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| Developer | Apple |
|---|---|
| Product family | MacBook |
| Type | Laptop |
| Release date | January 29, 2008; 17 years ago (2008-01-29)[1] |
| Operating system | macOS |
| System on a chip | |
| CPU |
|
| Marketing target | Consumer /Home purpose |
| Related | MacBook,MacBook Pro |
| Website | apple.com/macbook-air |
| This article is part ofa series on the |
| MacBook |
|---|
| List of Mac models byCPU type |
TheMacBook Air is a line of consumer-oriented high-endMacnotebook computers developed and manufactured byApple since 2008. It features a thin, light structure in amachinedaluminum case and currently either a 13-inch or 15-inch screen. The MacBook Air's lower prices relative to the larger, higher performanceMacBook Pro have made it Apple's entry-level notebook since the discontinuation of the originalMacBook line in 2012.[2][3]
Steve Jobs introduced the MacBook Air during Apple’s keynote address at the 2008Macworld conference on January 15, 2008.[4]
The first MacBook Air was a 13.3-inch model, initially promoted as the world's thinnestnotebook at 1.9 cm (0.75 in) (a previous record holder, 2005'sToshiba Portege R200, was 1.98 cm (0.78 in) high).[5][6] It featured a custom[7]IntelMerom CPU andIntel GMA GPU which were 40% smaller than the standard chip package.[8] It also featured an anti-glareLEDbacklitTN 6-bit color paneldisplay, a full-size keyboard, and a largetrackpad that responded tomulti-touch gestures such as pinching, swiping, and rotating.[9]
The MacBook Air was the first subcompact notebook offered by Apple after the 12"PowerBook G4 discontinued in 2006. It was also Apple's first computer with an optionalsolid-state drive.[10] It was the last Mac to use aPATA storage drive. To conserve on space, it uses the 1.8 inch drive used in theiPod Classic instead of the typical 2.5-inch drive. It was Apple's first notebook since thePowerBook 2400c without a built-inremovable media drive.[11] To read optical disks, users could either purchase an external USB drive such as Apple'sSuperDrive or use the bundled Remote Disc software to access the drive of another computer wirelessly[12] that has the program installed.[13][14] The MacBook Air also did not include aFireWire port,Ethernet port,line-in, orKensington Security Slot, which were standard features in most other Apple notebooks at the time.[15]
On October 14, 2008, a new model was announced with a low-voltagePenryn processor andNvidiaGeForce graphics.[16] Storage capacity was increased to a 128 GB SSD or a 120 GB HDD,[17] and themicro-DVI video port was replaced by theMini DisplayPort.[18] The disk drive was also changed from a PATA drive to the faster SATA drive.
The mid-2009 revision featured slightly higher battery capacity and a faster Penryn CPU.[19]
On October 20, 2010, Apple released a redesigned 13.3-inch model with a tapered enclosure, higher screen resolution, improved battery, a secondUSB port,stereo speakers, and standardsolid state storage. An 11.6-inch model was introduced, offering reduced cost, weight, battery life, and performance relative to the 13.3-inch model, but better performance than typicalnetbooks of the time. Both 11-inch and 13-inch models had an analog audio output/headphone minijack supporting Apple earbuds with a microphone. The 13-inch model received a SDXC-capable SD Card slot.[20][21][22][23][9]Solid-state storage was made standard, and later revisions addedIntel Core i5 or i7processors andThunderbolt.[24]
On July 20, 2011, Apple released updated models, which also became Apple's entry-level notebooks due to lowered prices and the discontinuation of the white MacBook around the same time.[3] The mid-2011 models were upgraded withSandy Bridge dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, Intel HD Graphics 3000, backlit keyboards,Thunderbolt, andBluetooth was upgraded tov4.0.[25][26] Maximum storage options were increased up to 256 GB. This revision also replaced the Expose (F3) key with a Mission Control key, and the Dashboard (F4) key with a Launchpad key.
