Watch: Apple's 2016 MacBook vs. 2015 13" MacBook Air in head-to-head comparison
Apple's latest 12-inch MacBook refresh brings better battery life and a faster processor to the ultraportable platform, but in some respects is outperformed by last year's 13-inch MacBook Air. Is the ultimate in portability worth concessions like a single USB-C port and slower CPU? Find out in AppleInsider's head-to-head comparison.
In our last video comparison we pitted Apple's second-generation MacBook with Retina display against its predecessor, finding the new model only marginally better in terms of performance. But how does the new 12-inch ultraportable stack up against the company's aging, yet ever popular, MacBook Air?
If you're in the market to buy a thin and light MacBook, but are having a hard time deciding between the recently updated 12-inch Retina MacBook or a 13-inch MacBook Air, we don't blame you.
Both machines are considerably thin and light, and while there doesn't seem to be a huge difference on paper, handling the laptops in person is where the MacBook stands out as the superior machine in regards to portability. That portability does come at a cost.
With the MacBook, you only have one USB-C port that is used for both charging and as a data connection. This is where the MacBook air really shines, with the dedicated MagSafe charging port we love, along with two USB 3 ports, a Thunderbolt 2, and an SD card reader. One benefit of the USB-C connector on Apple's 12-inch MacBook is that it can charged with a cheap USB battery bank, which is very convenient.
If you work with photos and video, you'll know how convenient it is to have that SD card slot. But for that same crowd, the MacBook Air's screen is a letdown. Other than being larger, it's inferior to the 12-inch MacBook's Retina display in every other way. The viewing angles, contrast, and color accuracy is much worse, and the resolution isn't even "Full HD," giving you less screen real estate to work.
Even though the MacBook Air has a more powerful processor that requires a fan to stay cool, the fan-less Retina Macbook is only slightly behind in performance, so you won't notice a big difference in real world speed between these two models. The larger size of the Macbook air does afford it a more capacious battery which yields two extra hours of web usage.
In creating the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook, Apple had to redesign the keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard has much less key travel which takes some getting used to. But thanks to the wider and more balanced butterfly keys, once you get used to the feeling you can type just as fast and accurately as with the MacBook air that has a typical Apple keyboard that is loved my many. The new thinner Retina MacBook keyboard is also lit by individual LEDs, giving it a sharper look with less backlight bleed.
The Force Touch trackpad is an improvement over the MacBook Air. Even though it feels like you're actually pressing down, Apple is using haptic feedback motors that simulate the click. This makes the trackpad thinner and provides uniform feedback no matter where you press. The design also gives you flexibility in adjusting feedback strength and sound.
With all the concessions made to make MacBook as slim as possible, you would expect the speakers to be less powerful and lacking adequate fidelity. While the 12-inch MacBook does lack a bit of low-end punch, its speakers are actually better sounding and slightly louder than those in the larger MacBook Air.
One area where MacBook Air takes a lead is its FaceTime HD camera. While neither machine provides great image quality, the FaceTime shooter in the 12-inch MacBook maxes out at a resolution of 480P, the same as the very first MacBook webcam. Which by the way, was released 10 years ago.
If you're looking for a portable machine in the $1,200-plus price range, and the lack of expansion ports doesn't bother you, go with the 12-inch MacBook. If you need the flexibility of Thunderbolt and the other ports the Air offers, and the low quality screen isn't an issue, the MacBook Air is the best pick for you.
In our last video comparison we pitted Apple's second-generation MacBook with Retina display against its predecessor, finding the new model only marginally better in terms of performance. But how does the new 12-inch ultraportable stack up against the company's aging, yet ever popular, MacBook Air?
If you're in the market to buy a thin and light MacBook, but are having a hard time deciding between the recently updated 12-inch Retina MacBook or a 13-inch MacBook Air, we don't blame you.
Both machines are considerably thin and light, and while there doesn't seem to be a huge difference on paper, handling the laptops in person is where the MacBook stands out as the superior machine in regards to portability. That portability does come at a cost.
With the MacBook, you only have one USB-C port that is used for both charging and as a data connection. This is where the MacBook air really shines, with the dedicated MagSafe charging port we love, along with two USB 3 ports, a Thunderbolt 2, and an SD card reader. One benefit of the USB-C connector on Apple's 12-inch MacBook is that it can charged with a cheap USB battery bank, which is very convenient.
