MacBook Air (Intel-based)

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MacBook Air (Intel-based)
MacBook Air.svg
SteveJobsMacbookAir.JPG
Steve Jobs showing the first MacBook Air at Apple’s 2008 keynote address
Developer Apple Inc.
Product family
Type Subnotebook
Release date
  • January 29, 2008;16 years ago (2008-01-29) (first model) [1]
  • March 18, 2020;4 years ago (2020-03-18) (last model)
DiscontinuedNovember 10, 2020;3 years ago (2020-11-10)
Operating system macOS
Successor MacBook Air (Apple silicon)
Related MacBook, MacBook Pro
Website apple.com/macbook-air

The Intel-based MacBook Air is a discontinued line of notebook computers developed and manufactured by Apple Inc. from 2008 to 2020. The Air was originally positioned above the previous MacBook line as a premium ultraportable. [2] Since then, the original MacBook's discontinuation in 2011, and lowered prices on subsequent iterations, made the Air Apple's entry-level notebook. [3]

Contents

The MacBook Air was introduced in January 2008 with a 13.3-inch screen, and was promoted as the world's thinnest notebook, opening a laptop category known as the ultrabook family. Apple released a redesigned MacBook Air in October 2010, with a redesigned tapered chassis, standard solid-state storage, and added a smaller 11.6-inch version. Later revisions added Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and Thunderbolt. [4] The Retina MacBook Air was released in October 2018, with reduced dimensions, a Retina display, and combination USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports for data and power.

The Intel-based MacBook Air was discontinued in November 2020 following the release of the first MacBook Air with Apple silicon based on the Apple M1 processor.

Original (2008–2009)

Steve Jobs introduced the MacBook Air during Apple's keynote address at the 2008 Macworld conference on January 15, 2008. [5] The original MacBook Air was a 13.3" model, initially promoted as the world's thinnest notebook at 1.9 cm (a previous record holder, 2005's Toshiba Portege R200, was 1.98 cm high). [6] [7] It featured a custom [8] Intel Merom CPU and Intel GMA GPU which were 40% as big as the standard chip package. [9] It also featured an anti-glare LED backlit display, a full-size keyboard, and a large trackpad that responded to multi-touch gestures such as pinching, swiping, and rotating. [10] Since the release of Snow Leopard, the trackpad has also supported handwriting recognition of Chinese characters. [11]

The MacBook Air was the first subcompact notebook offered by Apple after the 12" PowerBook G4 discontinued in 2006. It was also Apple's first computer with an optional solid-state drive. [12] It was Apple's first notebook since the PowerBook 2400c without a built-in removable media drive. [13] To read optical disks, users could either purchase an external USB drive such as Apple's SuperDrive or use the bundled Remote Disc software to access the drive of another computer wirelessly [14] that has the program installed. [15] [16] Either option can also be used to reinstall the system software from the included installation DVD. Remote Disc supports booting over a network, so the Air can boot from its installation DVD in another computer's drive if Remote Install Mac OS X is running on that computer. The software does not allow playing video DVDs or audio CDs, or installing Windows: [14] for these capabilities, an external USB drive is required. [14] More recent versions of OS X replaced the installation DVD with a USB flash drive containing the software, eliminating the need for remote installation.[ citation needed ] The MacBook Air also does without a FireWire port, Ethernet port, line-in, and a Kensington Security Slot. [17]

On October 14, 2008, a new model was announced with a low-voltage Penryn processor and Nvidia GeForce graphics. [18] Storage capacity was increased to a 128 GB SSD or a 120 GB HDD, [19] and the micro-DVI video port was replaced by the Mini DisplayPort. [20] A mid-2009 version featured slightly higher battery capacity and a faster Penryn CPU. [21]

Design

The original MacBook Air MacBook Air black.png
The original MacBook Air

Apple incorporated several features in the design of the MacBook Air, such as the reduction of lead to make it more environmentally friendly. The MacBook Air contains no BFRs and PVC wiring, meets Energy Star  5.0 requirements, has a recyclable enclosure, and is rated EPEAT Gold. Its display is made with arsenic-free glass and contains no mercury. [6] [22]

Reception

On its introduction, the MacBook Air received mixed reviews which praised its portability, but criticized the compromises it made in terms of features. [23] [24] [25] The full-sized keyboard, lightness, thinness, and Multi-Touch trackpad were appreciated in reviews, while the limited configuration options and ports, slow speed, non-user-replaceable battery, small hard drive, and price were criticized. [23] [24] The flip-down hatch on the side of the original MacBook Air was a tight fit for some headphone plugs and USB devices, requiring users to purchase an extension cable. Apple removed the flip-down hatch on the late 2010 model in favor of open ports like those on the MacBook Pro. [26] [27]

Some users have complained of CPU lockup caused by overheating. Apple released a software update in early March 2008 to fix the problem with mixed results: the deactivation of one CPU core was corrected; however, some users reported that the runaway kernel problem continued. [28] The problem is aggravated by system-intensive tasks such as video playback or video chatting. [29]

ArsTechnica found "moderate" performance improvements of the 64-GB [lower-alpha 1] solid-state drive of the original Air over the standard 80 GB hard drive in tests.

