This version of the Apple MacBook Air has been replaced and is no longer available. Read our review of the most recent model. Show The 2015 Apple MacBook Air 11-inch ($899 as tested) is all about ultraportability. This year's model gets a modest CPU update from last year's iteration, but while its Editors' Choice-winning stablemate, the 2015 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch, is aimed at pleasing a wider range of users, the 11-inch ultraportable makes a few tradeoffs to become even thinner and lighter. Even so, its Intel Core i5 processor means that it breezes through tasks that would slow an Intel-Core-M-equipped system, and that's on top of its 11.5 hours of battery life. The MacBook Air 11-inch is a wonderful commuter laptop, and it should be on your short list if you're constantly on the move. Design and Features The new 12-inch MacBook lays claims to being the most svelte Apple laptop, but it sacrifices I/O ports in favor of shaving off a few millimeters. It should be noted that the MacBook Air 11-inch's Intel Core i5 processor needs a fan to keep itself cool, while the thinner laptops listed above all have Intel Core M processors that don't require active cooling. Similar ProductsPorts remain unchanged from last year's MacBook Air. On the left side are a headset jack, two microphones, a MagSafe 2 power jack, and a USB 3.0 port. The right side sports a Thunderbolt 2 port and a second USB 3.0 port. That's a little sparse, but still far more than the MacBook with its single USB-C port. In comparison, the Asus X305FA and the HP Folio 1020 each offer a wider selection of ports, thanks to their larger side panels. You'll need an adapter cable for HDMI or other display connectors, but the Thunderbolt port works just fine with mini-DisplayPort monitors. Wireless connectivity comes via integrated 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. As with its 13-inch counterpart, the keys on the 11-inch MacBook Air's backlit, chiclet-style keyboard feel excellent, and multitouch gestures work smoothly on the glass-covered trackpad. The trackpad doesn't have the Force-Click capability of the MacBook or the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, but that feature is still unsupported in most third-party applications. Like all Mac laptops, the Air lacks a touch screen, but given that OS X doesn't support touch gestures, it's certainly not a deal breaker. The 11-inch MacBook Air's largest drawback is its 1,366-by-768-resolution display. The screen is bright and quite legible, but seems cramped in comparison with the Retina Display on the MacBook or any number of Windows laptops with 1080p- or higher-resolution screens, such as the Asus Zenbook UX305FA. That said, you'll still find 1,366-by-768 screens on some ultraportables, like the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e. The system comes with 4GB of RAM, upgradable to 8GB for $100 extra, but only when you order the laptop directly from Apple. That's still enough for multitasking in Mac OS X, but consider upgrading if you like to keep dozens of windows open simultaneously. There's 128GB of flash storage on our base system, which is adequate for day-to-day use, particularly if you supplement that with online cloud storage or an external drive. An upgrade to 256GB of storage, which our review unit from last year had as standard, is available for $200 more. Thankfully, the system is unencumbered by bloatware. The flash storage is PCIe-based, which makes it faster than the SATA-based solid-state drives (SSDs) and flash storage in older ultraportables. This helped the system boot in only a few seconds and apps to load quickly in testing. The MacBook Air comes with a one-year warranty, which is the same as most midrange Windows laptops. Performance Results on the 3D tests were mediocre, but that's to be expected, given the integrated graphics. The laptop should be fast enough for simpler games like Diablo III, but you wouldn't want to run Grand Theft Auto V at Ultra-quality settings. With its 38-watt battery, the MacBook Air 11-inch lasted 11 hours 33 minutes on our rundown test. That's far less than the astounding 17:36 of the 13-inch MacBook Air and its larger 54-watt battery, but a much longer runtime than the Acer Aspire S7-393-7451 (9:57). The Air should last throughout a cross-country flight, and have juice left for another work session afterward. Since the 11-inch MacBook Air packs the same memory, processor, and storage as its 13-inch big brother, it's no surprise that the two returned almost identical performance scores save for battery life. If you can handle the larger size and the $100 premium, go for the 13-inch, the extra juice is worth it. Conclusion Apple MacBook Air 11-Inch (2015) Pros
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View More The Bottom Line The latest MacBook Air 11-inch is Apple's smallest and least expensive laptop, with good performance and more than 11 hours of battery power. Like What You're Reading?Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Why was the 11Apple discontinued the 11-inch MacBook Air in October 2016 when it launched the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with the polarizing Touch Bar. Apple labels products are “obsolete” after it stopped selling them more than seven years.
Is MacBook Air 11 still supported?The 11-inch MacBook Air (Early 2014), 13-inch MacBook Air (Early 2014), and 13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2014) will become obsolete later this month -- on April 30. Apple already lists them as vintage products since 2020, and they're about to make the transition to the final stage in a few weeks.
When did they stop making 11 MacBook Air?In March 2015, the models were refreshed with Broadwell processors, Intel HD Graphics 6000, Thunderbolt 2, and faster storage and memory. In 2017 the 13-inch model received a processor speed increase from 1.6 GHz to 1.8 GHz and the 11-inch model was discontinued.
How can I tell what year my MacBook Air is?Here's how to check the model and year for your MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini: On your MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini, click on the Apple menu located in the upper-left corner. Then click About This Mac. In the Overview tab, you'll find your Mac's model number and year.
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