Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The new MacBook Air also features a haptic trackpad, so it's entirely feasible that we'll one day get them to vibrate around like RC cars:

UohQFzq.gif

It will give a new meaning to the phrase: my laptop is faster than yours.
 
New 13" Macbook Air vs 13" Macbook Pro? I am using a 2013 MBA which I love. I was eagerly waiting an update to the screen to buy a new one. The resolution on my MBA is noticeably dated. I found the MBA sitting right next to a MBP in Best Buy. The MBA is not significantly smaller. The screen on the MBP is noticeably brighter (agree with above) and the processor (specs) are much better. Money aside (about a $300 difference between the 2 with 256 gb) why buy the MBA? Initially I bought it in 2013 because it was significantly lighter, more portable, and better battery life. I welcome your comments.
I had the same experience. As I was spec'ing the MBA I noticed that the price rose quick with extra RAM and storage. I ended up getting a refurbished 2018 MBP on Apple's refurbished store for just $100 more than a similarly spec'ed MBA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: richman20
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.
Were a lot of people surprised? There were rumors abound of the imminent release of a new MBA with retina.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigBoy2018
The only way to correct this purposedly, greedy behavior is for the masses to decry:

"No Más!"


Only when the sales volume of the Mac lineup drops precipitously, then maybe -- just maybe -- Cook and his beancounter crew will correct course (because increasing geometrically the Mac lineup's ASP will not appease wall-street anymore -- which is all he wants).

But from prior behavior, I am afraid that Cook will simply halt, silently, all updates, letting the Mac line-up fade to oblivion.

Just my observation.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: gertruded
You know, after reading all the comments on anything Mac hardware related I can only conclude that many MR readers are anhedonic, lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: emmanoelle
I disagree with the end of this review. I have a 2015 MBA. And I am sure the new one is speedier. But to suggest that the device is outdated is silly. The 2015 MBA is still very much a powerhouse for the price. Especially since many times you can get it for 799.

If I was going to spend over 1K, the AIR wouldn't be on my radar.
 
This 'new' macbook air only gets it's name because of the wedge shape, which as we know, is now entirely uneccessary given the thinness of the current macbook line. Are people that in love with the wedge shape? It was only used 10 years ago in the original designs to create the ILLUSION of thinness, even though the back half of the laptop was quick thicker.
Besides, are customers wowed anymore by how thin a laptop is? I just don't get it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GalileoSeven
Soldered 128GB, no USB-A or SD card slot to workaround storage is outright criminal planned-obsolescence. Why is there no outrage about this?
I agree that the soldered 128 GB SSD is problematic especially considering the price point, but how is not having USB-A ports planned obsolescence when USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 is the newer / faster standard?
 
  • Like
Reactions: GalileoSeven
I bought a 2011 13" all those years ago and it is still in daily use, it has had one new display because I crushed it, not an Apple issue.

When I heard they were bringing out a 'new' version, I immediately went down to the Apple store and bought a 2018 version of the original configuration, as I wanted to get a Magsafe connection and SD card facility.

I'm no fan of the USBC power connection or the butterfly keyboard - I've looked at both and was not impressed. I did a side by side comparison of the old screen against a retina screen in the Apple store and really couldn't tell the difference.

While I'm being old-fashioned, I really prefer the older 90o Magsafe over the straight Magsafe 2, to the extent that I bought the adapter to enable me to use my original power pack with my 2018 model. My other half inherited the 2011 version and loves it.

I'm seriously considering buying yet another of the original configuration while they are available and just leaving it in the box.





