Last week I received my 13" MBA i5/8GB/256GB SSD/Samsung Screen, and I will be returning it tomorrow, because I feel its no upgrade from my Early 2011 13" Base MBP that I upgraded to 8GB of Memory three months and today to the Samsung 830 256GB SSD. I actually prefer the screen on my MBP over the MBA because it has better colors, better contrast and better brightness.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I Will Be Returning My 2012 13" MBA
- Thread starter gregpod9
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you're looking for more accurate colors, MBA isn't the way to go. My Spyder told me that my screen has 65% of RGB. My four year old LG monitor has 98%. The MBP is supposed to be much more accurate. So yea, if you're looking for color accuracy, I guess you'll see it more on the MBP.
+1 to JHuFrank
Screen color accuracy is the least of concerns on my MBAs, size, speed, and weight are why I have two of them. I am a photographer who uses his 15" MBP with a 27" Apple monitor for true color rendition.
Screen color accuracy is the least of concerns on my MBAs, size, speed, and weight are why I have two of them. I am a photographer who uses his 15" MBP with a 27" Apple monitor for true color rendition.
That seems to be a common opinion around here and limited research from someone who owns neither at this point tells me the MBAir known for color accuracy.
I question the color accuracy thing at times in any display given some of the inherent limitations in technology in general. Overall the Air addresses a gamut which is more narrow than what would be expected. sRGB was based on something like the reproducible gamut of the average display in 1994. Wiki explains it quite well. Anyway the MBA is somewhat restricted on gamut and its viewing angles aren't so great. This makes it difficult to assess images on screen in a consistent manner. I'd say that it would become frustrating for anyone that has to deal with color reproduction on a consistent basis.
I think the Air screen is good, especially once calibrated. Its just a different experience from the Pro - less color gamut, more sharpness.
Boy, this person should run for public office...
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=15345602#post15345602
If you're happy with reflections, glare and low resolution pixelated fonts and an extra 1.5 pounds in your bag or on your lap, that's cool.
For me, color accuracy was less important than the features the Air offers.
To each their own, that's why there's choices, (although sometimes the choices seem limited).
For me, color accuracy was less important than the features the Air offers.
To each their own, that's why there's choices, (although sometimes the choices seem limited).
There are a few different versions in the U.S. You can use the international version on AT&T and a few others, and sprint, and AT&T have phones very comparable to that, but slightly different casing on them. The T-Mobile version has a different processor, because the standard exynos doesn't support HSPA+ (42mb/s modem). The skyrocket and T-mobile version instead uses a qualcomm clocked at 1.5ghz, however benchmarks show they're about as fast as the slower clocked exynos chips. This cpu lets them utilize the fastest network speeds the providers have and you can get real world speeds of 25mb/s or so.
They sell the S2 in the US, but there are different variations among the carriers. The T-Mobile S2 and Skyrocket are basically the same phone.
EDIT: I see your question has already been answered.
(This isn't an attack on the people I quoted, but it's more about Apple-Defensiveness in general)
Why is there this acceptance that because the Air is incredibly portable that it's NOT supposed to have accurate color? It's ridiculous. We're CONSUMERS! We're supposed to be nitpicky instead of going around defending flaws as if they're features. If we're all supposed to believe that an ultralight computer CAN'T have color accuracy then why the heck should we be talking so much about a Retina Display Air?
Just like people say "The best camera is the one you have on you", then "The best display is the one you have on you". So if that $1500 ultralight thin as Air computer that you take on a photo shoot requires a separate monitor just to get ballpark color accuracy then something is wrong.
Hey, he made it four days before doing a complete 180 and flip flopping on his opinion. I guess the "awesome Samsung display" on his Air just wasn't awesome enough, even though he "couldn't stand the screen on my MBP anymore".
I have a strong suspicion that he simply has buyer's remorse and is trying to rationalize it. Posting it in public will help reinforce his rationalization.
He also managed to score a free Mountain Lion upgrade out of this situation.
Last edited:
Imo, I don't know because I'm in Apple's ecosystem too long or what, but there will never be one system fits all, ever. Even when let's say the AIR will eventually have an IPS grade quality display, there will be even something better on the market already. The point is, that I want an item that can do the BEST in things I need.
Once you put a better display on AIR, price will go up, battery will stay less (due to power requirement to light up the display), who knows what other things you need to add to deliver the best experience of just the display to the user. Follow this up: add more battery power in 11"? how? the battery is glued. How about the price? if it went even further why bother buying the AIR?
It is all come back to why the AIR is there at the first place. AIR is designed to be a portable, day-to-day laptop machine (and now, simple gaming can also do). As long as the screen lit, and i can read, on daylight, outside, I'm good. Capiche?
And yes, with $1500 ultraportable laptop like AIR you won't get a screen with ballpark accuracy colour. Where does the money goes? perhaps that 1.35kg only weight.
Last edited:
he'll probably get an iMAC next due to its portability and awesome battery life.
If you're having difficulty with your iMac's battery life, try only charging it when you run completely out of battery power, and then let it charge completely before using it again.