The shape of the well-tried magnetic power socket used in many generations - called MagSafe - has been changed. There is one modification compared with the predecessor though. But our review of the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch 2010 is basically still valid. The smaller MacBook Air 11's lid makes a more stable impression and the base unit's pressure resistance is improved.

Merely the very thin display lid could be a bit more rigid. There was not really much to be improved anyway. Apple still relies on the extremely slim aluminum unibody case in matte silver. It is the third generation with this case. No differences are seen at first glance when the latest MacBook Air is placed beside its roughly one year old precursor.

So, everything has been left as it was, or maybe not? The other equipment: a 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, and 13.3-inch screen with a native resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. The cores are fired up to 2.8 GHz via Turbo Boost and both cores can be clocked with a maximum of 2.6 GHz simultaneously. It is Intel's dual-core i5-3427U with a default clock of 1.8 GHz in the preconfigured models. Like in the precursors, Intel's ultra-low voltage CPU is inside the latest model, but this time from the new Ivy Bridge range. We have the basic configuration of the larger two Air models in for review – the Apple MacBook Air featuring a 1.8 GHz Core i5. In any case, the new generation can now be ordered. Apple is virtually a latecomer with its new MacBooks. The CPUs made in a structure width of 22 nanometers called Ivy Bridge unleashed an avalanche of notebook innovations. The reason for the launch of a new MacBook Air generation - as always named after the market launch date: Mid 2012 - was of course the introduction of Intel's new mobile processors. The Air remains one of the thinnest and highest quality notebooks on the market, including some Apple-typical faults. The Americans have not changed anything about the fundamental orientation in the latest model. Since the Late 2010 generation, Apple's extremely thin subnotebooks made of an aluminum block have been experiencing a veritable triumph. In the shadow of the MacBook Pro 15 Retina introduced at the World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2012, the new MacBook Air almost played a walk-on role.

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