"World's thinnest notebook"

At the launch of the MacBook Air in January 2008, Steve Jobs said it was the "world's thinnest notebook". This was true, but more important was the fact that the MacBook Air was much thinner than mainstream laptops at the time. Its total component integration and use of an entirely new class of Intel processors with a lower TDP and higher integration than previously available made it the first of a new wave of thin performance laptops. Over the years, Apple has removed the claim of being "the world's thinnest notebook" from their marketing materials as other, similarly thin laptops have come to market.

Technical specifications

According to Apple, all of these models are obsolete. [lower-alpha 2] [30]

Original (Early 2008) [31] Late 2008 [20] Mid 2009 [32]
Component / Processor Merom Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn Intel Core 2 Duo
TimelineAnnouncedJanuary 15, 2008October 14, 2008June 8, 2009
ReleasedJanuary 30, 2008 [31] [ data missing ][ data missing ]
DiscontinuedOctober 14, 2008 [31] June 8, 2009 [20] October 20, 2010 [32]
UnsupportedOctober 2014 [30] October 2018 [30]
ModelModel identifierMacBookAir1,1MacBookAir2,1
Model number (on underside)A1237A1304
Part number (order number)MB003MB543MB940MC233MC234
Display (glossy) 13.3", native 1280 × 800 pixels (16:10, 113 ppi) TN. 6-bit color panel, Lower resolutions supported
Performance Processor 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Merom (P7500) with 4 MB on-chip L2 cache
Optional 1.8 GHz (P7700) Intel Core 2 Duo 		1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn (SL9300) with 6 MB on-chip L2 cache1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn (SL9400) with 6 MB on-chip L2 cache2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn (SL9600) with 6 MB on-chip L2 cache
Front-side bus / DMI 800 MHz 1066 MHz
Memory 2 GB [lower-alpha 3] of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Graphics Intel GMA X3100 using 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM (shared with system memory) with Micro-DVI output Nvidia GeForce 9400M using 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM (shared with system memory) with Mini DisplayPort output
Storage 80  GB 4200-rpm 1.8-inch PATA HDD or 64 GB SSD 120 GB 4200-rpm 1.8-inch SATA HDD128 GB SSD 120 GB 4200-rpm 1.8-inch SATA HDD128 GB SSD
Connectivity Video camera iSight (640 × 480)
Wireless connectivityInternal Wi-Fi 4 (802.11a/b/g and draft-n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Built-in infrared (IR) receiver for Apple Remote
Optional Apple USB Ethernet Adapter (Year 2008)
Peripheral connections1× USB 2.0
MagSafe
Micro-DVI video port
DVI-D/VGA adapter included		1× USB 2.0
MagSafe
1× Mini DisplayPort video port
Audio3.5 mm headphone jack
Mono speaker
Operating systemMinimum Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Latest released Mac OS X 10.7 Lion OS X 10.11 El Capitan
Power Battery (non-removable lithium-ion polymer)37-watt-hour40-watt-hour
Battery cycle count [33] 300500
AppearanceUnit weight3.0 lb (1.36 kg)
Dimensions12.8 in (33 cm) wide × 8.94 in (23 cm) deep × 0.16 in (0.4 cm) to 0.76 in (1.9 cm) high (13")

Redesign (2010–2017)

The redesigned 2010-model MacBook Air Macbook Air.jpg
The redesigned 2010-model MacBook Air
Left side of a MacBook Air (Mid 2012). From left to right, MagSafe power connector, USB port, headphone jack and built-in microphone. MacBook Air Mid 2012.png
Left side of a MacBook Air (Mid 2012). From left to right, MagSafe power connector, USB port, headphone jack and built-in microphone.

On October 20, 2010, Apple released a redesigned 13.3-inch model with a tapered enclosure, higher screen resolution, improved battery, a second USB port, stereo speakers, and standard solid state storage. An 11.6-inch model was introduced, offering reduced cost, weight, battery life, and performance relative to the 13.3-inch model, but better performance than typical netbooks of the time. Both 11-inch and 13-inch models had an analog audio output/headphone minijack supporting Apple earbuds with a microphone. The 13-inch model received a SDXC-capable SD Card slot. [34] [35] [36] [37] [10]

On July 20, 2011, Apple released updated models, which also became Apple's entry-level notebooks due to lowered prices and the discontinuation of the white MacBook around the same time. [3] The Mid 2011 models were upgraded with Sandy Bridge dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, Intel HD Graphics 3000, backlit keyboards, Thunderbolt, and Bluetooth was upgraded to v4.0. [38] [39] Maximum storage options were increased up to 256 GB. These models use a less expensive "Eagle Ridge" Thunderbolt controller that provides two Thunderbolt channels (2 × 10 Gbit/s bidirectional), compared to the MacBook Pro which uses a "Light Ridge" controller that provides four Thunderbolt channels (4 × 10 Gbit/s bidirectional). This revision also replaced the Expose (F3) key with a Mission Control key, and the Dashboard (F4) key with a Launchpad key.

