Joining the new 11-inch MacBook Air this afternoon is the 13-inch refresh. Right off the bat you’ll notice a faster 1.7 GHz dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and 128GB of storage headline the new models. Deciding between the entry level 11-inch MacBook Air and the new 13-inch is now a much more difficult decision.
To determine whether the you’re best suited for the 11 or 13-inch MacBook Air begins with deciding if you can survive with a 1.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2GB of memory and 64GB of flash storage. For those willing to splurge for the £999 unit, this decision is increasingly more difficult since it features the same 4GB of memory and 128GB flash storage as the £1099 13-inch unit. Thankfully, price is not the only difference.
The 13-inch MacBook Air, like its name suggests, offers the same 13.3-inch high-resolution LED display (1440×900 pixel) as its predecessor. Unlike the 11-inch model which comes standard with a 1.6 GHz Core i5 processor, you’ll receive a speedier 1.7GHz chip though built-to-order models will offer the same optional 1.8GHz Core i7 with 4MB shared L3 cache. You can now build an equally fast 11-inch MacBook Air.
Dimensions wise, the 2011 13-inch MacBook Air offers and identical footprint to the late 2010 model in height, width and depth. There is, however, a subtle change in weight which is now 1.35 kg instead of 1.32 kg, but don’t expect any noticeable differences when handling the unit. Like the 11-inch model, 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity, OS X Lion, Thunderbolt and Bluetooth 4.0 are now standard. Also, the FaceTime camera is not HD.
Though the 13-inch model offers a larger display, it also offers up to 7-hours of battery life, a 40 percent increase over the 5 hours of the 11-inch. However, both models feature the same 30 days of standby time. In terms of graphics chops, the 11-inch and 13-inch make use of Intel’s HD Graphics 3000 processor, but the standard 11-inch model shares 256MB of DDR3 memory while the 13-inch shares 348MB. A minor detail, but a difference nonetheless. It’s also worth noting the 13-inch model includes a SD card slot like the previous generation.
Whether you decide between the 13-inch or 11-inch MacBook Air today, both models feature the new backlit keyboard which includes built-in sensors that detect changes in the ambient lighting, adjusting both keyboard and display brightness automatically. Like the 11-inch models, the 13-inch MacBook Airs are listed in stock and dispatched within 24 hours.
So what will it be my friends? I’m strongly considering the £999 11-inch model myself, but I can’t help but think I’ll need the higher native resolution of the 13-inch.
Out Now | Apple | £1099 and up
