MacBook Air Reviews Roundup: 'Best Computer for Most People' Again After 2018 Refresh

[fathergll]

My issue with the Air is that it's limited by a 2 core CPU and is roughly the same size as the 13" MBP. It's closer in size to the 13" MBP than the 12" Macbook.

I hate the idea of spending well in excess of $1000 for a 2 core CPU laptop when it is almost 2019. I'm probably better off waiting for a black friday sale for a 13" MBP over the Air. Plus the pro was a better screen.

 

[code-m]

When I look at the specs of the MacBook Air and read the reviews of the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro, I have to wonder how many people will choose an iPad Pro over this machine. Toms hardware just posted benchmarks showing the iPad Pro beating an i7 Dell laptop.

If those i7 Dell laptops ran iOS, it would be comparable in the tests run. Even if these software are running generic tests, there is still the optimization and integration between hardware and OS.

 

[cliffster82]

So we need a new laptop. I'm leaning towards a refurbished MBP from apple. 256gb for $1269 I think. Is this a good plan? For 256gb on the Air I have to spend $1400. The computer is mostly for web-based design software and managing her largish photo library along with the normal standard stuff, browsing, iTunes etc.

 

[Spock]

If those i7 Dell laptops ran iOS, it would be comparable in the tests run. Even if these software are running generic tests, there is still the optimization and integration between hardware and OS.

I don’t understand your point, the iPad Pro beat a Dell laptop with an i7. It’s not the benchmarks fault that Dell and Intel can’t integrate and Microsoft can’t optimize Windows better for the i7. If it makes you feel better, it beat out a Surface tablet as well.

 

[code-m]

From John Gruber’s review:

https://daringfireball.net/2018/11/the_2018_retina_macbook_air

Does that mean Apple will lower their prices on old tech? No value for Apple as it can keep offering old tech at high prices. The arrogance.

 

[ssl0408]

So we need a new laptop. I'm leaning towards a refurbished MBP from apple. 256gb for $1269 I think. Is this a good plan? For 256gb on the Air I have to spend $1400. The computer is mostly for web-based design software and managing her largish photo library along with the normal standard stuff, browsing, iTunes etc.

If you’re fine with it being the June 2017 model and having the not so reliable keyboard, then it sounds fine.

 

[Ont]

Don't mind the price.

Nor the Keyboard.

Couldn't give a toss about the (lack of) ports.

But I'm still not sold on that 7W CPU.

Waiting for some more reviews, based on a bit more extended testing...

...while I'm cuddling my 2010 11" MBA, hoping it will stay alive until WWDC -19.

I'm still holding on to my macbook pro 15" too. Really cannot find a justifiable cause to buy a new one. Especially the price...

 

[Feenician]

Gotta love comments that say what “should” be the base storage, or what it “should” cost to upgrade. Let’s take a look at a competitor that I’m told frequently on MR is right on Apple’s heels and they should be worried.

Surface Book 2

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/devices/surface-book-2/overview#surfaceconfiguration

Same 8Gb/128Gb at the same price. Surely though upgrades will be cheaper? Nope $300 to go from 128Gb to 256Gb instead of Apple’s $200.

Well surely 256gb to 512 will be cheaper? Microsoft $500, Apple $200.

Now I’m sure plenty of other vendors will do upgrades of low end storage for less but be realistic here. Apple is not, and has never been, an inexpensive computer brand but compared to Microsoft here their upgrades are a bargain.

Oh and the Surface Book price isn’t a fluke. Same $300 delta for Surface Pro 128->256Gb upgrade

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sto...a&selectedColor=86888a&preview=&previewModes=

 

[Bazooka-joe]

9to5Mac have suggested that for $100 more you can buy the basic 13" MacBook Pro without the touchbar

 

[cliffster82]

If you’re fine with it being the June 2017 model and having the not so reliable keyboard, then it sounds fine.

Thanks. The keyboard issue keeps getting mentioned. I'm gonna have to go to a store and see what the deal is, and if the new Air keyboard is different. We've never had a Macbook.

 

[drumguy1975]

9to5Mac have suggested that for $100 more you can buy the basic 13" MacBook Pro without the touchbar

Again, the problem being with that is that you get the problematic keyboard. Or is that a 2018 MBP?

 

[baller1308]

Apple needs to stop being so stingy with their ssd storage. Would have been perfect to start at 256GB and 512GB respectively. $200 to go from 128GB to 256GB is laughable. We'll see if the ssd is soldered on when ifixit does a tear down.

