At the same hardware event where it released the iPad Pro (2018) — its first tablet with Face ID and USB-C port — the California tech giant also announced an upgrade to its renowned line of MacBook Air laptops. The new MacBook Air (2018) is a 13-inch monster which has been redefined extensively in the aspects of design, performance, display quality, and security.
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Interestingly, the newly launched MacBook Air (2018) is not only better than its predecessor, but it is also cheaper. In fact, at the price the Apple flagship notebook sells for, it is conveniently the cheapest Apple laptop with a Retina display and fingerprint security which makes it best suited for students, creatives and even professionals.
Apple MacBook Air (2018) Key Specifications
- Display — 13.3-inch Retina Display, 2560 x 1600 LED
- Dimensions — 4.1–15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm
- Weight — 1.25kg
- Processor — 8th-Gen Intel Core i5 with base clock speed of 1.6GHz, boost up to 3.6GHz
- Memory — 8GB LPDDR3 RAM (customizable up to 16GB)
- Storage — 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1.5TB SSD
- Graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 617
- Ports — 2 x Type-C USB (Thunderbolt 3 support), 3.5mm headphone jack
- Connectivity — 802.11ac Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
- Battery — Up to 13 hours video playback
Design
The design and aesthetic finish of the new MacBook Air bus way better and more premium-looking than previous models of the Air line of MacBook. The Apple MacBook Air sport slimmer bezels, shrunken thickness, and is super lightweight. The device weighs in 1.24kg and is more than 10% smaller and thinner than its predecessor.
On the left-hand side of the MacBook Air (2018) are two USB-C ports for charging up the device, plugging in accessories, and transferring files at super fast speed. Both ports are Thunderbolt 3 type of USB-C and they support external displays of up to 5K resolution. The right-hand side is just as bare as the left side as the only component there is the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.
A new addition to the MacBook Air (2018) is the Force Touch trackpad that has about 20% more real estate than the trackpad of previous MacBook Air’s. The trackpad allows for more space for cursor navigation and gestures.
Other new design implementations include a butterfly keyboard wirh decent keypress an HD FaceTime camera, louder stereo speakers, Touch ID fingerprint reader for unlocking the device or payments and a three-mic array with always-on audio processor of better voice recognition and Siri support.
Display
Apart from shrinking the bezels surrounding the screen, the display itself has undergone major improvements. According to Apple, the 13.3-inch Retina display of the MacBook Air (2018) with a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels is the best you’d find on a MacBook Air. Apple further states that the MacBook Air (2018) is fully packed with up to four times the number of pixels found on its predecessor.
While picture quality will improve tremendously, colour production and quality will also be upped by up to 48%.
Processor and Storage
To run the MacBook Air, Apple employed Intel’s Core i5-8210Y CPU with dual cores and a base clock speed of 1.6GHz. The processor also boasts of a boost speed of 3.6GHz and is laced with a base memory of 8GB and 128GB of internal storage. The processor is guaranteed of bringing fast operational speed and processing to the new MacBook.
Per storage, Byers can choose to customize the storage combination of their MacBook Air: RAM can reach up to 16GB while internal memory maxes out at 1.5TB.
Battery
While every other more-expensive MacBooks with a Retina display comes with battery capacity rated for 10 hours of usage, the MacBook Air (2018) is said to be able to conveniently supply up to 12 hours of usage on local video playback or wireless internet surfing.
Apple Macbook Air Price and Availability
The Apple Macbook Air (2018) price in Nigeria starts at around 380,000 Naira. You can buy the laptop at leading online stores in the country.
The base model of the MacBook Air (2018) with a storage combination of 8GB of RAM and 128GB built-in storage sill set buyer back by $1,199, about $100 cheaper than the previous MacBook Air. Customizing the laptop to have more storage unit will cost require additional charges.