When Steve Jobs pulled the first MacBook Air out of a thin, manilla envelope in 2008, it started a revolution in laptop design that inspired 10 years of imitations. But in that decade, the MacBook Air stagnated while the rest of the market caught up and then surpassed Apple’s iconic portable. And now, in 2018, the once-beloved MacBook Air is finally getting the feature it has needed most.
Yes, that high-res Retina screen that Apple gave the MacBook Pro in 2012 has finally arrived on the MacBook Air. That’s just one of many, many changes, though: This new Air also gives users a Touch ID sensor for biometric security, superfast SSD storage, fantastic sound and dual Thunderbolt 3 ports. Apple’s new device is also better for the environment, as the machine is made of 100 percent recycled aluminium.
The Air’s overall performance may not stack up well against that of similar Windows PCs, but this might not matter as much for those firmly ensconced in macOS. The biggest issue is that the Air is pricier than ever (tested at $1,399/ £1,399, starting at $1,199/ £1,199). So, while the new MacBook Air may work for those who have been holding out, it might not meet the highest hopes and expectations.
Design
The curves of the new MacBook Air’s lid and underside, as well as its display bezels, have been tapered down from previous years. This makes the MacBook Air look like a sibling — and not a long-lost relative — to the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook (which you’d be crazy to buy now).
The Air’s iconic wedge design is intact, helping the machine stand out from those other laptops. While the Air is sold in traditional silver and a new gold hue, the model we tested is a Space Gray that looks quite attractive.
Apple’s making these new MacBook Airs out of its own 100 percent recycled aluminum, but you couldn’t tell from using the device. This machined metal looks and feels just like the same material that Apple’s used for previous MacBooks.
Weighing 2.7 pounds and measuring 0.6 inches thick, the MacBook Air’s slightly lighter than my favorite MacBook copycat, the Huawei MateBook X Pro (2.9 pounds, 0.6 inches). The new Air is similar in size to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (2.7 pounds, 0.6 inches) and the Dell XPS 13 (2.7 pounds, 0.5 inches), but the HP Spectre 13 (2.4 pounds, 0.4 inches) is both lighter and thinner than Apple’s machine.
Ports
The MacBook Air sports two speedy Thunderbolt 3 ports (which enable much faster data-transfer speeds) on its left side, with a headphone jack on its right. That might be an upgrade from the MacBook’s singular, slower USB Type-C port, but it’s lacking in comparison to most competitors.
The Spectre 13 matches the Air’s selection and throws an additional USB Type-C port on top. The XPS 13 also offers dual Thunderbolt 3 ports and adds a microSD reader and a USB Type-C port. The Surface Laptop 2 is laughably bad on ports, with one Type-A USB 3.0 port and a Mini DisplayPort.
Arguably the best set of ports comes from the MateBook X Pro, which I wanted Apple to imitate. Huawei’s laptop packs two reversible Type-C ports (only one is a Thunderbolt 3), a headphone jack and one of those familiar, boxy, Type-A USB 3.0 ports. You know, the port that practically every accessory and cable today is made for, which forces you to pay up for an adapter if your laptop doesn’t have it.
Touch ID and T2 Chip
In the top right corner of the keyboard, you’ll see a Touch ID fingerprint reader, which I found works great for unlocking the MacBook Air and signing into 1Password, my preferred password manager. Thankfully, Apple’s giving users the power of this biometric sensor without burdening them with the Touch Bar that accompanies Touch ID on the company’s MacBook Pros.
On top of sporting Touch ID, this is the first MacBook Air with the T2 security chip that Apple’s adding to as many macOS machines as it can (including the Mac mini). Not only does this chip provide Apple’s Secure Enclave technology for storing the fingerprints used in Touch ID, but it also enables “on-the-fly data encryption,” so your SSD’s data is encrypted by default. This chip also allows for touch-free “Hey, Siri” activation, which worked well when I checked the weather.
How much does the MacBook Air cost? Pricing and configurations
Starting at $1,199, the MacBook Air ain’t cheap. It also sells at a notable price hike from the previous-gen Air, which started at $999.