Picked up the new MBA 2019 - You're not missing much

[Cosmo M3]

If you already have the 2018 model, it's not worth the upgrade. I returned my 2018 for the new 2019 and the upgraded keyboard is barely perceivable, but it may be more reliable.

Note: BestBuy had three of the new MBA 2019s in stocks in Space Gray when I checked my store's inventory on their website prior to going over there to exchange my MBA 2018. They had to check their back warehouse for a good 20-30 minutes to find them, but they definitely have them.

Update: I don't know what it is, but since using the keyboard this morning to type this update, it feels nicer than the 2018 model that I've had. Time will tell on how reliable it will be.

 

[lambertjohn]

How did you get one? They're not in stores yet. And today was the first day they started shipping, I think.

 

[Shirasaki]

Scissors switch may ultimately be more stable than butterfly switches. But we need some time to tell.
With that being said, your mileage may vary.

 

[Cosmo M3]

How did you get one? They're not in stores yet. And today was the first day they started shipping, I think.

Best Buy had them in stock (check their website and you should see it in their inventory). I just got back from exchanging my 2018.

 

[c0LdFire]

Scissors switch may ultimately be more stable than butterfly switches. But we need some time to tell.
With that being said, your mileage may vary.

What? There is not a scissor switch keyboard on the 2019 Air.

 

[lambertjohn]

Scissors switch may ultimately be more stable than butterfly switches. But we need some time to tell.
With that being said, your mileage may vary.

No scissor switch keyboard on 2019 Air. Still using butterfly keyboard.

 

[AustinIllini]

Scissors switch may ultimately be more stable than butterfly switches. But we need some time to tell.
With that being said, your mileage may vary.

This is the main sticking point for sure. We do not know anything about the scissor switches (which aren't out yet), but it's not a given they will be better.

 

[Shirasaki]

What? There is not a scissor switch keyboard on the 2019 Air.

No scissor switch keyboard on 2019 Air. Still using butterfly keyboard.

They are switching to scissor switch for sure. If not in MacBook Air 2019, it will be in 2020.
I know ifixit will tell us more on this one.

 

[kp98077]

They are switching to scissor switch for sure. If not in MacBook Air 2019, it will be in 2020.
I know ifixit will tell us more on this one.

what?? the 2019 air is out

The latest-generation MacBook Air keyboard features our butterfly mechanism — providing four times more key stability than a traditional scissor mechanism, along with greater comfort and responsiveness. And individual LED-backlit keys with an ambient light sensor help you type in low-light environments.

 

[Shirasaki]

what?? the 2019 air is out

The latest-generation MacBook Air keyboard features our butterfly mechanism — providing four times more key stability than a traditional scissor mechanism, along with greater comfort and responsiveness. And individual LED-backlit keys with an ambient light sensor help you type in low-light environments.

Top-notch fresh ads here, good job. /s

 

[kp98077]

Top-notch fresh ads here, good job. /s

well thank you!!

 

[nobackup]

Did the screen max brightness change as it will be a different screen to support True Tone

 

[Cosmo M3]

Did the screen max brightness change as it will be a different screen to support True Tone

No change in brightness

 

[c0LdFire]

They are switching to scissor switch for sure. If not in MacBook Air 2019, it will be in 2020.
I know ifixit will tell us more on this one.

So you work on the Apple engineering team, then?

 

[AustinIllini]

So you work on the Apple engineering team, then?

We know from supply chain that Apple has a deal in place for scissor switches. We simply do not know how long it will take for all of the notebooks to get moved over.

 

[kreasonos]

Yea, I won't be buying one until they change the keyboard to the scissor switch.

 

[ET iPhone Home]

If you already have the 2018 model, it's not worth the upgrade. I returned my 2018 for the new 2019 and the upgraded keyboard is barely perceivable, but it may be more reliable.

Note: BestBuy had three of the new MBA 2019s in stocks in Space Gray when I checked my store's inventory on their website prior to going over there to exchange my MBA 2018. They had to check their back warehouse for a good 20-30 minutes to find them, but they definitely have them.

Update: I don't know what it is, but since using the keyboard this morning to type this update, it feels nicer than the 2018 model that I've had. Time will tell on how reliable it will be.

Is the 2019 MBA the one with the new Keyboard? I'm confused. What's the difference between MBA 2018 and MBA 2019?

 

[Howard2k]

Is the 2019 MBA the one with the new Keyboard? I'm confused. What's the difference between MBA 2018 and MBA 2019?

2019 has True Tone, slightly slower SSD, and 2019 (butterfly) KB. Along with a price drop.

 

[vaugha]

Is the 2019 MBA the one with the new Keyboard? I'm confused. What's the difference between MBA 2018 and MBA 2019?

I know nobody mentioned this but 2019 has a smaller battery at 49.9 watt-hr compared to 50.3 watt-hr from 2018. I honestly don't understand why they had to shrink the battery size.

Cost cutting measure? To make room for the true tone feature or butterfly keys v4 or cheaper ssd taking up more volume than the 2018 counterpart? I don't know.

 

[ziyuel]

i should have my wife's here in 2 days
But personally, the pro isthe best

 

[Ghost31]

fun fact that you probably already knew: if you would have had an issue with the keyboard on your '18 air, they would have replaced it with the '19 keyboard for free anyway. So you could have saved your money and not noticed a difference. I actually turn True Tone off on my devices and slower ssd's isn't exactly a perk so the '19 air to me would have been a definite downgrade.

In the future, I'll probably just go ahead and pick up a 13 inch pro since its not that much more anyway and feels about the same size

 

[smirking]

...

 

[ZeuSGoKiL]

I know nobody mentioned this but 2019 has a smaller battery at 49.9 watt-hr compared to 50.3 watt-hr from 2018. I honestly don't understand why they had to shrink the battery size.

Cost cutting measure? To make room for the true tone feature or butterfly keys v4 or cheaper ssd taking up more volume than the 2018 counterpart? I don't know.

Means the battery will be shorter on each full charge. It aint lowering its marked price though ...

 

[Saturn007]

“and the upgraded keyboard is barely perceivable,“

Wow! Apple's design are amazing. Thinness has gone so far that they've neared achieving the *invisible* keyboard!

This is the main sticking point for sure. We do not know anything about the scissor switches (which aren't out yet), but it's not a given they will be better.

Pun intended?! “Main sticking point”! LOL!

 

[ZeuSGoKiL]

“and the upgraded keyboard is barely perceivable,“

Wow! Apple's design are amazing. Thinness has gone so far that they've neared achieving the *invisible* keyboard!



Pun intended?! “Main sticking point”! LOL!

Invisible keyboard might as well you live on with iPad or iPhone it is indeed an invisible keyboard. The point people takes up MacBook part of it because of faster and more real physical typing experience.