On June 11, 2012, Apple updated the line with Intel Ivy Bridge dual-core Core i5 and i7 processors, HD Graphics 4000, faster memory and flash storage speeds, USB 3.0, an upgraded 720p FaceTime camera, and a thinner MagSafe 2 charging port. [40] It was the first MacBook Air model to support 9 macOS versions, Mac OS X Lion 10.7 through macOS Catalina 10.15.

On June 10, 2013, Apple updated the line with Haswell processors, Intel HD Graphics 5000, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The standard memory was upgraded to 4 GB, with a maximum configuration of 8 GB. Storage started at 128 GB SSD, with options for 256 GB and 512 GB. The Haswell considerably improved battery life from the previous models, and the models are capable of 9 hours on the 11-inch model and 12 hours on the 13-inch model; a team of reviewers exceeded expected battery life ratings during their test. [41] The Mid 2013 model is second MacBook Air that supported 9 macOS versions, OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 through macOS Big Sur 11.

In March 2015, the models were refreshed with Broadwell processors, Intel HD Graphics 6000, Thunderbolt 2, and faster storage and memory. [42] In 2017, the 13-inch model received a processor speed increase from 1.6 GHz to 1.8 GHz and the 11-inch model was discontinued. The 2017 model remained available for sale after Apple launched the Retina MacBook Air in 2018. It was discontinued in July 2019. Before its discontinuation it was Apple's last notebook with USB Type-A ports, MagSafe (until it was reintroduced in 2021), a non-Retina display, a backlit rear Apple logo, and the startup chime (until the introduction of macOS Big Sur in 2020).

Design and upgradability

Although MacBook Air components are officially non-user-replaceable, third parties do sell upgrade kits for the SSDs. The flash memory and battery are enclosed in the casing, and the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard. The flash memory is difficult to access and has a 128 MB cache [43] and a mSATA connection (updated to a proprietary PCIe interface) to the motherboard. [44]

The optional Apple USB SuperDrive DVD drive Apple-USB-SuperDrive.jpg
The optional Apple USB SuperDrive DVD drive

Issues

Due to a more mature manufacturing process, the CPUs in the 2010–2017 MacBook Air performs better under load, while the original models ran hotter—the processor needed to be throttled to avoid overheating and this further degraded performance. [45]

On October 17, 2013, Apple announced a replacement program for the 64 GB and 128 GB MacBook Air flash storage drives installed in Air systems purchased between June 2012 and June 2013. [46]

Reception

Comparison with iPad and netbooks

Although the 11-inch Air is only 0.6 pounds lighter than the 13-inch Air, the biggest difference is the footprint which gives each model a distinct category; the 13-inch Air is much closer in size to most other conventional laptops, while the 11-inch Air is almost small enough to fit in a space that can hold an iPad. [47] [48]

The 11-inch MacBook Air carried the desirable essential attributes of a netbook, but without the drawbacks of a slower processor and less capable operating system, [49] albeit at a higher price. [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] At the low end, Apple introduced the iPad—a different form factor than the netbook, but with improved computing capabilities and lower production cost. Both of these led to a decline in netbook sales, and most PC manufacturers have consequently discontinued their netbook lines in response. [55] Capitalizing on the success of the MacBook Air, [56] Intel promoted ultrabooks as a new high-mobility standard, which has been hailed by some analysts as succeeding where netbooks failed. [57] [58] [59]

Intel's ultrabook competition

Intel developed a set of specifications for the ultrabook, a higher-end type of subnotebook produced by various PC manufacturers and usually running Windows. Competing directly with the Air, ultrabooks are intended to reduce size and weight, and extend battery life without compromising performance. [60] [61] [62]

Through July 1, 2013, the MacBook Air took in 56 percent of all ultrabook sales in the United States, despite being one of the higher-priced competitors. [63] Apple had previously dominated the premium PC market, in 2009 having a 91 percent market share for PCs priced at more than $1,000, according to NPD, and ultrabooks were an attempt by other PC manufacturers to move in on Apple's turf. [64] While Apple's MacBook lines were not immune to this consumer trend towards mobile devices, [65] they still managed to ship 2.8 million MacBooks in Q2 2012 (the majority of which were the MacBook Air) compared to 500,000 total ultrabooks, [66] [67] despite there being dozens of ultrabooks from various manufacturers on the market while Apple only offered 11-inch and 13-inch models of the Macbook Air. [68] Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett attributes Apple's increased success in the enterprise market to the 2010 MacBook Air and the iPad. [69]

