Just in case it wasn’t clear enough, here’s Apple spelling it out: “No More MacBook Air”
Apple’s phasing out of the MacBook Air has officially begun, with Apple removing the 11 inch version of the ultra-thin, aging laptop, leaving only the 13 inch MacBook Air available for purchase.
Supply of the smallest surviving Apple MacBook, and the only one without a Retina display, is expected to dwindle, as Apple continues to focus on its newer MacBook lines, like the 12 inch MacBook Retina, and the latest trio of MacBook Pro laptops with touch Bar.
Speaking of the latter, the 13 inch MacBook Pro is also, and unashamedly so, the designated “MacBook Air killer”, with specs that put the aging laptop to shame under every aspect, including weight and thinness, aside from sheer processing power.
Also, as mentioned earlier, with a 12 inch MacBook already featuring many of the innovative features and specs introduced in the latest MacBook Pro, spending $300 less to get a MacBook Air, doesn't seem like a smart long-term investment, when taking into account how much more one gets out of the 12 inch Retina model, unless budget is a rather big factor within a context in which buying a MacBook is almost necessary, such as in the case of college and university students, for which a MacBook Air still has a price tag accessible enough by Mac standards.
Those who were taken aback by the initial demise of the MacBook Air, may not have been paying attention to the last Apple keynote, when the company introduced the latest MacBook Pro, and compared the 13 inch entry level model to the 13 inch MacBook Air counterpart, in a way that almost felt like a MacBook Air “roast”, minus the friendly punch-lines.
Supply of the 11 inch MacBook Air is limited, effective immediately, which means that deals won’t last for long.
Something to think about for the future
While buying an 11 inch MacBook Air as a daily driver may not be wise, considering the alternatives, there is however one reason to own one of the last surviving 11 inch MacBook Air laptops: legacy.
The 11 inch Apple MacBook Air, while it may not look like it, has the potential to become a collectible item in the long run, for several reasons. For one, it is the last non-Retina MacBook ever made by Apple, as well as the last MacBook with a form factor smaller than 11 inches, other than being is the last MacBook featuring a MagSafe connector. These features make the 11 inch MacBook Air a bridge between two very distinct eras in Apple’s modern history. Very rarely in the history of Apple, have we seen so many radical changes in the technology that powers a MacBook, which makes the gap dividing the 12 inch MacBook Retina and the 11 inch MacBook Air, as big as the gap between the PowerMac G4 and the Apple Mac Pro.
In this context, suddenly, the MacBook Air could turn out to be a very good long term investment after all, if anything, for future generations of Apple fans.
Ready to shop?
Looking for a great Mac laptop but the budget is tight? The Apple MacBook Air, is still a great choice for students and entry-level users.