Apple MacBook Air 13inch 1.6GHz Mid 2016

The Air gets an upgrade… but only for its RAM

$999 (128GB); $1199 (256GB) Manufacturer Apple, apple.com Features 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, Intel HD 6000 graphics, 8GB RAM

We’ve been saying for a while that we think the MacBook Air’s clock is ticking, and Apple’s tiny update to the line this year hasn’t exactly changed our minds. While the super-thin MacBook got faster new-generation Intel processors, the 13-inch MacBook Air got… some more RAM. And that’s it. Still it’s better than the 11-inch Air, which received no changes at all. So the 13-inch Air has the same 1.6GHz fifth-gen Intel dual-core processor as last year, with Intel integrated graphics, but it’s now backed up by 8GB of RAM. This is what we recommend for most people as a minimum these days anyway, so it’s good that Apple’s caught up there – though the 11-inch Air is still stuck with 4GB as standard. There are two versions of the 13-inch model in Apple’s line-up, but the only difference is storage capacity: 128GB or 256GB. That storage is still monstrously fast, though, capable of read speeds up to 1.4GB/s. It’s truly pro-level.

The unchanged processor and graphics performance from last year (which was only a small improvement from the 2014 model) is not so much pro level, but it’s still a fairly capable machine – it has no problem with light photo and video editing, and very light gaming. There’s also been no change in the screen, though, which is a 1440x900 non-Retina display. We can live with non-Retina displays (if we really have to), but the screen also lacks brightness, vibrancy, and visibility compared to all the other MacBook models.

Still, the MacBook Air has other usability factors in its favor. The keyboard is the same style as the MacBook Pros, rather than the new MacBook, which some will prefer. And you get two USB ports, Thunderbolt and an SD card reader, so it offers connectivity without the extra weight of a MacBook Pro. And the battery life is fantastic – offering over nine hours in our real-world tests.

the botom line. With a Retina display, the MacBook Air would be a very tempting prospect – a nice balance of performance and portability. As it stands, we’d rather pay the extra to get either the power of the 13-inch MacBook Pro or the lightness of the MacBook. But if you want the middle ground, or want a cheaper option, and don’t mind the screen, it’s a good option. Matt bolton