While several ultrabooks were able to claim individual distinctions such as being the lightest or thinnest, the MacBook Air was regarded by reviewers as the best all-around ultrabook in regard to "OS X experience, full keyboard, superior trackpad, Thunderbolt connector and the higher-quality, all-aluminum unibody construction". [63]

Microsoft's Surface Pro 2 has a similar size and price to the 11-inch MacBook Air; [70] [71] Apple CEO Tim Cook has criticized the Surface Pro and other ultrabook hybrids running the touch-based Windows 8, that attempt to combine PC and tablet functionality in one device, saying that such devices were confusing like trying to "combine a fridge and a toaster". [72] [73]

When released in October 2010, the 13-inch model's screen resolution was higher than the average 1366×768 screens of similar sized laptops. However, by 2013, with many premium ultrabooks having high resolution screens (1080p or greater) as standard or upgrades, the MacBook Air was increasingly criticized for sticking with a low-resolution screen. Many in the tech community had expected Apple to release a MacBook Air with Retina Display by the summer of 2013, similar to the MacBook Pro Retina which came out in 2012. [74] The October 2013 refresh of the 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina, with a slimmer chassis and a lower price point, was mentioned as a potential MacBook Air alternative as the battery life is not much shorter while not being considerably bulkier. [2] [75] Apple released an entry-level version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro on October 27, 2016, which was specifically targeted towards MacBook Air users. [76] A Retina MacBook Air was released in late 2018.

The 11.6-inch MacBook Air, introduced in October 2010, is only slightly larger and heavier (when closed) than the iPad 2. The 11.6-inch Air has been regarded as thin and light compared to other ultraportables, such as the Sony VAIO Z and the 11-inch Samsung Series 9. [77]

As of 2013, several ultrabooks such as the Sony VAIO Pro have managed smaller dimensions than the MacBook Air by using carbon fiber construction. [78] [79] [80]

Technical specifications

Obsolete [81] VintageDiscontinued
ModelLate 2010 [82] [83] Mid 2011 [84] [85] Mid 2011 (Education only)Mid 2012 [86] [87] Mid 2012 (Education only) [88] Mid 2013 [89] [90] Early 2014 [91] [92] Early 2015 [93] [94] 2017 [95]
Component / Processor Penryn Intel Core Sandy Bridge Intel Core Ivy Bridge Intel Core Haswell Intel Core Broadwell Intel Core
Released Date11"October 20, 2010July 20, 2011—June 11, 2012—June 10, 2013April 29, 2014March 9, 2015—
13"February 12, 2012September 12, 2012June 5, 2017
Discontinued Date11"July 20, 2011June 11, 2012—June 10, 2013—April 29, 2014March 9, 2015October 27, 2016—
13"June 11, 2012February 13, 2013June 5, 2017July 9, 2019 / January 8, 2021 [96]
Unsupported Date11"November 12, 2020 [30] —November 30, 2022 [30] —September 26, 2023 [30] Security updates only [30] —
13"November 12, 2020 [30] November 30, 2022 [30] Security updates only [30]
Model identifier11"MacBookAir3,1MacBookAir4,1—MacBookAir5,1—MacBookAir6,1MacBookAir7,1—
13"MacBookAir3,2MacBookAir4,2MacBookAir5,2MacBookAir6,2MacBookAir7,2
Model number (on underside)11"A1370—A1465—A1465—
13"A1369A1466
Part/order number ($USD Price)11"MC505 ($999)MC506 ($1199)MC968 ($999)MC969 ($1199)—MD223 ($999)MD224 ($1099)—MD711/A ($999)MD712/A ($1199)MD711/B ($899)MD712/B ($1099)MJVM2 ($899)MJVP2 ($1099)—
13"MC503 ($1299)MC504 ($1599)MC965 ($1299)MC966 ($1599)MD508 (pack of five for $4995) [97] MD231 ($1199)MD232 ($1499)MD628 (pack of five for $4995)MD760/A ($1099)MD761/A ($1299)MD760/B ($999)MD761/B ($1199)MJVE2
Starting April 19, 2016: MMGF2 ($999)		MJVG2
Starting April 19, 2016: MMGG2 ($1199)		MQD32 ($999)MQD42 ($1199)
Processor 11"1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SU9400) Penryn with 3 MB on-chip L2 cache1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SU9600) Penryn with 3 MB on-chip L2 cache1.6 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (2467M) Sandy Bridge with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 1.8 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (2677M) Sandy Bridge with 4 MB shared L3 cache (+$150)		—1.7 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (3317U) Ivy Bridge with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 2.0 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (3667U) Ivy Bridge with 4 MB shared L3 cache (+$150 for MD224, +$100 for MD232)		—1.3 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (4250U) Haswell with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 1.7 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (4650U) Haswell with 4 MB shared L3 cache (+$150)		1.4 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (4260U) Haswell with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 1.7 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (4650U) Haswell with 4 MB shared L3 cache (+$150)		1.6 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (5250U) Broadwell with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 2.2 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (5650U) Broadwell with 4 MB shared L3 cache (+$150)		—
13"1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SL9400) Penryn with 6 MB on-chip L2 cache2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SL9600) Penryn with 6 MB on-chip L2 cache1.7 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (2557M) Sandy Bridge with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 1.8 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (2677M) Sandy Bridge with 4 MB shared L3 cache (+$100)		1.6 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (2467M) Sandy Bridge with 3 MB shared L3 cache1.8 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (3427U) Ivy Bridge with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 2.0 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (3667U) Ivy Bridge with 4 MB shared L3 cache (+$150 for MD224, +$100 for MD232)		1.7 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (3317U) Ivy Bridge with 3 MB shared L3 cache1.8 GHz 2-core Intel Core i5 (5350U) Broadwell with 3 MB shared L3 cache

