MacBook Air 2018

[Viper-FFM]

Ok, buying it

My MacBook pro 13'' i7 Late 2013
Cinebench
SC 112cb
MC 235cb
OpenGL 21.98 fps

MacBook Air 2018
Cinebencht
SC 128
MC 286
OpenGL 34.96 fps

Dont know how. But they managed to squeeze out almost 50% better graphics performance compared to last years m-series.

 

[EugW]

https://www.macworld.com/article/3318566/macs/macbook-air-2018-review.html

 

[Ma2k5]

Ok, buying it

My MacBook pro 13'' i7 Late 2013
Cinebench
SC 112cb
MC 235cb
OpenGL 21.98 fps

MacBook Air 2018
Cinebencht
SC 128
MC 286
OpenGL 34.96 fps

Dont know how. But they manage to squeeze out almost 50% better graphics performance compared to last years m-series.

Not too surprising, as it’s 7W vs 5W and there is also a fan, meaning higher clocks and less throttling.

 

[raqball]

I agree, the MBA doesn't look attractive anymore after the reviews...

And the 2017 MBP is covered by the program, so there is at least some certainty with it, whereas the 3rd one is not.

I purchased the refurb 512GB / 16GB version for $1,609.00-- a full 10% and $190 cheaper...

Agree... I am getting a Mac this week and was leaning towards the Air but have a few issues that I've been trying to convince myself were fine..

Battery life
Screen brightness
Keyboard

Battery life appears meh but maybe they'll be able to tweak it. Screen brightness (300 nit -v- 500 nit) is a massive bummer! Laptop Mag review says the Air is woeful 234 nits = Yikes!... The Keyboard, while possibly improved will not be covered under Apple KB warranty program. I can roll the dice and get one year on the Air or 4 years on the 2017 Pro....

At this point I think I am going to join you, pass on the Air and snag a 2017 Pro nTB.....

 

[Howard2k]

No details on the wifi yet?

 

[EugW]

Agree... I am getting a Mac this week and was leaning towards the Air but have a few issues that I've been trying to convince myself were fine..

Battery life
Screen brightness
Keyboard

Battery life appears meh but maybe they'll be able to tweak it. Screen brightness (300 nit -v- 500 nit) is a massive bummer! Laptop Mag review says the Air is woeful 234 nits = Yikes!... The Keyboard, while possibly improved will not be covered under Apple KB warranty program. I can roll the dice and get one year on the Air or 4 years on the 2017 Pro....

At this point I think I am going to join you, pass on the Air and snag a 2017 Pro nTB.....

Yup, as I’ve been saying:

12” MacBook for fanless portability and refurbished 13” non-TB for better screen and performance and overall better value.

The Air has the performance of a MacBook with the portability of a Pro and has a fan. Worst of both worlds.

 

[Dave245]

Update:

I've just placed an order for the 512GB, 16GB version in Space Grey

 

[raqball]

Yup, as I’ve been saying:

12” MacBook for fanless portability and refurbished 13” non-TB for better screen and performance and overall better value.

The Air has the performance of a MacBook with the portability of a Pro and has a fan. Worst of both worlds.

I've been reading more reviews on the Air and am now pretty confident I am going to pass... Probably hit the Apple Store today and snag a 2017 nTB.. Brighter screen, more power and 4 year KB warranty...

The new Air, the more I read, is pretty terrible.... My 2 massive issues with the Air are screen brightness (230 nits v 500) and the KB warranty. I don't trust that Apple has sorted the KB issues so I'd be happier with the 4-year KB warranty..

 

[jagolden]

My MB Pro is getting old so I would like to get an updated laptop. I don't need a "pro" machine as I now do my photo/video editing on a Windows desktop thanks to Apple's high prices and lack of dedication to Macs. I do want to continue having an Apple laptop as I like the OS and have some programs that are Mac only. I am awaiting their supposedly "low-cost" one, and I don't care about bezel size, thinness, color or material of case etc. But if the "low-cost" version again comes with 128 GB of storage, that just might be a deal breaker for me. It's simply ridiculous in 2018 and just screams greed.

I heartily agree with the puny storage options on base models. The SSd have been around long enough for the prices to justify more base storage at the same prices.
My desktop and laptop are older so I use a number of external HDs for storage and backups. I couldn’t possibly see my 27’ iMac with anything else but the 1T that is internal and the two external 1Ts I need to use with it.

For you uses of of photo and especially the video editing, I don’t see how it can reasonably be done without buying expensive external adapters and components, which of course, then drive the overall price up. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[ssl0408]

I've been reading more reviews on the Air and am now pretty confident I am going to pass... Probably hit the Apple Store today and snag a 2017 nTB.. Brighter screen, more power and 4 year KB warranty...

The new Air, the more I read, is pretty terrible.... My 2 massive issues with the Air are screen brightness (230 nits v 500) and the KB warranty. I don't trust that Apple has sorted the KB issues so I'd be happier with the 4-year KB warranty..

The keyboard warranty is 4 years from the date of purchase?

 

[EugW]

I've been reading more reviews on the Air and am now pretty confident I am going to pass... Probably hit the Apple Store today and snag a 2017 nTB.. Brighter screen, more power and 4 year KB warranty...

The new Air, the more I read, is pretty terrible.... My 2 massive issues with the Air are screen brightness (230 nits v 500) and the KB warranty. I don't trust that Apple has sorted the KB issues so I'd be happier with the 4-year KB warranty..

Is the max brightness really that low? Cuz that 230 is way lower than the 12” MacBook too (and way lower than the old Air). The Pro is wide gamut too, don’t forget.

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/apple-macbook-12-inch-retina-display-2015

 

[raqball]

The keyboard warranty is 4 years from the date of purchase?

