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Should I buy 2017 MBA or wait for the new one?

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setarezandi

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 13, 2018
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Hi;
I wanted to buy 2017 MBA with 2.2GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor but I read in this site that Apple is working on a new entry-level 13-inch MacBook in the second half of 2018, which would serve as a replacement for the MacBook Air.
SO do you think I should wait for that or buy the 2017 MBA?

p.s: I want to use it for college stuff
 
That article is dated March, 2018 and apple introduced no hardware in June despite what the article said.

If apple does introduce an entry level Macbook, it is going to be USB c only, no MagSafe, and no glowing apple logo on the lid. These are my predictions.
 
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I'd wait... unless you can get a great deal... a MacBook Air at the current prices is overpriced for old technology. It'll still work, and be a nice basic Laptop. But you are buying a laptop with 2015 parts in 2018... for the same price as someone buying it in 2015...

It seems like Apple may have a bit of a shakeup in the laptop lineup... with the 12" still waiting on a 2018 update along with the non TouchBar Pro, and the rumors of an updated Air. I'd hold out for another 6 months if you can and see what they come out with.

Of course it may just be that the days of the $999 consumer, entry level laptop from Apple are over.... and the Air will be the last of an era.
 
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It depends on if you want USB a, MagSafe, the non-butterfly keyboard and if you would be satisfied with the non-retina display. The updated ‘air’ is more likely to be a 13” version of the 12” MacBook in my mind - one or two USB C, butterfly keyboard, Retina display and likely fanless Y processors (about equal in CPU performance, though with the GPU the HD 615 still trails the HD 6000 in the Air quite significantly).
 
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If you have no laptop and need one - then buy MBA Core i7 SSD 126 or 256 8GB RAM and you will get the best available from Apple.

I fear they will not offer a fully redesigned 13" successor of MBA - then you get a lot of crap: Butterfly-mechanism with failures (event with this 3rd generation and silicone membrane), too big Track Pad, lower battery time (10 instead of 12 with MBA).

For me decision is more difficult: I've got an MBA of 2011 (!) still working best, but of course old technology (no USB 3, 4GB RAM) - works properly - BUT I fear that moment screen will change to black - what then?! - Maybe then I will not get a new MBA!

But to buy one now as second device is also not an inviting idea...
 
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Hello folks,

I think on the same question. I have recently bought a 2017 iMac 5k w/ radeon pro 580 and I have already a late 2016 15" MacBook Pro w/ radeon pro 460. I'll put my workload on the iMac and will barely need a macbook. So, I decided to sell my current MacBook Pro. The latest MacBook Air would be sufficient for me on the go from now on and probably I'll get a second hand macbook. In my country, 2nd hand 2015 13" MacBook Air w/ 8gb ram sells at about 450€. However, if I put 100€ more than this time 2015 13" MacBook Pro w/ 8gb ram starts to appear. What would you do in this case? Retina screen attracts me so bad if you consider the gap but I won't use macbook not much like before.
 
Audit13 said:
That article is dated March, 2018 and apple introduced no hardware in June despite what the article said.

If apple does introduce an entry level Macbook, it is going to be USB c only, no MagSafe, and no glowing apple logo on the lid. These are my predictions.
Click to expand...

Very solid assumptions, but don't forget if you're a college student that Apple are doing Back to School discounts at the moment - free Beats headphones I believe. Is the MBA included in that?

Apple didn't release hardware in June but the new MacBook Pros only just released. I wouldn't expect them to release anything else Mac wise till October (after the Back to School deal ends).

For what it's worth I think it's worth considering the possibility that Apple could be making a 13" Retina MacBook with an MBA class CPU that now comes with 4 cores. USB-C would be my assumed port standard, you'd hope that they would add a couple of Thunderbolt 3 ports into the mix considering they could very well use the nTB case but with a cheaper CPU.
 
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sublunar said:
Very solid assumptions, but don't forget if you're a college student that Apple are doing Back to School discounts at the moment - free Beats headphones I believe. Is the MBA included in that?

Apple didn't release hardware in June but the new MacBook Pros only just released. I wouldn't expect them to release anything else Mac wise till October (after the Back to School deal ends).

For what it's worth I think it's worth considering the possibility that Apple could be making a 13" Retina MacBook with an MBA class CPU that now comes with 4 cores. USB-C would be my assumed port standard, you'd hope that they would add a couple of Thunderbolt 3 ports into the mix considering they could very well use the nTB case but with a cheaper CPU.
Click to expand...

Lots of rumours flying around so we will have to sit tight and wait for a few more months.

It would be nice to see Apple update the air but, regardless of what they do, I think some people are still going to be disappointed. Just look at the many threads dealing with the newly-released Macbook Pro.

I see myself using my early 2015 air for years to come.

BTW, my college years are way behind me:D
 
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i have bought several MacBook Airs over the years.
love them.
my current one is a maxxed out machine from 2015:
with specs:
Model Name: MacBook Air

Model Identifier: MacBookAir7,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 4 MB

Memory: 8 GB

before the new MacBook Pro came out a couple of days ago, i would have said buy the latest and most maxxed out 2017 Air.
but its clear that in this year's new product cycles apple is going for broke with great hardware and specs - not just incremental tradeups.

so here it is from a die-hard MacBook Air fan: wait for the new machine coming out in 2018 autumn.
it won't have magsafe unfortunately though...
 
niji said:
i have bought several MacBook Airs over the years.
love them.
my current one is a maxxed out machine from 2015:
with specs:
Model Name: MacBook Air

Model Identifier: MacBookAir7,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 4 MB

Memory: 8 GB

before the new MacBook Pro came out a couple of days ago, i would have said buy the latest and most maxxed out 2017 Air.
but its clear that in this year's new product cycles apple is going for broke with great hardware and specs - not just incremental tradeups.

so here it is from a die-hard MacBook Air fan: wait for the new machine coming out in 2018 autumn.
it won't have magsafe unfortunately though...
Click to expand...
From a purely tech spec point of view, that makes sense. But in addition to the removal of the magsafe connector, there is also (most likely) the removal of USB A ports and SD card reader. This is even before we look at the quality and reliability of this new machine... which can't be better than the MBA. There's a longshot that it could be as good, but not possible to be better.
 
