ever, it announced a numerous product and failed to deliver AirPower Mat on schedule more than 300 days which might never be available to purchase.

 

[gertruded]

Note how the comparison was biased entirely in favor of the new “MacBook Air,” which is a MacBook Air in name only. It’s really just another MacBook, which they’ve given the “Air” badge so they can pretend when they stop selling the REAL MacBook Air that they haven’t simply discontinued the best-valued MacBook in the lineup. Here’s what the comparison MISSED:
The REAL MacBook Air has a useable full, real keyboard with good key travel, and proven reliability. The replacement is garbage that can be disabled, it seems, by a speck of DUST. Also, the tactile experience is TERRIBLE. There was insufficient focus on the fact that the loss of the two USB 3.0 (or 3.1, whatever they were,) ports, the Thunderbolt Mini Display Port, and the SD/MMC Card slot, and the MagSafe 2 charging port, reduce the usefulness of the “new” “MacBook Air” because if you want to plug it in to power, that only leaves you with HOW many USB ports? The simple fact that for YEARS the MacBook Air sold TONS of units is proof that people LIKED it, maybe even LOVED it, and now that they’ve replaced it with a MacBook pretending to be a MacBook Air, with ports that in order to use all my USB 1, 2,and 3 stuff, I’d have to shell out even MORE money, on top of the already voluptuated price they want for the thing, means even higher costs, JUST to get back to the same level of functionality I already HAD.

What this means IS: when my current MacBook Air dies, if when I go to replace it, the only thing available isn’t a REAL MacBook Air, I won’t be buying another Apple computer. Because I’m not buying one that can’t run GNU/Linux natively, (thanks to that stupid T2 nonsense,) and I’m not buying one with an ususably crappy keyboard, an unnecessary “force touch” trackpad, which I neither need nor want and I’m sure adds to the price, and whatever features is allegedly has, and given all the features it’s missing... to put it bluntly, I’m not paying EXTRA for LESS. I am sick and tired of Apple trying to force customers into what it thinks of as “the future” by reducing usability and charging even more money for the privilege.

My next computer, whenever I buy another, WILL have USB 3.x ports, it WILL have the ability to run GNU/LINUX NATIVELY if I so desire, and I guess it won’t have a little APPLE anywhere on it.

It’s not just the “MacBook Air”... These days, Apple just isn’t Apple anymore.

The truth is that the 2017 model has been and will be on sale at various places for about $700. A great value and still a great machine for the next 5 years or so. Apple is unlikely to still be in the Mac business at that time anyway and we all will have to switch. Who cares what age the cpu is. My plan is to purchase on sale and spend the next few years transitioning away from Apple.

Remember, they left us, we did not leave them.

 

[asiga]

Those thick silver bezels from the previous version have been replaced with sleek, slim MacBook Pro-style black bezels that look much, much nicer.

No, they are not nicer. In fact, they are a big step backwards. They are nice in the 15inch MBP, because a 15inch display is big enough for having immersive concentration in the display. But on a 13inch MBP, the slim bezels let your sight get distracted with the surroundings.

On the previous MBA, the thicker bezels were a great aid for getting an immersive experience on a 13inch display.

This of course points in the direction of the main mistake in the new MBA: It should have been 14inch or 15inch. The price wasn't the important thing. The display size was the important thing. If they really didn't want to release it as 14'' or 15'', then they should have kept the thick bezels.

 

[oldmacs]

No, they are not nicer. In fact, they are a big step backwards. They are nice in the 15inch MBP, because a 15inch display is big enough for having immersive concentration in the display. But on a 13inch MBP, the slim bezels let your sight get distracted with the surroundings.

On the previous MBA, the thicker bezels were a great aid for getting an immersive experience on a 13inch display.

This of course points in the direction of the main mistake in the new MBA: It should have been 14inch or 15inch. The price wasn't the important thing. The display size was the important thing. If they really didn't want to release it as 14'' or 15'', then they should have kept the thick bezels.

The metal bezels were also good for the education market where students have a habit of dropping laptops and slamming lids shut with items in the case.

 

[otternonsense]

Most useless non-update Apple could come up with, and further proof of their total lack of Mac vision/strategy.

It's just an underpowered mishmash of the 12" MacBook and the 13" entry level MacBook Pro made with recycled aluminium. I can't figure who on their right mind would want that thing.

Let's not compare it with a dirt-old device just to make it look good. It isn't.

 

[brucebrendon]

too many Cooks

 

[Khedron]

Why does Apple include touchID on their devices if they think FaceID is better? every macbook comes with a built in camera.

Excess TouchID stock to shift

 

[WilliamG]

Still not updating my 2011 13” MacBook Air.

I need 256GB and the upgrade of $200 is criminal.

Apple’s pricing, this year, is finally officially out of control. It used to be bad. Now it’s just... Oy....

 

[interessiert]

Did you seriously list "No glowing Apple logo" as a negative? Seriously, who cares. It doesn't affect the functionality in the slightest. The keyboard is fine, now that it's been fixed in gen3.

The problems around gen 3 butterfly keyboard are not fixed – wait and see...

I hope for you that you get no failure – but after 2 or 3 years you will understand the warning of some – take a look to Forum

 

[tridley68]

I'm suprised that they didn't remove the headphone jack they removed it from everything else.
[doublepost=1542286259][/doublepost]

The problems around gen 3 butterfly keyboard are not fixed – wait and see...

I hope for you that you get no failure – but after 2 or 3 years you will understand the warning of some – take a look to Forum

you have to admit that Glowing Apple logo was pretty cool.