Optional 2.2 GHz 2-core Intel Core i7 (5650U) Broadwell with 4 MB shared L3 cache
Front-side bus / DMI 11"800 MHz— Intel Direct Media Interface, 5.0 GT/s — Intel Direct Media Interface, 5.0 GT/s —
13"1066 MHz Intel Direct Media Interface, 5.0 GT/s
Graphics
(shared with system memory)		11"Nvidia GeForce 320M using 256 MB DDR3 SDRAM with Mini DisplayPort outputIntel HD Graphics 3000 processor using 256 MB DDR3 SDRAM—Intel HD Graphics 4000 processor with up to 512 MB DDR3L SDRAM shared from main memory—Intel HD Graphics 5000 processor with up to 1.5 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM shared from main memoryIntel HD Graphics 6000 processor with up to 1.5 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM shared from main memory—
13"Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor using 384 MB DDR3 SDRAMIntel HD Graphics 3000 processor using 256 MB DDR3 SDRAMIntel HD Graphics 4000 processor with up to 512 MB DDR3L SDRAM shared from main memoryIntel HD Graphics 6000 processor with up to 1.5 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM shared from main memory
Memory 2 GB (IEC defined GiB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Optional 4 GB (+$100)		2 GB (11") 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Optional 4 GB (+$100)
4 GB (13") 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM		4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM2 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM
Optional 8 GB (+$100)		4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM4 GB 1600 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
Optional 8 GB (+$100)		4 GB 1600 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
Optional 8 GB
Starting April 19, 2016: 8 GB standard for the 13" version		8 GB 1600 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
Solid-state drive (on all models)11"64 GB128 GB64 GB128 GB
Optional 256 GB (+$300)		—64 GB128 GB
Optional 256 +$300 or 512 GB (+$800 both for MD224 model only)		—128 GB256 GB
Optional 512 GB (+$300)		128 GB256 GB
Optional 512 GB (+$300)		128 GB256 GB
Optional 512 GB (+$300)		—
13"128 GB256 GB128 GB256 GB64 GB128 GB256 GB
Optional 512 GB (+$500)		64 GB128 GB256 GB
Optional 512 GB (+$300)		128 GB256 GB
Optional 512 GB (+$300)		128 GB256 GB
Optional 512 GB (+$300)		128 GB (MQD32)256 GB (MQD42)
Optional 512 GB
Type Solid-state drive (SSD) PCIe-based SSD
Display
(glossy) 		11"11.6", native 1366 × 768 pixels (16:9, 135 ppi) TN. 6-bit color panel, Lower resolutions supported—11.6", native 1366 × 768 pixels (16:9, 135 ppi) TN. 6-bit color panel, Lower resolutions supported—11.6", native 1366 × 768 pixels (16:9, 135 ppi) TN. 6-bit color panel, Lower resolutions supported—
13"13.3", native 1440 × 900 pixels (16:10, 128 ppi) TN. 6-bit color panel, Lower resolutions supported
Video camera iSight (480p) FaceTime HD (720p)
Audio3.5 mm headphone jack
Stereo speakers
ConnectivityInternal Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 a/b/g/n) (Broadcom BCM43224, dual-band 300 Mbit/s)Internal Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) (Broadcom BCM4360-based, dual-band 867 Mbit/s)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Bluetooth 4.0
Optional Apple USB Ethernet 100 Mbit AdapterOptional Apple USB Ethernet 100 Mbit Adapter
Optional Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Optional Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 Adapter
Peripheral connections2× USB 2.02× USB 3.0
1× Mini DisplayPort video port1× Thunderbolt port 1× Thunderbolt 2 port
Up to 3840 × 2160 @ 60 Hz
MagSafe MagSafe 2
1× SDXC card slot (13" only)
Operating systemMinimum Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Mac OS X 10.7 Lion OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion OS X 10.9 Mavericks OS X 10.10 Yosemite macOS 10.12 Sierra [lower-alpha 4]
Latest release macOS 10.13 High Sierra macOS 10.15 Catalina macOS 11 Big Sur macOS 12 Monterey
Battery 11"35-watt-hour—35-watt-hour—38-watt-hour—
13"50-watt-hour54-watt-hour
TypeNon-removable lithium-ion polymer
Cycles [33] 1000
Unit weight11"2.38 lb (1.08 kg)—2.38 lb (1.08 kg)—2.38 lb (1.08 kg)—
13"2.96 lb (1.34 kg)
Dimensions11"11.8 in (30 cm) wide × 7.56 in (19.2 cm) deep × 0.11 in (0.3 cm) × 0.68 in (1.7 cm) high—11.8 in (30 cm) wide × 7.56 in (19.2 cm) deep × 0.11 in (0.3 cm) × 0.68 in (1.7 cm) high—11.8 in (30 cm) wide × 7.56 in (19.2 cm) deep × 0.11 in (0.3 cm) × 0.68 in (1.7 cm) high—
13"12.8 in (33 cm) wide × 8.94 in (22.7 cm) deep × 0.11 in (0.3 cm) × 0.68 in (1.7 cm) high

