New MacBook Air announced
Long-awaited update for the popular portable Mac
Despite its continuing popularity, the MacBook Air hasn’t seen a
major update for a while. In recent years, the notebook has really only received small speed bumps and a Thunderbolt 2 port. That’s all changed now though, as Apple has introduced the first significant redesign of the slim and light device since 2010.
Apple seemed keen to make amends at its special event in New York City, with Tim Cook visibly excited as he delivered the news. This is no minor tweak – almost every aspect of the MacBook Air has been altered.
Let’s start with one of the most notable changes: the display. For a number of years, the MacBook Air was the only MacBook that did not boast a Retina display, an egregious exception in the line-up. Now, though, the MacBook Air comes equipped with a Liquid Retina display, like the one on the iPhone XR. It’s the same 13.3in size as before, but features much thinner bezels and more than three times as many pixels – over 4 million of them!
The butterfly effect
The third-generation butterfly keyboard design used on Apple’s other portable Macs has made its way to the MacBook Air too, featuring larger keys with less travel than in the previous Air. Apple says the keys are backlit with an individual light under each key, and there’s also a Touch ID sensor that lets you log in quickly and securely.
Just below the keyboard lies the trackpad, and this too has seen a major overhaul. It now features Apple’s Force Touch tech, which enables you to invoke alternative actions by applying different amounts of pressure. Additionally, Apple says the new trackpad is 20% larger than the one on the last MacBook Air.
This update is no minor tweak – almost every aspect of the MacBook Air has been altered
A significant amount has changed when it comes to the internal components. The processor has been brought fully up to date with Intel’s eighth-generation Core i5 architecture. 8GB of memory is still the default, but you can choose to upgrade to
16GB for £180. Storage starts at 128GB, with 512GB and 1.5TB options for between £200 and £1,200, varying based on the model you add them to. Apple claims ‘all-day’ battery life: 12 hours of wireless web browsing or 13 of iTunes video playback.
Expansion ports have changed to be in line with Apple’s other MacBooks. There are now two Thunderbolt 3 ports that use the USB-C connector, enabling you to hook up a 5K display or an external graphics processor. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack. The speakers are 25% louder and have double the bass output of the old model. Apple has done all that while making the new MacBook Air 10% thinner and 100g lighter than its predecessor, while occupying 17% less volume. Prices start at £1,199 for the new models. The previous model is still available to buy for £949.