Unlike on Apple's new iPhones, you don't have to forego the headphone jack on Apple's new MacBook Air. — dpa
Apple has finally released a new version of its popular MacBook Air. Now it's time to put it to the test and see if the wait was worth it.
The biggest difference between the older and the newer MacBook Air versions is the display: the 13-inch retina display with a resolution of 227 dpi is impressive.
Whereas the old model had around 1.3 million pixels, the newer version has four million pixels, which gives both text and pictures a really sharp, crisp look. In addition, the 48% increase of depictable colours makes images appear lighter and more colourful.
On the downside, the MacBook Air display is not as bright as Apple's MacBook Pro models, meaning it will struggle when used outdoors.
The new device has an all new 8th generation Intel Core i5 chip, and the laptop is noticeably more powerful because of it. This also comes down to the memory size you choose: the 8GB RAM option should probably be enough for most users – but 16GB RAM is a possibility if you feel you need even more power.
When it comes to storage, there are plenty of options: the MacBook Air comes with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or even 1.5TB – so you should be able to store everything you need.
Several of the MacBook Air's new features are not actually new to Apple, as they are featured in the Pro series.
One such feature is the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, so you no longer need to input your passwords all the time. The sensor also enables you to use Apple Pay for online payments, which makes shopping online faster and more comfortable.
The MacBook Air also has the T2 chip that was introduced in the current Pro series. Highly focussed on improving security for your laptop, the T2 protects your data with new software and can prevent hackers from accessing your device, and ensures that the microphone is completely switched off when you power down. The T2 chip also allows you to use Apple's virtual assistant Siri.
The new Air device has the same so-called Butterfly keyboard as the Pro laptops. This keyboard responds to the lightest touch and is therefore not as loud as older versions of Apple's laptops. The new keyboards also seem to need less maintenance, at least according to repair statistics for the Pro series.
Apple is continuing down its path of removing as many ports as possible – and the MacBook Air is no different. The new model has only two USB-C ports, which can be used for attaching an external monitor or for an external hard drive.
But if you want to attach a normal USB stick, you're out of luck, as you'll need an adapter – and the same goes if you rely on being able to use an SD slot for transferring pictures or videos. The headphone jack has stayed, though.
Now to the most important factor for everyday use, the battery life. Apple says you can use the MacBook Air for 12 hours without recharging – but we were unable to replicate this feat. Nevertheless, it should be able to last a full work day.
The laptop's dual core processor works fine for everyday chores, even when you have 20 tabs open at once, the MacBook Air keeps going with only a slightly more noticeable whirring sound coming from the ventilation system.
Price-wise, you can tell why the new model is more expensive just by the retina display. For the basic 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, you will pay US$1,199 (RM5,019) and you'll have to pay US$200 (RM837) extra for 256GB. It is also available in three colours: grey, gold and silver. – dpa
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