Apple announces new MacBook Air with Retina display, starts at $1,199

[Shawn Knight]

Why it matters: Apple's new MacBook Air is the update people have been longing for for years. It's late to the game, sure, but now that it is here and with the holiday season upon us, Apple is likely going to sell a lot of these in the coming months.

Apple at an early morning press event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York unveiled a smattering of new hardware including a long overdue update to the MacBook Air.

Chief among the new MacBook Air’s updated feature set is a 13.3-inch Retina display that boasts 48 percent more color than the previous generation and more than four million pixels. You also get a front-facing FaceTime HD camera with a triple microphone array and Touch ID built right into the keyboard powered by Apple’s T2 Security Chip.

The new Air is equipped with Apple’s third generation keyboard featuring individually backlit keys, a Force Touch trackpad that’s 20 percent larger than the one on the last Air and speakers that are 25 percent louder with two times the bass.

Under the hood, you’ll find an 8^th generation Intel Core i5 processor, Intel UHD graphics and up to 16GB of RAM. Machines can be equipped with up to 1.5TB of SSD storage that Apple says is up to 60 percent faster than before. In terms of connectivity, you get two Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Battery life is rated at up to 12 hours of wireless web use and up to 13 hours of iTunes movie playback, all from an aluminum chassis that takes up 17 percent less volume, is 10 percent thinner at 0.61 inches thick and weighs 2.75 pounds.

The new MacBook Air with Retina display goes up for pre-order today starting at $1,199 in your choice of gold, silver or space gray finishes. It’ll be available in Apple retail stores and through authorized Apple resellers from November 7.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/77167-apple-announces-new-macbook-air-retina-display-starts.html

 

[Toju Mikie]

But it probably won't be user repairable

 

[iamcts]

It's probably still using a dual core processor, too. What year is it?!

 

[VitalyT]

My 2011 Macbook Air was the laptop I loved most, so portable and versatile at the same time. But then the hardware got morally old, and I moved to a Macbook Pro.

Now I can finally go back, since even the latest Macbook Pro-s are much heavier and bulkier to carry around. This thing really hits the sweet spot.

 

[GreenNova343]

It's probably still using a dual core processor, too. What year is it?!

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/macbook-air-update-2018,5880.html

You would be right...& from what I can find there's only 1 Amber Lake Core i5: the i5-8200Y, a 2C/4T CPU, base clock 1.3GHz, max Turbo (only 1C/1T) 3.9GHz.

I would also assume that the quoted battery life is probably assuming 100% optimum conditions -- I.e. operating at stock voltage with maybe only 1 core -- since a) the listed TDP for that CPU is only 5W, & b) Intel's been known in the past few years for the TDP only applying at "stock" speeds (I.e. Turbo tending to use more than the listed TDP).

 

[texasrattler]

It's probably still using a dual core processor, too. What year is it?!

1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, with 4MB L3 cache.
It's a 8th gen.

 

[texasrattler]

Still only using DDR3. DDR5 is like 2 years around the corner and still using ancient DDR3.

8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory

Configurable to 16GB of memory

 

[texasrattler]

Here is the full spec list of the new MacBook Air.
https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/specs/

 

[gcarter]

Im not sure what to make of this release to be honest
I own both the...

MacBook Pro 13" with touch bar
Macbook 12

As stated in the presentation, it hits a lower price point then the Pro & 12 whilst providing a retina screen.
What I find slightly annoying is that its overall depth is the same as the Pro model
Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)

ok its a little lighter but hey...
I see this as a comprise more than anything

Its basically a slightly lighter 13" pro without Touch Bar
Would make sense to kill off the non touch pro model considering the new air is pretty much the same

What would have been sweet, is if it had the same svelte case as the MacBook but with a 13" screen

 

[Lew Zealand]

DDR3 is lower power and frankly DDR4 will make no difference in performance on an ultralight Y- series processor laptop.

 

[fktech]

Are you kidding me?

Look at that price, I could buy 3 laptops for 1 of these!

 

[Misagt]

Are you kidding me?

Look at that price, I could buy 3 laptops for 1 of these!

Some people think of you pay more for something it means it's better. I can't say I blame companies that have learned to exploit their customers.

 

[fktech]

Some people think of you pay more for something it means it's better. I can't say I blame companies that have learned to exploit their customers.

A fool and his money are soon parted. Thomas Tusser

 

[Lew Zealand]

Some people think of you pay more for something it means it's better. I can't say I blame companies that have learned to exploit their customers.

Good thing there are so many stupid but rich people out there. I wonder how stupid people get so rich? Seems possible that maybe they're not so stupid.

 

[Misagt]

Good thing there are so many stupid but rich people out there. I wonder how stupid people get so rich? Seems possible that maybe they're not so stupid.

There is nothing that says you can't be smart about somethings and be stupid about others. You could be smart with your career and be dumb with your money.

 

[fktech]

There is nothing that says you can't be smart about somethings and be stupid about others. You could be smart with your career and be dumb with your money.

Exactly!!!