Retina (2018–2020)

Retina MacBook Air (2018) MacBook Air (3rd generation, space gray).png
Retina MacBook Air (2018)

On October 30, 2018, Apple released the Retina MacBook Air, with Amber Lake processors, a 13.3-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels, Touch ID, a Force Touch trackpad, and two combination USB-C 3.1 gen 2/Thunderbolt 3 ports plus one audio jack. The screen displays 48% more color and the bezels are 50% narrower than the previous non-Retina models, and occupies 17% less volume. Thickness is reduced to 15.6mm and weight to 1.25 kg (2.75 pounds). It is available in three finishes, silver, space gray, and gold. Unlike the 2011–2017 models, this model cannot be configured with an Intel Core i7 processor, possibly because Intel never released the i7-8510Y CPU that would have been used.

The base 2018 model comes with 8 GB of 2133 MHz LPDDR3 RAM, 128 GB SSD, Intel Core i5 processor (1.6 GHz base clock, with Turbo up to 3.6 GHz) and Intel UHD Graphics 617. [98]

Apple released updated models in July 2019 with True Tone display technology using the same components as the Mid 2019 MacBook Pro. [99] [100] A test found that the 256 GB SSD in the 2019 model has a 35% lower read speed than the 256 GB SSD in the 2018 model, though the write speed is slightly faster. [101]

Updated models were released in March 2020 with Ice Lake processors, updated graphics, support for 6K output to run the Pro Display XDR, and replaced the butterfly keyboard with a Magic Keyboard design similar to that found in the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro. [102] [103]

Design

The Retina MacBook Air follows the design of the 2010–2017 models with a tapered aluminum enclosure, but takes some design elements from the Retina MacBook and MacBook Pro, such as a flush display with black bezels and a glossy opaque Apple logo on the rear, and an edge-to-edge trackpad. [104]

Apple repair expert Louis Rossmann has criticised the Retina MacBook Air's hardware layout, noting that the fan's position makes it sub-optimal for cooling and can lead to overheating-related issues. [105] [106]

Technical specifications

VintageDiscontinued
Model2018 [107] 2019 [108] 2020 [109]
Initial release operating system macOS 10.14 Mojave macOS 10.15 Catalina
Latest release operating system macOS 14 Sonoma macOS 15 Sequoia
Display
Screen Size13.3 in (340 mm) (diagonal)
Backlight LED-backlit
Technology Retina Display with IPS technology
Resolution2560 × 1600
Pixel Density (ppi)227
Aspect Ratio 16:10
Supported scaled resolutions
  • 1680 × 1050 (Rendered as 3360 × 2100)
  • 1440 × 900 (Rendered as 2880 × 1800, default)
  • 1280 × 800 (Rendered as 2560 × 1600, native)
  • 1024 × 640 (Rendered as 2048 × 1280)
SDR Max brightness ( cd⁄m2)400
XDR Max brightness ( cd⁄m2)—
Color Depth8-bit (native) with millions of colors
Full sRGB Display Yes
Wide Color Display (Display P3)No
True Tone DisplayNoYes
Night ShiftYes
ProMotion DisplayNo
Fixed refresh rates60 Hz
Cooling SystemSingle-fan cooling system, no heat spreader on processor
Processor
Chip8th-generation Intel Core i5 8210Y10th-generation Intel Core i3 1000NG410th-generation Intel Core i5 1030NG7
Codename Amber Lake Ice Lake
Technology Node14 nm10 nm
CPU
Total Cores24
Total Threads48
Base Clock Speed1.6 GHz1.1 GHz
Turbo Clock Speed3.6 GHz3.2 GHz3.5 GHz
L3 Cache4 MB6 MB
Bus Speed4 GT/s
Online Configuration—10th-generation Intel Core i5 1030NG7 with:
  • 4-core CPU with 8 threads
  • 1.1 GHz Base Clock Speed
  • 3.5 GHz Turbo Clock Speed
  • 6 MB L3 Cache, or

