AppleInsider Staff
Apple's original thin-and-light laptop wasn't left out of Tuesday's update fray, as all configurations of Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air now ship with 8 gigabytes of RAM.
The road warrior favorite remains available in two standard models: one with 128 gigabytes of built-in storage and the other with 256 gigabytes. As before, storage can be configured upward to 512 gigabytes.
Unlike its smaller sibling, the MacBook Air did not receive a Skylake update. It continues to ship with a previous-gen Core i5, which buyers can swap out for a 2.2-gigahertz Core i7 if required.
All other specifications remain the same.
Without a processor bump, the end of the road may be near for the MacBook Air. What was once Apple's best-selling laptop has been usurped in portability by the MacBook and still has no Retina display, putting it in a somewhat awkward position in Apple's Mac lineup.
The MacBook Air's saving grace — at least for a while — may be its price. A base 13" model can be had for just $999, compared to a $1299 entry point for the 12" MacBook.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
36 Comments
Definitely awkward at the moment. And confusing for the average customer (i.e. not AI reader). I just hope they come up with a more considerate line up. MacBook is fantastic, and so is the MacBook Pro. But the MBA? I would like to have a new Mac, but am currently unsure which one to buy. The MBA seems not to be a sensible option any more. And I bought two of them since it came out, incl. gen 1.
I remember standing in front of the stage at Macworld when Steve pulled the 1st MacBook Air from the envelope.
We were stunned.
I love my MBA for when I travel, as it much better than trying to just use my iPad.
The single USB-C port MacBook is just not what I need.
It appears Apple has decided to kill off my beloved MBA, so "Just Do It" and stop the slow death.
RIP MacBook Air.
:(
A disgraceful set of updates. Rose Gold and the same 480p camera for the MacBook, and only 8GB of RAM standard for the AIR. Let's say Apple is saving the best for last, reserving a new set of all-new MacBook Pro designs for June. In that case, anyone foolish enough to buy the MacBook or AIR right now would be reliving the Mac IIvx fiasco of days gone by, regretting their purchase BIG TIME when the new MBP's debut only months later. But if there is no big update in June, then such further drives home the point that Apple is waning when it comes to innovation. In either case, it does not look pretty at all. I just sent my feedback to Apple. Perhaps you should too:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookair.html
bit awkward,
like the party is over and the MBA doesn't know when to leave...
The iPad Air (moniker) is then probably also staying for awhile.
With base prices of $899 and $999, the MacBook Air is still the most attractive Apple notebook to the majority of potential customers.
I don't understand why Apple is still price gouging on Macs. They have the entire lineup of iOS devices to subsidize their Macs. They should be trying to bring more people into the fold instead of driving people away.