MacBook Air updated with Broadwell CPUs, Thunderbolt 2 connectors, faster flash
Though Apple's all-new MacBook stole the spotlight on Monday, the company also updated its legacy MacBook Air lineup, bringing Intel's new Broadwell processors to its notebook collection, along with faster Thunderbolt 2 connectors.
The larger 13-inch MacBook Air has also gained new flash memory that's twice as fast as before. The new MacBook Airs ship starting today.
The 11-inch model starts at $899 for a 1.6 GHz dual-core Core i5 model with an Intel HD Graphics 6000 chip, 4 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of SSD storage. Doubling SSD space to 256 GB raises the cost to $1,099.
The base 13-inch model is $999, and comes with specifications identical to its 11-inch counterpart. Likewise, bumping the computer's SSD to 256 GB costs an extra $200.
The company did not, as previously rumored, update the Air with features like a Retina display and USB-C. Instead the company bestowed those features on a new, even thinner MacBook, based on a 1.3GHz Intel Core M processor.
That product will actually be more costly than the Air, starting at $1,199. It will simultaneously drop many common MacBook features, such as DisplayPort and MagSafe connections.
Availability
Apple's early-2015 MacBook Airs will begin arriving at Apple authorized resellers within the next 48 hours. Some base models are already listed in our Mac Price Guide, with dozens more configurations expected to be available at discount, with tax-savings benefits within the next few days.
The larger 13-inch MacBook Air has also gained new flash memory that's twice as fast as before. The new MacBook Airs ship starting today.
The 11-inch model starts at $899 for a 1.6 GHz dual-core Core i5 model with an Intel HD Graphics 6000 chip, 4 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of SSD storage. Doubling SSD space to 256 GB raises the cost to $1,099.
The base 13-inch model is $999, and comes with specifications identical to its 11-inch counterpart. Likewise, bumping the computer's SSD to 256 GB costs an extra $200.
The company did not, as previously rumored, update the Air with features like a Retina display and USB-C. Instead the company bestowed those features on a new, even thinner MacBook, based on a 1.3GHz Intel Core M processor.
That product will actually be more costly than the Air, starting at $1,199. It will simultaneously drop many common MacBook features, such as DisplayPort and MagSafe connections.
Availability
Apple's early-2015 MacBook Airs will begin arriving at Apple authorized resellers within the next 48 hours. Some base models are already listed in our Mac Price Guide, with dozens more configurations expected to be available at discount, with tax-savings benefits within the next few days.
Comments
With the new decently priced 12" MacBook Retina out there now. Is anybody going to want a plain old MacBook Air anymore, even with improved specs?
ignore this comment, was meant to be a reply to 1983
What is it about the MacBook Air that you would want over the new MacBook?
11 inches and the lack of weight. I'm all over the campus everyday with it under my arm. Yes the 13 pro is a contender these days.
Had this 11 since late 2010 and love the form factor : performance. Just want retina and s micro sd if being greedy
With the new decently priced 12" MacBook Retina out there now. Is anybody going to want a plain old MacBook Air anymore, even with improved specs?
Yes, I need multiple ports for teaching (video out, USB.).
The 8GB 256GB/512GB Macbook Retina is priced 1,299/1,599. The 13" 1.6Ghz i5 with 8GB 256GB/512GB Macbook Air is also priced 1,299/1,599.
So, why get the Air unless you are not willing to pay at least $1,299 for a Macbook, or you really need the faster i5 or i7 processor?
1) I'd never get a 11" because it's 16:9 when 16:10 makes a lot more sense on such a small notebook display. But then you have no Retina (which is great for smaller text with more content), a lot less display area without much change on the footprint (and weight?), and no IPS display (the TN panel in the 11" MBA is probably the lowest quality TN panel they've used in the last 8 years).
2) Why is the 13" MBP a contender but not the 12" MB if weight is a major issue? Did I miss something about it's weight?
With all the new 'books' sporting TB2 is a new 27" TB2 display far behind?
11 inches and the lack of weight. I'm all over the campus everyday with it under my arm. Yes the 13 pro is a contender these days.
Had this 11 since late 2010 and love the form factor : performance. Just want retina and s micro sd if being greedy
The 12" MacBook released today is lighter than the 11" MacBook Air.
The company did not, as previously rumored, update the Air with features like a Retina display and USB-C. Instead the company bestowed those features on a new, even thinner MacBook, based on a 1.3GHz Intel Core M processor.
That product will actually be more costly than the Air, starting at $1,199. It will simultaneously drop many common MacBook features, such as DisplayPort and MagSafe connections.
The new MacBook seems to forgo Thunderbolt entirely.
Which is why it could be converted to ARM with ease once Mac App Store apps get fat binaries.
The new 12" MacBook supports Thunderbolt, just through its USB plug. The light weight and diminutive size of the device will be slightly offset by the mess of adapters required to use the thing in the real world. ARM based processor? Not likely unless you want a netbook class machine.
For me, the 12" screen is too small to see, and I need more processing power for some of the work I do. Ordered a new loaded 13" MBA. I've been four years with the first one. Only complaints were battery life, lack of ac wireless, and the quality of the screen. They fixed two anyway. Don't care about "retina," but to be fair the MBA screen was crap four years ago when I bought my current machine.
So the MacBook does have a TB chip, just no TB port?
There are and will be lots of USB-C hubs to buy so that it can be docked, connect to a big display, keyboard mouse, backup drive and powered at the same time. I am going to buy one as a backup so that I can throw in a bag for on the road. It will really help for going thru airports, to keep weigh and size down in Europe when using Ryanair and Easyjet. Also for back here in the States for general mobile use
Source?