On June 11, 2012, Apple updated the line with IntelIvy Bridge dual-core Core i5 and i7 processors, HD Graphics 4000, faster memory and flash storage speeds,USB 3.0, an upgraded720pFaceTime camera, and a thinnerMagSafe 2 charging port.[27] The standard memory was upgraded to 4 GB, with a maximum configuration of 8 GB.[28]
On June 10, 2013, Apple updated the line withHaswell processors, Intel HD Graphics 5000, and802.11ac Wi-Fi. Storage started at 128 GB SSD, with options for 256 GB and 512 GB. TheHaswell processors considerably improved battery life from the previous generation, and the models were capable of 9 hours on the 11-inch model and 12 hours on the 13-inch model; a team of reviewers exceeded expected battery life ratings during their test.[29]
In March 2015, the models were refreshed withBroadwell processors, Intel HD Graphics 6000, Thunderbolt 2, and faster storage and memory.[30]
The 11-inch model was discontinued in October 2016. In June 2017, the 13-inch model received a processor speed increase from 1.6 GHz to 1.8 GHz. The 2017 model remained available for sale after Apple launched the next generation in 2018. It was discontinued in July 2019. Before its discontinuation it was Apple's last notebook withUSB Type-A ports, a non-Retina display (TN 6-bit color panel), a user-upgradable SSD, and a backlit rear Apple logo.[31]
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On October 30, 2018, Apple released a new MacBook Air withAmber Lake processors, a 13.3-inchRetina display with a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels,Touch ID, and two combinationUSB-C 3.1 Gen 2/Thunderbolt 3 ports plus oneaudio jack. The screen displays 48% more color, and the bezels are 50% narrower than the previous generation and occupies 17% less volume. Thickness was reduced to 15.6 mm (0.61 in) and weight to 1.25 kilograms (2.76 pounds). It was available in three finishes, silver, space gray, and gold. Unlike the previous generation, this model could not be configured with an Intel Core i7 processor.
The base 2018 model came with 8GB of 2133 MHz LPDDR3 RAM, 128 GB SSD, Intel Core i5 processor (1.6 GHz base clock, with Turbo up to 3.6 GHz) with Intel UHD Graphics 617.[32]
Apple released updated models in July 2019 with True Tone display technology and an updated butterfly keyboard using the same components as the 2019MacBook Pro.[33][34] A test found that the 256 GB SSD in the 2019 model has a 35% lower read speed than the 256 GB SSD in the 2018 model, though the write speed is slightly faster.[35]
Updated models were released in March 2020 withIce Lake Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, updated graphics, support for 6K output to run thePro Display XDR and other 6K monitors, and replaced the butterfly keyboard with aMagic Keyboard design similar to that initially found in the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro.[36][37]
On November 10, 2020, Apple announced the MacBook Air with an Apple-designedM1 processor, launched alongside an updatedMac Mini and 13-inchMacBook Pro as the first Macs with Apple's new line of customARM-basedApple silicon processors.[38] The device incorporates afanless design, the first ever on any MacBook Air.[39] It also adds support forWi-Fi 6,USB4 /Thunderbolt 3 andWide color (P3).[40] The M1 MacBook Air can only run one external display, unlike the previous Intel-based model that was capable of running two4K displays.[41] The FaceTime camera remains 720p but Apple advertises an improvedimage signal processor for higher quality video.[42]
The M1 MacBook Air received widespread positive reviews, with reviewers praising the fast performance and long battery life.[43]
On June 6, 2022, during the 2022Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced their second-generation processor, called M2, with an improved performance versus the previous M1 processor. The first computer to receive this new chip was a radically redesigned MacBook Air.
The latest MacBook Air was redesigned away from the tapered body in 2022 to match the latest MacBook Pro models and upgraded to theM2 processor. The new model was given a larger 13.6-inch screen and brought backMagSafe, now the third iteration of Apple's magnetic laptop charger ports.
This complete redesign features a dramatically thinner, flat design, doing away with the familiar wedge shape chassis that MacBook Air was most known for having. The new MacBook Air takes on hardware design cues from the 14" and 16" MacBook Pro notebooks released on October 26, 2021, such as a thinner, lighter, flat chassis with 20% less volume than the previous MacBook Air. Other features includeMagSafe 3, which also supports fast charging up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 67W or greater power adapter, a taller 13.6" Liquid Retina display with 500 nits max brightness (25% brighter than the previous MacBook Air), a 1080p FaceTime Camera, a three-mic array with advanced beam-forming algorithms, a high-impedance headphone jack, four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, full height function keys, and four finishes (Silver, Space Gray, Starlight, and Midnight). The Gold color has been discontinued and replaced by the Starlight color found with the introduction of theiPhone 13 in 2021.
