Apple unveiled the all-new 2018 MacBook Air during an event on Tuesday. The new MacBook Air (2018) features a 13.3-inch Retina display, Touch ID and upgraded processors. It’s available in gold, silver and space gray.
The all-new MacBook Air (2018): Specs
For the first time, the MacBook Air is constructed from 100% recycled aluminum, which enabled the company claims that this has slashed the carbon footprint of the laptop in half. The company describes the 2018 MacBook Air as “the greenest Mac ever.”
Apple has also really slimmed down the bezels, carrying this trend over from the iPhone and iPad. The updated MacBook Air is also lighter than its predecessor at 2.75 pounds and 10% thinner and 17% smaller than the previous model. Here are the basic specs of the all-new 2018 MacBook Air:
- Eight-generation Intel i5 processor
- Intel UHD graphics
- 8 GB and 16 GB memory options
- SSD storage in 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB options
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 11ac Wi-Fi
- 2,2560 x 1,600 resolution
- Force Touch trackpad
- Apple’s T2 Security hip
- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- FaceTime HD camera
Other highlights of the MacBook Air (2018) include a third-generation keyboard designed by Apple, which features backlit keys. The Force Touch trackpad is 20% bigger than the trackpad on the previous model and supports haptic feedback and pressure-sensitive capabilities.
First MacBook Air with Retina display and Touch ID
The 2018 MacBook Air is the first model to have a Retina display, and Apple claims it displays 48% more color than its predecessor. The laptop also has a FaceTime HD camera built in and a trio of microphones to improve sound quality on calls and voice recognition on Siri.
Apple also brought its Touch ID fingerprint sensor to the 2018 MacBook Air. It’s built into the Apple-designed keyboard. Touch ID can be used to unlock the laptop, authentication, and make purchases through Apple Pay.
To support Touch ID, the 2018 MacBook Air features Apple’s T2 Security Chip, which keeps the user’s Touch ID data safe and “ensures that software loaded during the boot process has not been tampered with.” The T2 also encrypts data stored on the SSD, and Apple claims this gives the updated MacBook Air “the most secure boot process and most secure storage of any notebook.”
Price and release dates for 2018 MacBook Air
The new MacBook Pro also adds a new configuration for graphics. The option adds Radeon Pro Vega graphics to the Pro model for the first time. Apple says the new graphics provide 60% faster performance in even “the most demanding video editing, 3D design and rendering workloads.”
Apple describes the MacBook Air (2018) as “the most affordable Retina-display Mac ever,” although that Retina display adds $200 to the laptop’s price. The MacBook Air (2018) will start at $1,199 and be available starting on Nov. 7, although it’s up for preorder now on Apple’s online store.
The MacBook Pro with the new graphics option is also available for preorder now, but it won’t land in retail stores until Nov. 14.
