After years of stagnation, the lightest in the line of MacBook products is getting the makeover that we've all been waiting for (and didn't think would ever happen). Apple announced the new MacBook Air at its special event today in New York; here's everything you need to know.
Wait, what? A New MacBook Air?
That's right. Apple is not retiring the MacBook Air, but is instead revamping it for 2018. The new MacBook Air has a Retina display, an all-new design, Touch ID, new trackpad and so much more!
TouchID
Although Touch ID hasn't been on the latest iPhone's the new MacBook Air has TouchID! That means you can unlock your MacBook Air and buy things online with Apple Pay with just the touch of your finger. TouchID will also enable Hey, Siri on the new MacBook Air.
Does it have the TouchBar?
No, Apple hasn't included a TouchBar on the new MacBook Air.
Bigger trackpad
The new MacBook Air has the big ForceTouch trackpad that 20% more surface area than the previous model.
New keyboard
Apple also upgraded the MacBook Air with the new third-generation butterfly mechanism keyboard, for a smoother typing experience.
The internal specs
The new MacBook Air has new internal specs, including an 8th-gen Intel Dual Core processor, up to 16GB of memory, and can sport an SSD of up to 1.5 TB!
Processor options:
- 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
Memory options:
- 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory
- 16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory
Storage options:
- 128GB SSD
- 256GB SSD
- 512GB SSD
- 1.5TB SSD
What ports does it have?
Much like the other MacBooks Apple sells, the new MacBook Air will have only two Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB-C) that support external GPUs and 5K external monitors.
The MacBook Air does still have a headphone jack, so you can still use a wired pair of headphones with the laptop with no dongle!
Battery life
While Apple didn't say the exact mAh of the battery in the new MacBook Air, they did say that it would able to last 12 hours of wireless web browsing and 13 hours of video playback.
Size
The MacBook Air was always supposed to be ultra light and super portable and the new model delivers.
Overall, the new MacBook Air has 17% less volume than the previous model, weighing only 2.75 pounds and measuring at 15.6mm thick, making it 10% slimmer than the previous model.
How much will this new MacBook Air cost?
The MacBook Air will start at $1199, making it the cheapest Mac with a Retina display.
When and where can I buy one?
You can order the new MacBook Air today, right after Apple's special event, and shipping (and availability in stores) will be on November 7, 2018!
Questions?
Let us know in the comments.
