When Apple (AAPL) first released the MacBook Air ultraportable computer in 2008, few would have predicted that this slimmest of all Apple MacBook models would have such a big impact on the PC industry.
In his first-generation MacBook Air review, Gizmodo’s Brian Lam pointed out that despite the beautiful looks and premium price, this was the slowest Mac you could buy and also lacked things many PC users take for granted — like external ports and an optical drive.
But AAPL relentlessly improved the slim aluminum beauty, splitting it into two sizes (an 11-inch and a 13-inch), making SSDs standard, offering more powerful CPU options and dropping the price, turning the one-time luxury device into the best-selling Apple MacBook model.
The MacBook Air has become the standard that PC makers aspire to. It drove Intel (INTC) to launch the UltraBook initiative, and the wedge-shaped silver form factor with the black chiclet keyboard is the most copied look in computing. Even Chromebooks like the Samsung (SSNLF) Series 3 look like a MacBook Air clone!
Our 2014 MacBook Air review looks at Apple’s aging aluminum wedge to see if it’s still the best bet in ultraportable computing.
MacBook Air Review: Still One of the Best Ultra-Portables Available
Early UltraBooks were no match for the MacBook Air, but when Microsoft (MSFT) launched Windows 8, Intel released its Haswell CPUs and Intel mandated touchscreen capability in UltraBooks, the battle was on.
However, consumers haven’t always been attracted to innovation alone — just ask Sony (SNE), which had to dump its PC business, despite UltraBooks like the Vaio Fit 15A (reviewed here) that make the most of Windows 8’s touch interface.
This time around, AAPL didn’t change much. The 2014 edition of the MacBook Air was released on April 29 and featured a small CPU clock speed bump and a lower price. The 11-inch version now starts at $899, while the 13-inch model is priced from $999.
Both come with a full-sized, backlit keyboard and a large trackpad that’s very responsive (both input methods can be a weak spot with Windows laptops in this price range). Thanks to a standard SSD, startup time is under 15 seconds while the Intel Haswell CPUs make for fast operation and impressive battery life. (My experience matched the 9-hour life that Apple claimed for the 11.6-inch MacBook Air).
The MacBook Air remains one of the best ultra-portables on the market. The 2014 edition is a little faster and a little cheaper, but by playing it so safe, AAPL is running the risk of falling behind. For example…
MacBook Air Review: What About Retina?
AAPL watchers have been expecting a shake-up of the MacBook Air line. There are now two Apple MacBook models under $1,000, and Apple doesn’t like category overlap. UltraBooks have also seriously upped the ante, with many offering full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution displays, making the MacBook Air’s look pixelated in comparison.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro got a Retina display, so there was an expectation that this year would be the MacBook Air’s turn. There was also speculation that, with the two models overlapping and the 13-inch MacBook Air potentially competing against the slimmed-down 13-inch MacBook Pro, AAPL would go with a single 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina display for 2014.
That didn’t happen. The display on both the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air is bright, but it looks downright outdated beside a competitor like Lenovo’s (LNVGY) Yoga 2 Pro convertible Ultrabook with its QHD (3200 x 1800 pixel) screen.
MacBook Air Review: Specs
- 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) or 13.3-inch (1440 x 900) LED display
- 1.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Haswell), up to 1.7Ghz dual-core Intel Core i7 CPU
- 4GB DDR3 RAM (configurable to 8GB)
- 11.6-inch has 38 watt-hour battery rated for 9 hours
- 13.3-inch has 54 watt-hour battery rated for 12 hours
- Mini DisplayPort, 2 x USB 3.0, ThunderBolt
- 13.3-inch has SDXC card slot
- Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
- Stereo speaker, dual microphone, 720p FaceTime camera
- Full-sized backlit keyboard and Multi-Touch trackpad
- Runs OSX Mavericks
Note: MacBook Air review is based on the 11-inch version.
MacBook Air Review: Conclusion
Both new MacBook Air models are solid entries in the ultraportable market.
Compared to other Apple MacBook models, these are extremely lightweight, boast unbeatable battery life and they’ve become extremely affordable — more so with the $100 price drop. They’re also very usable, with decent backlit keyboards and the speed of an SSD. Just be sure to load up as much RAM as possible at time of purchase (you can’t upgrade that later) and be aware there are limited USB ports, no optical drive and no ethernet.
The MacBook Air’s weakest link is its display, and as shown in our 2014 MacBook Air review, AAPL has done nothing to address this shortcoming with the latest edition. Retina would have been nice, but many UltraBook competitors are now far beyond Retina (and also offering touchscreen capability, if you care about that), making the smallest Apple MacBook look dated in comparison.
AAPL might be able to get away with this in 2014, but the 2015 MacBook Air needs a resolution bump in a big way.
As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