10th-generation Intel Core i7 1060NG7 with:

  • 4-core CPU with 8 threads
  • 1.2 GHz Base Clock Speed
  • 3.8 GHz Turbo Clock Speed
  • 8 MB L3 Cache
10th-generation Intel Core i7 1060NG7 with:
  • 4-core CPU with 8 threads
  • 1.2 GHz Base Clock Speed
  • 3.8 GHz Turbo Clock Speed
  • 8 MB L3 Cache
Graphics
Integrated
NameIntel UHD Graphics 617Intel Iris Plus Graphics
TierGT2G4G7
EUs and Shading units24 (192)48 (384)64 (512)
Shared Memory1536 MB
eDRAM—
Online Configuration—Intel Iris Plus Graphics with G7 tier (with Intel Core i5 1030NG7 or Intel Core i7 1060NG7)—
Memory
TypeLPDDR3 2133 MHzLPDDR4X 3733 MHz
Capacity8 GB16 GB8 GB16 GB8 GB
Online Configuration16 GB—16 GB—16 GB
SSD
TypePCIe 3.0-based SSD
Capacity128 GB256 GB512 GB128 GB256 GB512 GB256 GB512 GB
Online Configuration256 GB
512 GB
1.5 TB		512 GB
1.5 TB		1.5 TB256 GB
512 GB
1 TB		512 GB
1 TB		1 TB512 GB
1 TB
2 TB		1 TB
2 TB
Keyboard and Trackpad
TypeBacklit Butterfly Keyboard with butterfly mechanism and ambient light sensorBacklit Magic Keyboard with (Scissor-switch) mechanism and ambient light sensor
Number of keys78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO)
Arrow keys4 arrow keys4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement
Function keysYes
Touch BarNo
TrackpadForce Touch Trackpad
Secure Authentication
Touch IDYes
Security Chip Apple T2
Audio
SpeakersStereo speakers
Force-cancelling woofersNo
Wide Stereo SoundNoYes
Dolby Atmos PlaybackNoYes
Dolby Atmos with built-in speakersNo
Spatial Audio with dynamic head trackingNo
MicrophoneThree-mic arrayThree-mic array with directional beamforming
3.5 mm JackYes
Audio output from HDMINo
Camera
Resolution720p FaceTime HD
Connectivity
Wi-Fi (802.11)Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)
Maximum Wi-Fi Speed0.866 Gbit/s
Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2 Bluetooth 5.0
HDMI PortNo
SDXC Card SlotNo
USB-C/Thunderbolt PortTwo Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port supporting charging and DisplayPort protocols among others
Transmission SpeedUp to 40 Gbit/s transmission speed (Thunderbolt 3)
Up to 10 Gbit/s transmission speed (USB 3.1 Gen 2)
eGPU supportYes
External Display support
Maximum display2
Max. one display combination
  • 5K at 60Hz at 8-bit
  • 6K at 60Hz at 8-bit, or
  • 5K at 60Hz at 8-bit
Max two displays combination
  • 2 × 4K at 60Hz at 8-bit
Power
Battery11.4  V 49.9  W·h (4,379  mA·h) [110]
Power Adapter30 W USB-C
Charging MethodUSB-C ports
Dimensions
Height0.16 in (0.41 cm) to 0.61 in (1.5 cm)0.16 in (0.41 cm) to 0.63 in (1.6 cm)
Width11.97 in (30.4 cm)
Depth8.36 in (21.2 cm)
Total greenhouse gas emissions176 kg CO2e (128 GB storage) [111] 198 kg CO2e (256 GB storage)[ data missing ]176 kg CO2e (128 GB storage) [112] 198 kg CO2e (256 GB storage)[ data missing ]174 kg CO2e (2-core CPU, 256 GB storage) [113] 202 kg CO2e (4-core CPU, 512 GB storage)
Model details
Model numberA1932A2179
Hardware stringsMacBookAir8,1MacBookAir8,2MacBookAir9,1
Part/order number
(Space Gray, Silver, Gold in order)		MRE82, MREA2, MREE2MRE92, MREC2, MREF2MUQT2, MUQU2, MUQV2MVFH2, MVFK2, MVFM2MVFJ2, MVFL2, MVFN2MVH62, Built-to-order (Silver), MVH82MVH22, MVH42, MVH52MWTJ2, MWTK2, MWTL2
Timeline
Announced DateOctober 30, 2018July 9, 2019March 18, 2020
Released DateNovember 7, 2018July 9, 2019March 18, 2020
Discontinued DateJuly 9, 2019March 18, 2020November 10, 2020
Unsupported DateSecurity fixes onlySupported

Supported operating systems

Supported macOS releases

macOS Sonoma, the previous release of macOS, will work with Wi-Fi and graphics acceleration on unsupported MacBook Air computers with a compatible patch utility. [114] As of 2022, the Mid 2012 and Mid 2013 MacBook Air are the only models officially supported by Apple with 9 versions of the Mac operating system.

