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MacBook Air

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In 2008 Steve Jobs introduced the first ultra-thin, lightweight MacBook Air by dramatically sliding it out of an inter-office envelope. The idea of a dramatically thin, lightweight, and fully functional laptop continues on.

MacBook Air M3 15-inch deals

The MacBook Air is “the default Mac” – the one you should buy if you’re not sure which model you need.

History

The MacBook Air was launched in 2008 as a premium 13-inch model, billed as the world’s thinnest laptop. It was dramatically revealed by Steve Jobs sliding it out of an office envelope.

In 2010, it was joined by an 11-inch model. By 2011, that had become the entry-level MacBook, replacing the plain MacBook in the lineup. Its combination of affordability, portability, cuteness, and suitability for most people’s computer usage saw it become a hugely popular machine with everyone from students to senior business execs.

The 11-inch MacBook Air was discontinued in 2016, leaving only the 13-inch models.

In 2018, we saw the first major update to the then-elderly design. This gave the machine a Retina display, Touch ID, USB-C ports along with a design refresh with smaller bezels, a slimmer form factor, and lighter weight.

In 2020, the MacBook Air was one of the first three machines to make the switch from Intel processors to Apple Silicon in the form of the M1 chip. In 2022, it was joined by an M2 model.

MacBook Air Specs

The 2020 M1 MacBook Air is powered by an 8-core Apple M1 chip, comprising four performance cores and four efficiency cores. It’s available in two almost-identical versions, one with an 8-core GPU, the other with a (chip-binned) 7-core one. The machine is available with either 8GB or 16GB of unified memory. SSD storage options are 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB.

The 2022 M2 MacBook Air has a 10-core GPU option, up to 24GB of unified memory, and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

Pricing

M1 MacBook Air (2020) pricing starts at $999 for the 7-core GPU with 8GB unified memory and 256GB SSD.

M2 MacBook Air (2022) pricing starts at $1199 for the 8-core GPU with 8GB unified memory and 256GB SSD.

The machine can be specced up as far as 16GB unified memory and 2TB SSD for $2,049.

Lower prices may be available from Apple’s official Amazon store.

MacBook Air Review

In our video review of the machine, we described it as game-changing.

There is very little negative to say about these MacBooks. Apple has taken a design like the MacBook Air, which it more or less perfected with the early 2020 refresh, and made it 10 times better. This is no hyperbole. These M1-powered MacBooks are such a huge improvement in performance and battery life with virtually no negative baggage. I can’t see myself ever wanting to go back to an Intel-based laptop […]

If I was using an Intel-based MacBook Air, I wouldn’t even consider using a machine with such little memory to handle my day-to-day creative workflow, but Apple’s implementation of unified memory cannot be compared 1:1 with typical RAM configurations.

Basic day-to-day usage is relatively unaffected by the amount of RAM, or lack thereof. The MacBook Air is competent with only 8GB of RAM even when running lots of apps simultaneously, even with a dozen Safari windows, and even when swapping out to the SSD […]

I can attest to the fact that these MacBooks have incredibly long battery life, so much so that it was honestly hard to believe initially. I was able to use my MacBook Air for a full workday, writing, browsing the web, chatting on zoom, and editing video and photos, and the machine was only at 50% by the end of the day. I woke up the next day, and did several hours of zoom video calls and web browsing, and the machine finally gave me a warning to plug in when it reached 10%

Rumored new MacBook Air design could be a doubly clever move by Apple

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A rumored new MacBook Air design looks set to see the biggest shakeup to the look of Apple’s cutest laptop since it was launched in 2008.

If the reports are true, it strikes me as a doubly clever move by Apple: a new look that will appeal to many, and encourage them to update, while being actively off-putting to others, effectively pushing them to buy a MacBook Pro even if they don’t need the power …

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Exclusive: New MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 coming later this year

2022 macbook air

It has been almost two years since Apple announced the transition from Intel Macs to Apple Silicon, and while there are still two Intel-powered Macs in the lineup, the company is already working on the next wave of Macs with the new M2 chip. 9to5Mac has learned from sources that there are new MacBooks with the M2 chip coming later this year.