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I open another thread about it because I honestly think people fantasize on the idea that Apple is going to continue the MBA and release somthing really cool and affortable... I am convinced that the 2017 MBA is the last one. Apple could release something else with another name also however as we discussed here the next "MBA like" (if they release anything!) will be quite diffferent for sure (so different that it would not make sense to keep its name - its name does not make sense anymore in 2018. "Air" was refering to lightness but the new MB are thinner and lighter.) But in my opinion Apple is busy trying to fix the issue withe MB and MB pro and will not release a complet new model (it's fantasy, even if we all hope for that)

Apple always wanted to have 2 categories : Macbook and Macbook Pro. The air was an exception.

Also as I explained in another thread, Apple is trapped because their more expensive Macbook are barely faster than the 2017 MBA and cost much more. To me they are not going to release soon anything because otherwise nobody would buy their Macbook. And if they do, it would have to be as expensive or more than the current MBA (but their mac are already all overpriced with a lot of issues). The 2017 MBA is definitely are must have because it will be the last Mac with a good keyboard, USB, magsafe, still very light and pretty and powerful as well. Last but not least, it is also the last mac that you can replace part inside yourself (i.e : SSD, etc). So if you spill on you keyboard you can still replace it (I believe), etc. It is not the case with the new mac!

To answer your question, you could wait, it won't kill you but Apple is good at making people wait for the next release that never come. The 2017 MBA is an excellent machine but still overprice... However, you can get good deal or find cheap second hand (there are always good deal if you are patient), this is what I did.
 
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With technology, it's recognized that if you wait for 'the next best best thing', you'll always be waiting, and whatever you buy will be behind the curve - if you then believe the manufacturer and media - the moment you buy it.Then there's IIABDFI (If It Ain't Broke...) - and Apple's often been guilty of producing new versions of something with less functionality or rationale, and at more cost - but it sure looks cool.

I have a 2011 11" Air (which has served me well), but to better accommodate how I now use my computer (and in anticipation of rumoured 'improvements' in the fall), I've just purchased a 2017 13" from their refurb store - and I have no regrets whatsoever.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
If you need a computer now (possibly the best computer Apple has ever designed) buy the MBA now.

If, on the other hand, you merely want a computer, and are more persuaded by modernity and fashion, I would suggest that you wait.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Wanting and needing are two different things. Given the new MBPs, I'd wait and see what Apple might release sometime in the next couple of months. What's very telling is that Apple didn't update the nonTB 13" MBP. I think there's a chance that we might see Apple release what amounts to a new 13" Air with a retina screen which is what many folks have been clamoring for, and see both the current 13" Air and 13" nonTB Pro go away. My hope all along has been a 14" MacBook with 2 USB-C ports. Undecided on whether or not it needs to be fanless since either option has its own advantages.
 
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setarezandi said:
Hi;
I wanted to buy 2017 MBA with 2.2GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor but I read in this site that Apple is working on a new entry-level 13-inch MacBook in the second half of 2018, which would serve as a replacement for the MacBook Air.
SO do you think I should wait for that or buy the 2017 MBA?

p.s: I want to use it for college stuff
Click to expand...

I went back and forth over this at Best Buy for an hour today. With the $250 I was able to save by buying today, I figured it was worth diving in and not worrying about what comes out later. I’m just going to use it for college stuff, too.
 
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Also waiting for the rumored new Air lineup.
Since there isn't a good deal of Air in my country, I'd wait a little bit more.
But if there is a good deal, maybe I would just stick on to 2017 model.
 
lishaoalox said:
Also waiting for the rumored new Air lineup.
Since there isn't a good deal of Air in my country, I'd wait a little bit more.
But if there is a good deal, maybe I would just stick on to 2017 model.
Click to expand...
What you are you waiting for exactly? To see if they mention it at the iPhone event?
 
Rocko99991 said:
What you are you waiting for exactly? To see if they mention it at the iPhone event?
Click to expand...
As the rumors have it that couple times, I'd wait for a little bit, unless I get a good deal of the current model.
There isn't such a good deal like $699 in my place, still stay at around $850.
So I'd wait for the possibility.
 
I think apple will introduce a new air that is closer to the MacBook, eliminate the legacy usb ports, MagSafe, lighted logo, slightly higher res screen, and charge 1200 USD.
 
Rocko99991 said:
There has not been one announced. They may discontinue it. Either way get one now. Superior keyboard and no dongle life. I love mine. Got it on sale at Best Buy for $699.
Click to expand...
Same here. I'm a photographer, but I don't have as much of a need for a super-powerful laptop these days since I don't travel much anymore. The announcements of the new MBPs sparked my interest in buying a new laptop, and was very close to buying the 13" Touchbar model. But the simplicity, reliability, ports, keyboard, and price of the MBA drew me in.

I would have paid for the MBP if I needed that level of performance, but for the relatively simple business type of stuff that I'll be doing, the MBA is more than powerful enough, and I won't have that "why did I spend $1800 on this thing?" feeling (128gb, paid $750 at Best Buy with a student discount).
 
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