On June 5, 2023, during the 2023Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced the new 15-inch display size option for the M2 MacBook Air lineup, with the advanced six-speaker sound system along with the major technical features such as 1080p FaceTime camera and MagSafe charging. Ordering the 15-inch MacBook Air started on June 5, with the general availability having started on June 13.[44]
On March 4, 2024, Apple announced a refreshedM3 MacBook Air in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. This model retains the same design as the M2 MacBook Air but adds support for two external displays when the lid is closed.[45]
On March 5, 2025, Apple announced an updated MacBook Air, now with theM4 chip. This model retains the same design as the M2 and M3 MacBook Air but adds support for two external displays with the internal display on, a new color (Sky Blue, which replaces the Space Gray color from previous models), a new 12MP Center Stage camera, and a lower starting price.[46] The M4 MacBook Air can reach up to 20 hours operating time on a single charge, making it the longest-lasting Air battery to date.[47]
The M4 MacBook Air was positively received by critics, with Brenda Stolyar ofWired praising its great performance, bright display, updated webcam, long battery life, and double the base memory.[48] Mark Spoonauer ofTom's Guide called it "the best MacBook for most people and for me the top laptop for most people, period.[49]
macOS Sequoia will work with Wi-Fi and graphics acceleration on unsupported MacBook Air computers (except for the 2018 and 2019 models) with a compatible third-party patch utility.[50]
The MacBook Air 2018 and 2019 models cannot currently be patched due to an issue with theT2 Security Chip that prevents them from running macOS Sequoia.[51]
| OS release | Intel-based | Apple silicon | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unibody | Tapered Unibody | Retina | M1 | M2 and later | ||||||||||||||
| Original | Late 2008 | Mid 2009 | Late 2010 | Mid 2011 | Mid 2012 | Mid 2013 | Early 2014 | Early 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | M1, 2020 | M2, 2022 | M2, 2023 | M3, 2024 | M4, 2025 | |
| 10.4 Tiger | Partial[Note 1] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10.5 Leopard | 10.5.1 | 10.5.5 | 10.5.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10.6 Snow Leopard |  | | | 10.6.4 | Partial | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10.7 Lion | | | | | | 10.7.4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10.8 Mountain Lion | Patch | | | | | | 10.8.4 | Unofficial | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10.9 Mavericks | Patch[Note 2] | | | | | | | 10.9.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10.10 Yosemite | | | | | | | | 10.10.2 | Unofficial | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 10.11 El Capitan | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 10.12 Sierra |  | Patch | | | | | | | 10.12.4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 10.13 High Sierra | | Patch | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 10.14 Mojave | | Patch | | | | | | 10.14.1 | 10.14.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 10.15 Catalina | | Patch | | | | | | | | 10.15.3 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 11 Big Sur | | Patch | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 12 Monterey | | Patch | | | | | | | 12.4 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 13 Ventura | | Patch | | | | | | 13.4 | — | — | ||||||||
| 14 Sonoma | | Patch[Note 3] | Patch | | | | | | | 14.3 | — | |||||||
| 15 Sequoia | | Patch[Note 4] | Patch[Note 5] | Patch | | | | | | | | 15.3 | ||||||
| 26 Tahoe | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Boot Camp Assistant allows Intel Macs to dual-bootWindows. Apple silicon Macs do not support Boot Camp, even with ARM-based version of Windows 10 and 11.[52]
| OS release | Early/Late 2008–Mid 2009 | Late 2010 | Mid 2011 | Mid 2012 | Mid 2013–Early 2014 | Early 2015–2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows XP[Note 1][53][54] | | | | | | | |
| Windows Vista 32-bit[Note 2][53][54] | | | | | | | |
| Windows Vista 64-bit[Note 2][53] | | | | | | | |
| Windows 7 32-bit[Note 3][53][55] | | | | | | | |
| Windows 7 64-bit[Note 4][53][56] | | | | | | | |
| Windows 8 [Note 5][Note 6][53] | | | | | | | |
| Windows 8.1 [Note 7][57][56] | | | | | | | |
| Windows 10 [Note 8][58][56] | | | Patch | | | | |
| Release date | Model | Processor |
|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2025 | MacBook Air (13-inch, 2025) | Apple M4 |
| MacBook Air (15-inch, 2025) |
| Timeline of portable Macintoshes |
|---|
 See also:List of Mac models |
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