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Should I Upgrade from a 2017 MacBook Air to a 2018 MacBook Air?

What do you think I should do?

  • Total voters
    91
auxbuss said:
The idea that the battery is a "downgrade" doesn't match my experience.
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Not clear about what you meant. Was your all-day use from a 2018 model?!

Just checked a couple of reviews and Apple's own “up to” specs on battery life and it seems 2018 holds its own, up to 12-13 hours of battery life!
 
My two cents worth....I'd probably stick with the 2017 until they work out the keyboard issues. I'm a pretty dedicated computer user, and I have the 2018 MBA (16gb RAM), and the keyboard already failed; which they have repaired efficiently, but is quite time consuming ordeal. My previous 12" MacBook keyboard keyboard was replaced twice in 8 months. For me, unless the retina is truly important to you, I'd vote to stay with the 2017 MBA.
 
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Just purchased the base 2018 model and am so happy with it. However, is it worth the upgrade for you? Would just say go and see for yourself in a shop nearby or watch some youtube comparisons.
 
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Micky Do said:
Might as well stick with what you've got then.
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Even apart from the keyboard issues the new MBA is not worth the big money you have to spend to upgrade the 2017 MBA. The display might be better but it is still crippled compared to the MBP displays. The CPU and GPU are not real upgrades because they are not that much faster and several connectors are gone like MagSave, SD-Card, USB-A...Wait for a real upgrade like the ARM MBA....
 
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Anyone know how big the upgrade would be going from a 15" 2011 Macbook Pro to a 2018 Macbook Air? want something that's as capable as my 2011 was, but will also last a few years since i don't upgrade my Mac's every year (more like every 5 or so).
 
Dave245 said:
Anyone know how big the upgrade would be going from a 15" 2011 Macbook Pro to a 2018 Macbook Air? want something that's as capable as my 2011 was, but will also last a few years since i don't upgrade my Mac's every year (more like every 5 or so).
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My 2012 MBP is about twice as fast (Quad Core i7) and even has an even faster didicated Geforce GPU. This notebook is still in use in 2019 without any limitations. I have upgraded my 2012 MBP with 16GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD for small money. To buy a 2018 MBA with the same configuration cost about $2300 with AppleCare for a device with half the performance. I am definitely sure that this MBA don’t last 7 years as my MBP. If Apple releases a ARM based MBA in 1-2 years that would be the MBA to get....
 
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AlexJoda said:
Even apart from the keyboard issues the new MBA is not worth the big money you have to spend to upgrade the 2017 MBA. The display might be better but it is still crippled compared to the MBP displays. The CPU and GPU are not real upgrades because they are not that much faster and several connectors are gone like MagSave, SD-Card, USB-A...Wait for a real upgrade like the ARM MBA....
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I said "upgrade", but this is probably the real answer.

Upgrading a Mac one year later is never a good idea unless you're moving between major models. For example if you bought a MacBook Air and realized you need the processing power of the Pro.
 
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nartycrem said:
I'm someone who can't resist "the latest and greatest," so I buy a new laptop every year (I sell the old one and can still make 75-80% back), and so if I was in your position, I would upgrade. I cannot stand the pixelated display on the 2017 MBA (lots of eyestrain), and so that would be a big deal breaker for me, especially since I spend 12-14 hrs a day on the computer. The ports are nice, and I actually like the mushy 2017 MBA keys, but it's not enough for me to keep myself from upgrading to the 2018 model.

From a health standpoint (and to help you justify buying the 2018 MBA even though you just got the 2017), if your eyes are straining to read the text on the 2017 MBA, upgrade to the 2018.
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Hi nartycrem. Just wondered if I could ask for you to elaborate on your experiences with the old MBA and the eyestrain issue, please? I recently bought a 2017 MBA out of necessity (old MBP died and I needed to write a dissertation) and since then, the new MBA has been released. I've noticed I'm getting eyestrain, fatigue and headaches from using the 2017 model, which I wasn't getting with my old MBP so much, but I hadn't attributed it to the low res screen until now.

Does the new MBA alleviate some of these issues for you? I find the old style keys so much easier to type with, which is what I use the laptop for, but I guess the screen is probably equally (if not more) important.
 
I am for one reason, still avoid to upgrade until butterfly keyboard issues resolved completely. It’s a big NO to have keyboard issue (even though intermittent) while you buy the laptop for flexible typing and writing in the first place.
 