If you work with photos and video, you'll know how convenient it is to have that SD card slot. But for that same crowd, the MacBook Air's screen is a letdown. Other than being larger, it's inferior to the 12-inch MacBook's Retina display in every other way. The viewing angles, contrast, and color accuracy is much worse, and the resolution isn't even "Full HD," giving you less screen real estate to work.
Even though the MacBook Air has a more powerful processor that requires a fan to stay cool, the fan-less Retina Macbook is only slightly behind in performance, so you won't notice a big difference in real world speed between these two models. The larger size of the Macbook air does afford it a more capacious battery which yields two extra hours of web usage.
In creating the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook, Apple had to redesign the keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard has much less key travel which takes some getting used to. But thanks to the wider and more balanced butterfly keys, once you get used to the feeling you can type just as fast and accurately as with the MacBook air that has a typical Apple keyboard that is loved my many. The new thinner Retina MacBook keyboard is also lit by individual LEDs, giving it a sharper look with less backlight bleed.
The Force Touch trackpad is an improvement over the MacBook Air. Even though it feels like you're actually pressing down, Apple is using haptic feedback motors that simulate the click. This makes the trackpad thinner and provides uniform feedback no matter where you press. The design also gives you flexibility in adjusting feedback strength and sound.
With all the concessions made to make MacBook as slim as possible, you would expect the speakers to be less powerful and lacking adequate fidelity. While the 12-inch MacBook does lack a bit of low-end punch, its speakers are actually better sounding and slightly louder than those in the larger MacBook Air.
One area where MacBook Air takes a lead is its FaceTime HD camera. While neither machine provides great image quality, the FaceTime shooter in the 12-inch MacBook maxes out at a resolution of 480P, the same as the very first MacBook webcam. Which by the way, was released 10 years ago.
If you're looking for a portable machine in the $1,200-plus price range, and the lack of expansion ports doesn't bother you, go with the 12-inch MacBook. If you need the flexibility of Thunderbolt and the other ports the Air offers, and the low quality screen isn't an issue, the MacBook Air is the best pick for you.
Comments
I think the MacBook design is the future of what the entire Apple laptop line is going to look like...thin, less ports to attach ungainly cables to and Rose Gold, Baby!
What I'm looking for is a MB-like 14" Retina Mac with a keyboard with a least the travel of the "magic" keyboard and MacSafe and at least 2 UBS ports. And if an SD Card would fit it should include this also. Chief among my wants for this machine would be a stated battery life of at least 15 hours for web browsing at 60% brightness.
Mainly very long battery life, a larger display and Retina though. With power that exceeds current 13" MBA.
In this article the are actually comparing two computers each with SSDs so they would be the same in both... which really makes your post pointless.
I have one, it is great - but still need a better computer for my main one.... Still hoping they bring back an HQ/HK or the Xeon mobile version of a Mac Mini (that can drive 3 monitors or 2 x 4K ones - does not have to be high performance, just drive the monitors for normal use). If they did that then it would be powerful enough for me when I need to replace my main computer - a 2008 Mac Pro (8 core).
As a mobile device the Macbook is an amazing computer.... and for most people more than enough.
I wouldn't mind seeing more of this kind of thing.
Even thought most people who comment here may be familiar with most of Apples line-up, these kinds of comparison videos are helpful for average people who may not always have time to visit an Apple Store.
Thumbs up.
When I replace my MBA, I'm with you, I'd love to see a decent Mac Mini that can drive a couple of monitors for the desk setting, and then I'll get either the latest rMB or stick with my iPad keyboard combo and upgrade that to a Pro version (can't decide which I like better rMB or iPad/keyboard combo - they're both more than capable for my away from home needs), unless of course (and here's my fantasy) Apple comes along and makes an iOS version of the rMB using a non-touch version of iOS that blows the pants off Intel's fanless M-series chip in performance, in a form factor as genius or better than the rMB, at a price point that most likely would cost less.
Don't care about the so called rMB connectivity "limitations," there's expansion opportunity built right in, and in the world of today (meaning the future for many people and complainers alike), everything is wireless, which is a perfectly sane trade-off for those of us who hold size above almost everything else in a (it's a super duper portable, duh!) machine. Like you, the rMB couldn't (I don't think) perform equally as my MBA does (which is an odd main machine I admit), but for a "throw it in your bag for everything on the go machine," I can't imagine one better if you've got performance at home forming a strong foundation of a computing environment (assuming needs are heavy on tech, as many of us here have).
Any chance you think we might see that Mac Mini of which you hope to see, or something similar, in the near future? Speculate? It's overdue for a refresh, no?