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Oldest Air Usable Today?

I went with a 2012 13", 4gb Ram, 128gb. I really like it. It's pretty quick running Sierra. The USB 3.0 was the deciding factor. Thanks everyone for your input.
 
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redheeler said:
A 2011 with 4 GB RAM or 2012 would be the oldest I'd recommend, but as for what models are still usable, it really depends what you plan to do with it.
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I have a MacBook Air 11 mid 20111 that was a custom build 4GB. I upgraded to an OWC 1TB drive.
Caveats:
- Battery life is a lot less than newer models even with a new replacement battery
- GPU performance is poor in comparison to newer models
Mine is a third machines slowly getting replaced in use by an iPad Pro. It served me well. If I would buy another now, I would get a late model refurb with max config. The price difference between that and a used model reflects in only moderate savings in depreciation costs and you will be assured of long support life by Apple's years releases.

Macs have a much longer useful service life than Intel laptops.
 
I have an 11" 2011 (4 / 128) currently running Sierra, and I have no issues with it. Used primarily at home w/ AC, battery life is not a make / break issue for me, though it serves me just fine on those days when I need to be on-the-road with it. I gather later models have a better battery, but that's not been a reason for me to upgrade. Ditto too, processor - rarely the beach ball as I do stuff, and I don't judge my life in comparative milliseconds as it opens apps.

Slightly slower booting up than when new - be that the 'upgraded' OS or apps that start up in the background responsible for that - again, it doesn't really bother me, and still faster than most 'other' OSs and / or HDD-equipped computers.

I'll keep it until it goes up in a little puff of smoke - while I gather the 2011 will be the oldest that Apple will support with High Sierra. And while it's great my little Mac is still running (at this 'vintage', compare that with other OS notebooks), it would seem that this Mac may be my last, as Apple actively prices themselves out of any reasonable price point. They seem determined to kill off the Air - its last affordable, most capable, Macbook.
 
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My late 2010 MacBook Air, 4GB RAM, 256 GB SSD is currently running High Sierra 10.13.1 with no problems. It boots up quickly, runs Safari nicely with several windows and tabs open. No problem with Pages, Keynote, etc.
 
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Hi! Have a 2010 2.13 GHz with 4 Ram. Have tried all OS X systems but think the fan goes a bit well though I only run Safari and some tabs
Provides everything from Reset to deleted hard drive, etc.
If it were not for fan spinning all the time i should used more
 
My four year old 2013 MacBook Air (1.7GHz i7, 8GB RAM) transcodes video about 10% faster than my newly acquired, maxed out 2017 MacBook (1.4GHz i7 with Turbo Boost to 3.6GHz, 16GB RAM). Both are running High Sierra.

They are both quite useful systems for people with mundane usage cases (i.e., ordinary consumers).
 
My Late 2010 with 2gb ram runs terribly on High Sierra, but I think it's been running terribly since Mavericks. I believe the oldest OS I can restore it back to is Lion. Maybe I should do that and see if it performs better.
 
infantrytrophy said:
My late 2010 MacBook Air, 4GB RAM, 256 GB SSD is currently running High Sierra 10.13.1 with no problems. It boots up quickly, runs Safari nicely with several windows and tabs open. No problem with Pages, Keynote, etc.
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Mine is a wee bit glitchy with High Sierra so am considering a clean install - it's the same machine as yours so I was wondering which you'd done?
 
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infantrytrophy said:
My late 2010 MacBook Air, 4GB RAM, 256 GB SSD is currently running High Sierra 10.13.1 with no problems. It boots up quickly, runs Safari nicely with several windows and tabs open. No problem with Pages, Keynote, etc.
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Isn't that a core 2 duo?
 
Rocko99991 said:
Isn't that a core 2 duo?
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Yes. From System Report: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86 GHz.

From the SATA/SATA Express portion of the Hardware Report, the disk (250 GB, 125GB remains available) is formatted with Apple_APFS. Running macOS High Sierra 10.13.6.

Runs very well. I use this to surf the web while watching TV and to scan large numbers of paper files to PDF files using a Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner. I have converted decades of old bank and brokerage statements, paid bills, tax files, etc. to digital files. The scanned files are then copied over my LAN to my main computer, a 2014 iMac. The files are then backed up to local attached disks and to cloud backup. This old 2010 MacBook Air is perfect for those tasks - lets me take my "office" anywhere in the house.
 
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My late 2010 MBA with 4 GB ram is going strong with High Sierra. Typing this on it right now. I even run linux based VMs on it with no problem and occasional PS5. Works like a champ although its now on its third battery. Great travel machine.

Edit: I have Win10 on it as well using Bootcamp and no problems at all though the battery runs down much faster than with High Sierra.
 
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Starlights said:
My late 2010 MBA with 4 GB ram is going strong with High Sierra. Typing this on it right now. I even run linux based VMs on it with no problem and occasional PS5. Works like a champ although its now on its third battery. Great travel machine.

Edit: I have Win10 on it as well using Bootcamp and no problems at all though the battery runs down much faster than with High Sierra.
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Nice. What CPU do you have?
 
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Guy Clark said:
The furthest to realistically go back is mid 2011 MacBook Air with the excellent Intel i5 (Sandy Bridge) CPU
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/specs/macbook-air-core-i5-1.7-13-mid-2011-specs.html

Perhaps push it back as far as 2010 but then we are in to Intel Core 2 Duo CPU territory where performance issues arise
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...k-air-core-2-duo-1.86-13-late-2010-specs.html
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I think this holds true with any laptop Mac or Win right not. The i5 was great CPU. For win 10 it runs fine as well.
 
Currently on a 2012 Air with 8gb of ram, changed the battery a few months ago and it runs like it's brand new, gave it a new life, no issues whatsoever. Wish Apple made a newer Air with up to date specs, that would definitely sell for sure!
 
mine is a mid 2012 with 8gb ram. no issues really besides poor battery life which is expected after so many years of use. curious how much did the battery cost? besides longer life not plugged in do you really notice a difference in performance?

Thanks
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VantaNoir said:
Currently on a 2012 Air with 8gb of ram, changed the battery a few months ago and it runs like it's brand new, gave it a new life, no issues whatsoever. Wish Apple made a newer Air with up to date specs, that would definitely sell for sure!
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