Supported macOS releases
OS releaseOriginal designRedesignRetina
Early 2008Late 2008Mid 2009Late 2010Mid 2011Mid 2012Mid 2013Early 2014Early 20152017201820192020
10.4 Tiger Unofficial, no graphics acceleration————————————
10.5 Leopard 10.5.110.5.510.5.7——————————
10.6 Snow Leopard Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.6.4UnofficialUnofficial, no graphics acceleration———————
10.7 Lion Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.7.4———————
10.8 Mountain Lion PatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.8.4Unofficial—————
10.9 Mavericks Patch, no graphics accelerationYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.9.2—————
10.10 Yosemite Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.10.2Unofficial———
10.11 El Capitan Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgUnofficial———
10.12 Sierra Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.12.5———
10.13 High Sierra Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg———
10.14 Mojave Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.14.110.14.5—
10.15 Catalina Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg10.15.4
11 Big Sur Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
12 Monterey Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
13 Ventura Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
14 Sonoma Dark Red x.svgPatchYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg

Windows through Boot Camp

Boot Camp Assistant allows Intel Macs to dual-boot Windows.

Supported Windows versions
OS releaseOriginal designRedesignRetina
Early 2008-Mid 2009Late 2010Mid 2011Mid 2012Mid 2013-Early 2014Early 2015 and later
Windows XP [Note 1] [115] [116] Yes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows Vista
32-bit [Note 2] [115] [116] 		Yes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows Vista
64-bit [Note 2] [115] 		Not Compatible With MacBook Air
Windows 7
32-bit [Note 3] [115] [117] 		Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 7
64-bit [Note 4] [115] [118] 		Dark Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 8
[Note 5] [Note 6] [115] 		Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 8.1
[Note 7] [119] [118] 		Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 10
[Note 8] [120] [118] 		Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
  1. ↑ Windows XP can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3 or earlier. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.
  2. 1 2 Windows Vista can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3 or earlier. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.
  3. ↑ The 32-bit version of Windows 7 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3.1 to 6.0. This includes OS X 10.11 and earlier.
  4. ↑ The 64-bit version of Windows 7 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3.1 or later, running macOS High Sierra or earlier. Later versions of macOS no longer support Windows 7.
  5. ↑ Windows 8 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.0 to 6.0. This includes OS X 10.11 and earlier.
  6. ↑ Only 64-bit versions of Windows are supported for Windows 8 and later.
  7. ↑ Windows 8.1 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.1 or later, running macOS High Sierra or earlier. Later versions of macOS no longer support Windows 8.1.
  8. ↑ Windows 10 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 6.0 or later. It is the only supported version of Windows on macOS Mojave and later.

Timeline

Timeline of portable Macintoshes
Mac transition to Apple siliconiMac ProApple WatchiPadiPhoneMac ProPower Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Macintosh G3Power MacintoshCompact MacintoshMacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)iBook G4PowerBook G4PowerBook G4iBook (white)PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook 2400cPowerBook 3400cPowerBook 1400PowerBook 5300PowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 190PowerBook G4PowerBook 150PowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook 180PowerBook 180PowerBook 160PowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook 170PowerBook 140MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Intel-based)12-inch MacBookMacBook Air (Intel-based)iBook G4iBook (white)iBook ClamshellMacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)PowerBook Duo 210MacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)MacBook (2006–2012)PowerBook G4PowerBook 100Macintosh PortablePowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoMacintosh PortablePowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook Duo 230Macintosh PortableMacBook Air (Intel-based)
See also: List of Mac models

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In this article, the conventional prefixes for computer storage denote base-10 values whereby kilobyte (KB) = 103 bytes, megabyte (MB) = 106 bytes and gigabyte (GB) = 109 bytes.
  2. ↑ Apple products that have been discontinued for 7 years and no longer receive hardware support nor spare parts
  3. ↑ In this article, the conventional prefixes for computer RAM denote base-2 values whereby kilobyte (KB) = 210 bytes, megabyte (MB) = 220 bytes and gigabyte (GB) = 230 bytes.
  4. ↑ Although these shipped with Sierra, OS X 10.11 El Capitan can also be installed since the 2017 and 2015 use the same firmware

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