When it first came out, Apple was ahead of most 13in competitors with the Air’s screen resolution of 1,440 x 900. Mind you, for just moving your pointer about this touchpad is easily matched by the likes of the Samsung 900X3B.
This is especially true since, unlike Windows 7, MacOS makes extensive use of its multi-touch capabilities in a way that’s intuitive and genuinely useful. The massive frosted glass touchpad is still top notch, and though it’s been matched on some non-Apple laptops it has yet to be bettered. Adjustable white LED backlighting is the cherry on the Apple-cake. Travel is good and there’s not a hint of flex, making it mostly a pleasure to type on only the Lenovo IdeaPad U300 tops it by offering firmer action and ergonomic keys. The MacBook Air 2012’s chiclet keyboard is well laid out even if keys are spaced just a tad too far apart for ideal comfort. Unsurprisingly, usability is eminently familiar. As is, it joins the Sony VAIO Z at the front of the ranks. If it had a Gigabit Ethernet jack and maybe HDMI, it would be in pole position.
Of course the Thunderbolt/DisplayPort connector also remains in place, along with Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi N – all helping to make the 13in MacBook Air one of the best-connected ultraportables on the market. Twin USB 3.0 ports aside, there’s the same SDXC card reader and headphone jack. Oh, incidentally, those on their way to Hell may wish to consider purchasing a pair of ice-skates.
This is the one area where Apple’s machines were lagging most when compared with their Windows PC competition, and we’re glad to see it finally rectified. Even if they haven’t changed their appearance, the USB ports are now of the speedy 3.0 variety, finally letting you plug in the multitude of high-speed memory sticks and other external storage on the market. Though it might look identical, connectivity has seen a very significant update. Of the non-Apple ultraportable crowd, only the Samsung 900X3B, Dell XPS 13 and, to a lesser extent, Asus Zenbook are playing in the same field when it comes to the combination of premium looks, sleek lines and superb build on offer. In fact, the only way you can tell anything’s different from the outside is by looking at its connectivity, and specifically at the slightly more elongated MagSafe 2 connector (and no, your old MagSafe kit won’t fit unless you buy an adapter).Īside from softening a few edges, there’s really not too much we wanted to see changed, so we’re not complaining. The same angular lines, glossy black screen, matt black keyboard and huge silver touchpad are all present to greet you, while build quality is just as superb. If it wasn’t made by Apple, it would be called an Ultrabook. The 2012 MacBook Air 13 inch is still a gorgeously minimalist unibody affair sheathed in anodised aluminium, that’s just 17mm thick and weighs a mere 1.35kg.
SEE ALSO: Best Laptops, Ultrabooks and HybridsĪt first glance, you might be forgiven for thinking this is the same machine as its predecessor – Apple simply hasn’t fixed what wasn’t broken. Connectivity has also been given a major boost by the long-overdue addition of USB 3.0. In other words, the new MacBook Air is better to game on, but of course the same goes for all its competitor Ultrabooks. What’s new is that the internals have been upgraded to Ivy Bridge, which provides a modest CPU bump and a very noticeable GPU one. In stark contrast, the 2012 Air has the same chassis, layout and screen.
Let’s start things off with a quick summary: the new MacBook Air is a relatively minor upgrade from its predecessor, especially when compared to the stunning overhaul that is the MacBook Pro with Retina Display. However, now Apple has upgraded its entire laptop range, so we’re testing the 13 inch MacBook Air 2012 to see how the new and improved model holds up.
– Looking for the best MacBook Air rival? Have a read of our: MacBook Air Versus Samsung Series 9 showdown.Įven till early last year, the 2011 MacBook Air was one of the best ultraportables around, until the Samsung 900X3B came along and stole its crown.
Not because it was the first premium ultraportable to be thin enough to fit in an envelope – Sony did that years earlier with its VAIO TZ1, among many other models – but because it achieved a higher level of market penetration and public awareness than others. The MacBook Air remains an iconic product in the laptop market.