You should really consider by yourself, because in term of Proc speed, you will not feel any differences in normal usage (even MB12" i7 is faster in some benchmarks) and ultra low voltage i5 / 1,6Ghz didn't break any borders... event turbo boost in some circumstances throttle down as lack of cooling design.

The look of 2018 MBA is nicer, as screen borders are not so thick and "yes" the MBA 2018 is very cute on first attempt, but if u compare internals, they are not so far away from each other. I/we can't tell you what to choose, even with voting, visit Apple Store and do some "real world" testing as I did before, talk to them, multi-boot from TB SSD MBA or transfer your Apps for a test, in Berlin they did it and had the chance to do some testing with 512/16GB MBA...
 
is the keyboard on the 2018 MBA bad enough that it's worth just skipping altogether and waiting for the potential 2019 model?

I'm in need of a laptop, and I'm learning towards the Air but the keyboard comments are scaring me a litte
 
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If u're in hurry to get something new with warranty, you either choose between Air 13 and old Air 13 (the one with SD card reader...) or purchase the MB12", but in any case you should do some tests in local store or purchase over internet if u re in Europe union, than u have at least 14 days to return your item for full refund...

I have no issues with MBA '18 and keyboard,but in some posts i read that it depends on usage until this issue appear or not...

... and what do you think Apple will change in 2019 the most appropriated butterfly "super-thin" keyboard? To be honest I don't think so, maybe they'll change an option for i7 (like MB12") and 1TB or 2 TB SSD, this MBA was released mid 2018, so I personal don't aspect any change in keyboard nor design...
 
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kliq said:
is the keyboard on the 2018 MBA bad enough that it's worth just skipping altogether and waiting for the potential 2019 model?

I'm in need of a laptop, and I'm learning towards the Air but the keyboard comments are scaring me a little
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Six months in and the keyboard is fine here. But if you're happier to wait, that's cool too.
 
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I don't belive a sw update can change hardware specs. So whats sw tweak ??
 
pippox0 said:
I don't belive a sw update can change hardware specs. So whats sw tweak ??
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Well, no, you cannot. But you can modify the firmware that controls the hardware. In this case they probably originally limited the screen brightness because they found the colours to become distorted above that brightness level, but figured out an adjustment curve to the profile that allowed retainment of accuracy. - Or maybe they just figured out that they were capable of sending more power to the backlight without affecting anything - Or there was a glitch in the original firmware limiting it by accident.
 
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I just bought an MacBook Air this week. It’s replacing my 12.9 iPad Pro 1st generation. I think the pro had a Retina display, but this MacBook Air seems different, which I know the tech has improved since the pro. It actually gives me a headache looking at it. I’ve adjusted the brightness and I enlarged the screen to the largest it’ll go, so will I get used to it? Maybe I’m the only one that has this issue but it actually surprised me that it has affected me.
 
Jessica08 said:
I just bought an MacBook Air this week. It’s replacing my 12.9 iPad Pro 1st generation. I think the pro had a Retina display, but this MacBook Air seems different, which I know the tech has improved since the pro. It actually gives me a headache looking at it. I’ve adjusted the brightness and I enlarged the screen to the largest it’ll go, so will I get used to it? Maybe I’m the only one that has this issue but it actually surprised me that it has affected me.
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MBA 2018 has PWM, but its over 100kHz. Maybe something changed after latest Mojave update and brightness boost.
 
I just bought a 2015 MBA 11" to replace my 2017 MacBook. Couldn't abide the Butterfly keyboard, which is unreliable (doubles "p" every other time I type it) and, for me, uncomfortable to type on. Do I love the old non-Retina display? Certainly not, but I find it's worth putting up with to have a reliable keyboard that's easy to type on.
 
glhiii said:
I just bought a 2015 MBA 11" to replace my 2017 MacBook. Couldn't abide the Butterfly keyboard, which is unreliable (doubles "p" every other time I type it) and, for me, uncomfortable to type on. Do I love the old non-Retina display? Certainly not, but I find it's worth putting up with to have a reliable keyboard that's easy to type on.
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How long you plan to keep it? And what is the difference in size (subjectively) between 12 inch and MBA 11"? Is it bigger? And what about MBA 2018 and MBA 11" sizes? Would like to know. Thanks!
 
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