Apple has revealed the new MacBook Air – it’s better than ever before, and can pre-ordered right now
We’ve waited a long, long time for a new MacBook Air. So long, in fact, that we suspected that Apple had decided to quietly discontinue everybody’s favourite notebook. Thankfully, that’s not the case.
At its October 30 event, Apple revealed the all-new 2018 MacBook Air. And, as you’d expect, it’s better than its predecessor in every conceivable way. How much better? How much does it cost? When can you buy it? Valid question, all – read on to find out the answers to these and more.
MacBook Air 2018: Everything you need to know
MacBook Air 2018: Specifications
As with every Apple product, there will be numerous configurations available, and at varying prices. Let’s start with the base-level specifications, listed below.
- 1.8GHz Intel Core 8th-Gen i5 CPU
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics 6000
- 13.3in 2,560 x 1,600 retina display
- 1.25kg
MacBook Air 2018: Design and key features
When it was first revealed, Steve Jobs pulled it out an A4 envelope. Since then, Apple says, “nothing has ever been the same”. One could say that about anything that’s ever happened in history but never mind. Of course, the MacBook Air is famous for its sleek dimensions and ultra-light weight. 1.25kg is hardly feather-light – it’s actually identical to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2. It is lighter than the last MacBook Air, though, and the dimensions are 17% smaller.
It’s not as thin as you might expect, with a depth of 15.6mm, but the display bezels have been drastically cut by 50% to create an edge-to-edge effect, but the HD FaceTime camera remains intact at the top of the screen. The touchpad, which has now been replaced with a Force Touch trackpad, is 20% larger, and the aluminium chassis of all new MacBook Airs is made from 10% recycled aluminium, making this is the “greenest Mac ever” – though as far as we know it only comes in silver.
What else is new? Well, each key on the keyboard now has an individual LED backlit, and there’s a T2 Touch ID key too, which will allow you to unlock your device or buy something via Apple Pay with a single tap. The speakers are now 25% louder, with “double the bass”, it has “better battery life”, and Siri voice recognition has been improved too. In short, everything is better. As well it should be.
MacBook Air 2018: Price and release date
The 2018 Apple MacBook Air is available to order right now and will ship on 7 November, which is just over a week away at the time of writing. That’s pretty damn soon, but hardly surprising; Apple is well known for its speedy product launches post-announcement.
For the MacBook Air with base specs, Apple is charging $1,199 in the US. How many pounds, then? Well, because Apple likes to ignore the internationally recognised laws of currency conversion, it’s £1,199. Thanks, Apple!
As for the top-spec 2018 MacBook Air, with 16GB RAM and 1.5TB SSD, you’re looking at a monumental fee of £2,579.
A review sample of the newest MacBook Air will be making its way to the Expert Reviews offices very soon. Keep an eye out for the full review, and find out if it’s worth the money. If it isn’t, then at least you can still buy the old MacBook Air.
Source: expertreviews.co.uk