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Kuo: Redesigned MacBook Air on track for this year, but it might use an M1 chip

2022 macbook air

Apple just introduced a new Mac today, but the rumors never stop. This time, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared on Twitter another prediction, this time about the rumored MacBook Air. In line with other rumors, Kuo believes that the new laptop will be announced later this year with a new design, but the analyst says that it will not have an M2 chip.

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2022 MacBook Air: Everything the rumors say we should expect

2022 macbook air

Following the introduction of the all-new MacBook Pro and iMac in 2021, Apple is rumored to be planning a completely revamped version of the MacBook Air for sometime in 2022.

The 2022 MacBook Air could feature a new design, a new M2 processor on the inside, and more. Head below as we round up all of the rumors we’ve heard about the new MacBook Air so far.

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Here’s why Apple should (still) make a 16-inch MacBook Air

Apple Mac lineup MacBook Air Pro

Unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air is available in a single 13-inch form factor. There are rumors of a major MacBook Air redesign coming this year, but those rumors don’t indicate that the screen size will get bigger or smaller with that redesign.

That leaves me here, once again, asking for Apple to consider making a MacBook Air in a larger form factor. And for that matter, make a smaller one too.

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Get a new Mac for Christmas? Here are a few essential tips to become a power user

If you opened up a brand new Mac for Christmas, you’ll likely be spending some time setting it up. Apple has done a great job of helping customers get their brand-new Macs up and running, but there are some tips and tricks to take it a step further. As you set up your new Mac, here are some handy tips and tricks to get it going at its full potential.

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Apple shipped 6.5 million laptops in Q3 2021 thanks to MacBook Air

M1 MacBook Air

Apple has been having a good time with its Mac lineup, as the company began switching from Intel processors to the more powerful Apple Silicon chips last year. Specifically talking about MacBooks, the company shipped 6.5 million laptops in Q3 2021 — and according to Strategy Analytics, the MacBook Air was responsible for driving this number.

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Here are all the best MacBook trade in values following new MacBook Pro launch

The new MacBooks are here, and that means it’s time to trade in your old, clunky, slow computer! While we’re always keeping you in the loop on the best MacBook trade in deals in our roundups every month, here’s what we’re finding for trade in values for Macs all the way from older MacBook Air models to the new-ish 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro…

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How to trade in or recycle your old MacBook and upgrade to an Apple Silicon model

Macbook Air

After a long history of Intel-based Macs and a couple M1 models last year, top-tier Apple Silicon chips are finally coming to the rest of the Mac lineup. Regardless of which old Mac you have, moving to an Apple Silicon model will have its benefits — and if you are coming from an older model, it’s certain to be a huge performance upgrade. But what should you do about that aging Mac now that you’re planning to upgrade? Here’s how to trade in and recycle your old computer…

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Kuo: Mid-2022 MacBook Air to come in multiple colors with similar form factor as upcoming MacBook Pro

Colorful MacBook Air

Following up after a report from late July, Ming-Chi Kuo is out today with a new analyst note on the next-gen MacBook Air. While many of the details remain the same from Kuo’s previous predictions, the note mentions the 2022 MacBook Air with mini-LED will come in multiple colors with an updated form factor that will match the design of the upcoming 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

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Kuo: Apple to announce new MacBook Air with 13-inch Mini-LED display in mid-2022

As rumors about the next-generation of Apple Silicon Macs have been floating around the web, we’ve been able to get a better idea of what Apple is working on for the MacBook lineup. In an investor note from Ming-Chi Kuo seen by 9to5Mac, the reliable analyst says that a new MacBook Air is expected to be introduced in mid-2022 with a 13.3-inch Mini-LED display.

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