Yes it is...

https://www.apple.com/support/keyboard-service-program-for-macbook-and-macbook-pro/

*snip*

The program covers eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro models for 4 years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Is the max brightness really that low? Cuz that 230 is way lower than the 12” MacBook too (and way lower than the old Air). The Pro is wide gamut too, don’t forget.

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/apple-macbook-12-inch-retina-display-2015

View attachment 801780

Laptop Mag's testing said the max brightness on the new Air they reviewed was a woeful 234 nits! Yikes! Hope nobody plans on using it outdoors....

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/apple-macbook-air-2018

*snip*

While Apple rates the Air's panel as capable of producing 300 nits of brightness, our unit maxed out at 234 nits

 

[Dave245]

Yes it is...

https://www.apple.com/support/keyboard-service-program-for-macbook-and-macbook-pro/

*snip*

The program covers eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro models for 4 years after the first retail sale of the unit.



Laptop Mag's testing said the max brightness on the new Air they reviewed was a woeful 234 nits! Yikes! Hope nobody plans on using it outdoors....

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/apple-macbook-air-2018

The brightness is 300 nits as it says on Apple’s website.

 

[raqball]

The brightness is 300 nits as it says on Apple’s website.

They can say whatever they want but actual testing is much less... The 234 reported by Laptop Mag is flat out pathetic....

They also said 13 hours of battery life but reviewers are getting MUCH less than that...

 

[ssl0408]

Yes it is...

https://www.apple.com/support/keyboard-service-program-for-macbook-and-macbook-pro/

*snip*

The program covers eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro models for 4 years after the first retail sale of the unit.



Laptop Mag's testing said the max brightness on the new Air they reviewed was a woeful 234 nits! Yikes! Hope nobody plans on using it outdoors....

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/apple-macbook-air-2018

*snip*

While Apple rates the Air's panel as capable of producing 300 nits of brightness, our unit maxed out at 234 nits

So then it’s 4 years from the date of release, which is June 2017.

 

[vito]

Yes it is...

https://www.apple.com/support/keyboard-service-program-for-macbook-and-macbook-pro/

*snip*

The program covers eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro models for 4 years after the first retail sale of the unit.



Laptop Mag's testing said the max brightness on the new Air they reviewed was a woeful 234 nits! Yikes! Hope nobody plans on using it outdoors....

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/apple-macbook-air-2018

*snip*

While Apple rates the Air's panel as capable of producing 300 nits of brightness, our unit maxed out at 234 nits

Review by WSJ - from 1:23min she compares the display to a MBP outdoors, don't know what brightness the MBP was set at

 

[Falcon80]

So then it’s 4 years from the date of release, which is June 2017.

It should be 4 years after the date of our purchase. Doesn’t sound right to be 4 years after it is first announced since the issue will creep up after usage.

 

[Thaung]

Update:

I've just placed an order for the 512GB, 16GB version in Space Grey

Envy you.
That's nice choice.

 

[raqball]

Review by WSJ - from 1:23min she compares the display to a MBP outdoors, don't know what brightness the MBP was set at

Guess we will wait and see but I suspect a lot of these are going to be returned if Laptop Mags rating is correct.... 230 -v- 500 nits is a massive difference! Maybe Laptop Mag had a bad unit but even if someone gets the full 300 nits, I can't see it being very readable in direct sunlight. I have a Yoga 930C that also is 300 nits and forget about it outdoors..

 

[triangletechie]

To confirm, the $1799 2018 MBP has a better display than the $1199 2018 MBA.

 

[raqball]

So then it’s 4 years from the date of release, which is June 2017.

No, Apple clearly says 4 years from date of 1st retail purchase.... It's 4 years from the day you buy it, if new and I assume less if you buy a refurb as a refurb will have already had it's 1st retail purchase....

 

[Dave245]

They can say whatever they want but actual testing is much less... The 234 reported by Laptop Mag is flat out pathetic....

They also said 13 hours of battery life but reviewers are getting MUCH less than that...

That’s one publication saying it, there resting could be off! As for battery life Apple states 13 hours for video playback, 12 hours for wireless web. Battery tests have said different things, some have said it’s the best battery life beating the 12” MacBook and MacBook Pro, while others have said it’s around the same, it really depends how the tests are conducted.

 

[raqball]

To confirm, the $1799 2018 MBP has a better display than the $1199 2018 MBA.

No, to confirm the $1299 MBP has a better screen than the $1199 Air. For that extra $100 you also get a better processor and GPU..
[doublepost=1541517445][/doublepost]

That’s one publication saying it, there resting could be off! As for battery life Apple states 13 hours for video playback, 12 hours for wireless web. Battery tests have said different things, some have said it’s the best battery life beating the 12” MacBook and MacBook Pro, while others have said it’s around the same, it really depends how the tests are conducted.

Sounds like you want to confirm your purchase.... Nothing wrong with that but after reading the reviews of the Air, I am bailing out..... Which sucks, because I really wanted to buy it...

 

[Dave245]

No, to confirm the $1299 MBP has a better screen than the $1199 Air. For that extra $100 you also get a better processor and GPU..
[doublepost=1541517445][/doublepost]

Sounds like you want to confirm your purchase.... Nothing wrong with that but after reading the reviews of the Air, I am bailing out..... Which sucks, because I really wanted to buy it...

I’ve placed an order, I could cancel but I will go off what I think when it arrives, if I don’t like it or there are issues, I have 14 days to return it

 

[raqball]

I’ve placed an order, I could cancel but I will go off what I think when it arrives, if I don’t like it or there are issues, I have 14 days to return it

If it's 300 nits I might be able to deal with it.... Maybe.... If it's the low 200's as reported by Laptop Mag using brightness testing devices? Nadda, no way, no how!