Systems with Intel Core i7 processors, like the Acer Aspire S and the Dell InspiSeries 2-in-1 Special Edition Laptop (7352) were predictably quicker in our tests. Both scores are faster than the Dell XPS 13 Touch (2:58 on Handbrake 5:54 on CS6) and the Lenovo Yoga 3 14 (3:04 on Handbrake 5:16 on CS6). Multimedia performance was good, completing the Handbrake test in 2 minutes 49 seconds and our Adobe Photoshop CS6 test in 5:13. The system is equipped with a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-5250U processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000. The MacBook Air comes with a one-year warranty, which is the same as most midrange Windows laptops. This helped the system boot in only a few seconds and apps to load quickly in testing. The flash storage is PCIe-based, which makes it faster than the SATA-based solid-state drives (SSDs) and flash storage in older ultraportables. Thankfully, the system is unencumbered by bloatware.
An upgrade to 256GB of storage, which our review unit from last year had as standard, is available for $200 more. 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.
That's still enough for multitasking in Mac OS X, but consider upgrading if you like to keep dozens of windows open simultaneously. The system comes with 4GB of RAM, upgradable to 8GB for $100 extra, but only when you order the laptop directly from Apple. That said, you'll still find 1,366-by-768 screens on some ultraportables, like the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e. 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. The 11-inch MacBook Air's largest drawback is its 1,366-by-768-resolution display. 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 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. Wireless connectivity comes via integrated 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.Īs 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. You'll need an adapter cable for HDMI or other display connectors, but the Thunderbolt port works just fine with mini-DisplayPort monitors. In comparison, the Asus X305FA and the HP Folio 1020 each offer a wider selection of ports, thanks to their larger side panels. That's a little sparse, but still far more than the MacBook with its single USB-C port. The right side sports a Thunderbolt 2 port and a second USB 3.0 port. On the left side are a headset jack, two microphones, a MagSafe 2 power jack, and a USB 3.0 port. Ports remain unchanged from last year's MacBook Air. It's significantly smaller and lighter than other ultraportables like the Asus Zenbook UX305FA-ASM1 and the HP EliteBook Folio 1020, although those two are slimmer. The laptop weighs 2.38 pounds, which is ever-so-slightly heavier than the last year's model (2.31 pounds). It measures 7.5 long by 11.8 wide, and its thickness tapers from 0.68 inches from the back to 0.11 inches at the front. If the all-aluminum exterior of the MacBook Air 11-inch looks familiar, that's because the design has basically remained unchanged since 2010. 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. 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.
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.
The 2015 Apple MacBook Air 11-inch ($899 as tested) is all about ultraportability. Read our review of the most recent model. This version of the Apple MacBook Air has been replaced and is no longer available.