Apple MacBook Air (Summer 2011) Review

The best thing about the MacBook Air's 2011 rehaul, according to Wired, is that with just a few tweaks, Apple has delivered a hugely improved product compared to the previous generation. The inclusion of Intel iCore CPUs give it twice the grunt as before, the backlit keyboard is back, battery life is good, and there's a Thunderbolt port to hand, although it still lacks an optical drive.

Expensive as it may be, the new 11-inch MacBook Air is a technological wonder. It's thin and light as ever, the display is gorgeous and the keyboard and touchpad are a pleasure to use, not to mention the extra grunt its Core i5 processor gives it. Computer Act!ve weren't too sure about the usefulness of the Thunderbolt port, though, and adapters for other connectors are expensive.

Value for money: 4 out of 5 points, "Gold"

The amount of computing power that the MacBook Air packs inside its razor-thin body impressed PC Advisor, who said that its combination of an SSD and Intel iCore CPU makes it a fabulous option for all kinds of users, from students to business types. Battery life is excellent, and the backlit keyboard is very comfortable to use despite the small size of this superb machine.

"Editor's Choice"

Unlike its first iteration, the 2011 MacBook Air is no longer a niche product and is perfectly capable of meeting most users' everyday computing needs. Both models offer unparalelled portability, superb battery life and jawdropping displays, with the 13-inch model offering a bit more grunt but the 11-incher being better value for money in MacWorld's opinion.

Although it's the cheapest offering in Apple's notebook lineup and it's as gorgeous and lightweight as ever, IT Pro thought the 2011 revision of the 11-inch MacBook Air was poor value compared to its 13-inch sibling and its larger screen, more capacious hard drive and longer battery life. Unless you really need the extra portability, the extra outlay is certainly worth it.

"Ultimate"

According to Expert Reviews, Apple's 11in MacBook Air is, quite simply, the best ultraportable money can get you. It's expensive compared to equivalent Windows notebooks, but its jawdropping display, unrivalled portability and superb battery life, not to mention its powerful Core i5 CPU and first class keyboard and touchpad, make it well worth the premium.

Value for money: "very good" (5 out of 6 stars), "Recommended"

PC Pro were pleased to see that Apple had addressed the issues of the 11in MacBook Air in 2011, and in doing so they turned this superbly slender and satisfyingly chic machine into a powerful performer too. For a laptop so small, it is still rather expensive, but the new processor now puts it in the league of executive devices, and it is cheaper than some alternatives.

Info: This product received the same score in this test most recent reviews in Wired.com.