 

[Mike MA]

Don't mind the price.

...while I'm cuddling my 2010 11" MBA, hoping it will stay alive until WWDC -19.

Exactly the same here. Yet not being able to update to Mojave might also speed up my decision. There’s just no perfect computer...but to be honest, the new Air is pretty much exactly what I was waiting for since nearly 8 years.

 

[ssl0408]

Thanks. The keyboard issue keeps getting mentioned. I'm gonna have to go to a store and see what the deal is, and if the new Air keyboard is different. We've never had a Macbook.

The 2018 MacBook Pro and 2018 Air have updated keyboards, so that’s why I mentioned the keyboard on the 2017 Pro.

 

[Icaras]

Just kill the MacBook Air line already please, Apple.

 

[MacDawg]

Just kill the MacBook Air line already please, Apple.

Speak for yourself

 

[Icaras]

Speak for yourself

This just confuses everyone by having three product lines with way too many overlapping features and pricing that doesn’t make much sense.

If all they had done was halve the storage of the MacBook, whilst upgrading the processor, and lowering the price to $1099, we may not even be having this conversation right now. Keeping the MacBook at 256GB while launching the MacBook Air at 128GB and at a lower price is just bonkers.

 

[Jakexb]

"If you're hoping you'll be able to upgrade and get way faster video editing or process a ton of RAW photos at once, get a MacBook Pro."

And here I've been doing just that on a 5 year old Macbook Air. Go figure.

 

[Ramashalanka]

I really like the weight of my Macbook at 0.92kg for travelling and running. The new Air is 1.25kg which is 35% heavier. I'd never go up that much. Approximately allowing for the larger screen is a (13.3/12)^2-1=23% increase. I don't want the extra USB-C port: I'm going to need the extra 0.04kg multiport adapter for giving presentations when travelling anyway. I don't need any more speed as I do all my heavy lifting over ssh on Linux machines with good GPUs. I may be waiting a long time before a Macbook update - I hope this one lives until then. I'd be all over an ARM based 12" at 0.75kg.

 

[kingax1]

The funniest part of this ordeal is that the "dongle" outrage vanished!!!! Was expecting the Air fans to vent some rage.

Looks like Apple won that war real quick.

On another note,
Huawei already released the MacAir clone, lol
https://www.gizmochina.com/2018/11/...ith-nfc-connectivity-and-fingerprint-scanner/

 

[Sowelu]

I think it would make sense for Apple to upgrade the 12" MacBook and re-brand it the 12" MacBook Air (adding all the key specs of the new Air, while retaining the smaller frame). It would have to be even more under-powered since there is no CPU fan - but the trade off is due to the size, which is important to many people. Then they can kill the MacBook and have only two distinctive Mac portable lines.

 

[9081094]

The base flash storage configuration for the 13-inch MacBook Air since 2010. A progress!

From a technology point of view this is pathetic. I really hope people wake up! This isn't the company it used to be anymore, eager and hungry in delivering the best.

Thanks for the chart ;-)
[doublepost=1541523001][/doublepost]

The funniest part of this ordeal is that the "dongle" outrage vanished!!!! Was expecting the Air fans to vent some rage.

Looks like Apple won that war real quick.

On another note,
Huawei already released the MacAir clone, lol
https://www.gizmochina.com/2018/11/...ith-nfc-connectivity-and-fingerprint-scanner/

Oh well... at least they are eager to introduce better things at light speed and listen to what people want at a reasonable pricing. No wonder Huawei leapfrogged apple in just a few years. I'm still secretly hoping Apple is putting all of it's attention in project Titan and will blow our minds in a few years. Their attention hasn't been in computers and not so much in phones as well lately.

I'll wait and see....

 

[avanpelt]

iJustine is so annoyingly over dramatic. And to think she got started in the biz because she got a several hundred page phone bill from AT&T after the first iPhone was released and made a video about it...

 

[GalileoSeven]

Weak AF and more expensive to boot - doesn't do squat to justify the higher price at all. Does prove though that Apple isn't the same company it once was (purely about the profits now instead of the customer/user)

 

[teknikal90]

Apple seems to be recycling designs across their product lines.
The only 2 products with completely new designs this year are the ipad pro and the apple watch.
fair enough, it's hard and expensive to come up with new designs. Though when Apple's product lines were more focused, they could do that.
Today, you get products like the iPhone SE (5), iPad 5 (Air), the Macbook Air (Pro), Xr (8 Plus)... all great products, but you get a sense that they're recycled designs and not intentional.