The processor and memory performance of the 11.6-inch Air is effectively the same as the 13.3-inch model, with some tiny variations in benchmark scores due to inevitable fluctuations in speed from intelligent monitoring adjusts operation with ambient conditions. We tested a MacBook Air sample with this chip and its integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000, with 4GB of memory and 128GB flash drive. The standard processor for all MacBook Air models is now the 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5-5250U, a low-power variant from the dual-core Core i5 mobile processor range that has become almost standard issue across all kinds of laptops. New 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2015) review: Processing speed tests 38-watt-hour battery: Up to 12 hours wireless web browsing (claimed)Īs you can see, there are only three differences between the specs of this year’s and last year’s 11-inch Air, although they are pretty important ones.Ports: 2 x USB 3 1 x Thunderbolt 1 x MagSafe 2 power connector 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack.1.4GHz* dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with 3MB* shared 元 cache.38-watt-hour battery: Up to 9 hours wireless web browsing (claimed)īase spec of mid-2014 11-inch MacBook Air (was priced at £749):.Ports/connections: 2 x USB 3 1 x Thunderbolt 2 1 x MagSafe 2 power connector 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack.
1.6GHz* dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with 3MB* shared 元 cache.Base spec of early-2015 11-inch MacBook Air (priced at £749): We’ve marked the specs where it’s possible to pay more for a higher spec with an asterisk.
We’ve mentioned some of the key specs, but let’s compare the full set of the specs for the 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2015) with those of the New 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2015) review: Specs
It’s not an particularly impressive display when set against the Retina panels on more expensive Macs, although the key contrast-ratio figures are strides ahead of budget displays on Windows laptops, which often come in at 100:1 or worse. Colour accuracy was almost the same, with an average Delta E figure of 5.4, just below and thereby better than the 5.9 Delta E we measured on the 13-inch version. Our sample 11-inch MacBook Air included a display from Samsung, with very similar performance to the LG/Philips panel we found in our sample of this year’s 13-inch model.Ĭolour gamut indicated by a Datacolor colorimeter was limited to just 40 percent sRGB and 30 percent AdobeRGB, but we did find a just-better contrast ratio of 440:1. (Apple doesn’t list pixel density on the Airs’ tech specs page, which one might take as an indication that it’s not terribly proud of it. The 11-inch Air model actually has an 11.6-inch screen, to be precise, with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and a pixel density of just over 135ppi (pixels per inch). The Air’s screen, too, is essentially unchanged, even though there have been endless rumours about Apple adding New 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2015) review: Display/screen All other Macs made in the past nine years have had 16:10 aspect ratio, a shape that’s more versatile for both productivity and entertainment.
We have the same sturdy yet lightweight chassis milled from solid aluminium, and an 11.6-inch TN LCD screen, which stands apart from all other Mac computers and displays – it’s the only 16:9 widescreen display in the range.
Here’s why it doesn’t matter that the MacBook is expensive, underpowered and only has one port.) (Not everyone likes that radical rethink, of course. That means exceptional build quality and stunning looks, admittedly, but it’s hard not to be a little disappointed by the lack of change on these machines when the 12-inch MacBook got such a radical rethink. Like the 13-inch Air, the 11-inch Air for early 2015 has the same chassis as we saw in the previous generation. Let’s look at physical design first of all – which won’t take long because of the lack of change here. New 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2015) review: Design and build quality