MacBook Air (Intel-based)

MacBook Air (Intel-based)
Steve Jobs showing the first MacBook Air at Apple’s 2008 keynote address
DeveloperApple Inc.
Product family
TypeSubnotebook
Release date
  • January 29, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-01-29) (first model)[1]
  • March 18, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-03-18) (last model)
DiscontinuedNovember 10, 2020; 3 years ago (2020-11-10)
Operating systemmacOS
SuccessorMacBook Air (Apple silicon)
RelatedMacBook, MacBook Pro
Websiteapple.com/macbook-air

The Intel-based MacBook Air is a discontinued line of notebook computers developed and manufactured by Apple Inc. from 2008 to 2020. The Air was originally positioned above the previous MacBook line as a premium ultraportable.[2] Since then, the original MacBook's discontinuation in 2011, and lowered prices on subsequent iterations, made the Air Apple's entry-level notebook.[3]

The MacBook Air was introduced in January 2008 with a 13.3-inch screen, and was promoted as the world's thinnest notebook, opening a laptop category known as the ultrabook family. Apple released a redesigned MacBook Air in October 2010, with a redesigned tapered chassis, standard solid-state storage, and added a smaller 11.6-inch version. Later revisions added Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and Thunderbolt.[4] The Retina MacBook Air was released in October 2018, with reduced dimensions, a Retina display, and combination USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports for data and power.

The Intel-based MacBook Air was discontinued in November 2020 following the release of the first MacBook Air with Apple silicon based on the Apple M1 processor.

  1. ^ "Press Info – MacBook Air Now Shipping". Apple. January 30, 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  2. ^ "13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display review (2013)". The Verge. Vox Media. October 30, 2013. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Dan Ackerman (January 25, 2008). "Apple MacBook Air review – CNET". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "MacBook Air". Archived from the original on March 19, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.