 
This 'new' macbook air only gets it's name because of the wedge shape, which as we know, is now entirely uneccessary given the thinness of the current macbook line. Are people that in love with the wedge shape? It was only used 10 years ago in the original designs to create the ILLUSION of thinness, even though the back half of the laptop was quick thicker.
Besides, are customers wowed anymore by how thin a laptop is? I just don't get it.
The ultra-portable category still appeals to some, though there's an argument to be made that Apple has taken it too far with the MacBook (which will likely be Apple's first Mac to get ARM chips), and the high prices for ultra-portable are no longer as justifiable as they used to be with the competition from tablets and smartphones for lighter use cases.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigBoy2018
these new computers are disposable and useless one broken or even if their OSX has a hicuup, like mine did several times recently. So what MBA would MOTHER NATURE purchase? my guess is one from 2012 and earlier.
 
I recommend demoing a new MacBook Air in a store; it will take less than a minute for you to know whether you can live with the keyboard or not. . .

I don't agree with this. There is no way you can judge how well you will like a keyboard in a store for a few minutes, in an awkward typing position (probably standing or bending over the thing) not using your favorite programs.

I recommend that somebody buy the machine and return it if you don't like it. For instance - Apple has a 14 day, no questions asked return policy. Use that time to determine whether you like the keyboard or not.
 
The 512/16gb mba is ~300usd less than the same configuration TB mbp. That’s almost a quarter pretax price of that mba, not small. I wouldn’t throw the nTB mbp in the comparison since it has the 2nd gen keyboard, better screen be darned (I’m not a graphics person). So I think for many people on the fence of mba vs TB mbp, it’s worth a look to see how the mba handles your particular workload. But that’s the situation created by the lineup. Lots of folks unsure. If there was a nTB mbp with 3rd gen kb, with or without quad core, I wouldn’t think twice, but as is, .25 lighter, 3rd gen kB, 300 less, powerful enough, potentially a good pickup.
 
The ultra-portable category still appeals to some, though there's an argument to be made that Apple has taken it too far with the MacBook (which will likely be Apple's first Mac to get ARM chips), and the high prices for ultra-portable are no longer as justifiable as they used to be with the competition from tablets and smartphones for lighter use cases.

Exactly. Laptops have gotten thin enough. What they should do is stop the pursuit of thinness for a while and instead focus on battery life and power. But with Jony Ive as the prince charming of Apple, that won't happen.
 
But is the new i5 processor faster than the i7 processor in my old MacBook Air?

Till now I didn't read any Geekbench about the Core i7 MBA 2017 – would be heavily interesting! :apple::)

The T2 preserves assistance to CPU, but i3 and i5 are too weak that T2 could compensate CPU – Apple left a big gap to MBP for better selling these (more expensive) ;)
 
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. :confused:

And the new Air is thicker than the MBP at its thickest point and thicker than the old Air at its thinnest point. :eek:
[doublepost=1542299705][/doublepost]
too many Cooks

Too many crooks.
[doublepost=1542300068][/doublepost]
This 'new' macbook air only gets it's name because of the wedge shape, which as we know, is now entirely uneccessary given the thinness of the current macbook line. Are people that in love with the wedge shape? It was only used 10 years ago in the original designs to create the ILLUSION of thinness, even though the back half of the laptop was quick thicker.
Besides, are customers wowed anymore by how thin a laptop is? I just don't get it.

Having just switched to a MBP after using Airs for several years, I do miss the thinness at the front of the machine because I often use it not flat on a table. It's certainly nicer for that kind of use but I won't be returning the MBP over it.
[doublepost=1542300466][/doublepost]
The 512/16gb mba is ~300usd less than the same configuration TB mbp. That’s almost a quarter pretax price of that mba, not small. I wouldn’t throw the nTB mbp in the comparison since it has the 2nd gen keyboard, better screen be darned (I’m not a graphics person). So I think for many people on the fence of mba vs TB mbp, it’s worth a look to see how the mba handles your particular workload. But that’s the situation created by the lineup. Lots of folks unsure. If there was a nTB mbp with 3rd gen kb, with or without quad core, I wouldn’t think twice, but as is, .25 lighter, 3rd gen kB, 300 less, powerful enough, potentially a good pickup.

After getting the new MBA, I gave my head a shake and returned it for a refurb 2018 tbMBP.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.