The ultimate everyday notebook is better than ever. The Apple MacBook Air now features the latest Intel processors and graphics, faster flash storage, and a 720p FaceTime HD camera. All packed into a notebook that’s incredibly thin and light. With up to 60 percent faster graphics performance, it makes everything you do feel quicker and more fluid than ever. And the latest flash storage is up to 4x faster than a traditional hard drive, making MacBook Air remarkably responsive.

The MacBook Air with 13.3-inch screen (view larger).

 

Now with two USB 3 ports, a Thunderbolt port, and an SD card slot (view larger).

The MacBook Air also now includes both a high-speed Thunderbolt port and two USB 3 ports, enabling you to easily connect to external displays and a wide variety of high performance peripherals.

This version of the MacBook Air (model MD231LL/A) sports a 13.3-inch high-resolution display, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, 128 GB of flash memory storage, 4 GB of RAM, an SD card slot, and up to 7 hours of battery life (see full specifications below). It also comes with the iLife ’11 software suite, which includes the latest versions of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.

Key Features

Intel Core i5 Dual-Core Processing

The MacBook Air packs plenty of power thanks to the latest Intel Core i5 processor, which features a faster processor, more powerful graphics, and a memory controller integrated into a single chip. The third-generation dual-core Intel Core i5 has a 1.8 GHz speed, which can dynamically accelerate up to 2.8 GHz to match your workload thanks to updated Intel Turbo Boost Technology.

And with the Intel HD Graphics 4000 processor, you get up to 60 percent faster graphics. So the video you watch, the FaceTime calls you make, and pretty much everything else you do is smoother and more detailed.

The spacious, full-sized keyboard (see larger image).

High-speed Thunderbolt and USB 3 Ports

A high-speed Thunderbolt port allows the MacBook Air to transfer data at lightning-fast speeds and connect displays like the Apple Thunderbolt Display, enabling you to turn this highly portable notebook into a highly versatile workstation. And with two USB 3 ports, you’ll be able to connect the latest USB 3 devices and access a pipeline that’s up to 10 times faster than USB 2.

Because Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, you’ll be able to connect to a high-resolution display from the same port. Any Mini DisplayPort display plugs right into the Thunderbolt port, and you can also connect displays that use DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, or VGA connections with an existing adapter. You’ll also be able to include your display into a daisy-chained set of peripherals.

Flash Memory Storage

By replacing the standard spinning hard drive typically found in laptops (as well as desktop PCs) with flash memory, the MacBook Air delivers an almost instantaneous boot-up when you open the display, as well as faster application launches and snappier overall performance. Additionally, Apple has shed the enclosure that typically surrounds flash memory (usually about the same size as a standard hard drive), thus giving it a smaller footprint and helping to decrease the size of the MacBook Air.

Multi-Touch Trackpad

The Multi-Touch gestures in OS X make everything you do on MacBook Air more intuitive, direct, and fun. You can pinch, swipe or rotate images on the display screen with the brush of two fingers, or add more digits for a four-fingered vertical swipe to open Expose and quickly glance at all of your open windows.

Integrated HD FaceTime Webcam

You’ll be able to easily connect with friends, family, and business colleagues using the MacBook Air’s HD 720p FaceTime camera, which is integrated into the thin bezel above the display and features three times the resolution of the previous FaceTime camera. And with Apple’s FaceTime application, you’re not limited to video chats with other Macs–you can now make video calls to iPhone and iPod touch users.

Backlit Keyboard

The MacBook Air manages to fit a full-size keyboard that makes typing as natural as it is comfortable. And the keyboard is backlit, so you can type with ease in even the dimmest light. A built-in ambient light sensor detects changes in lighting conditions and adjusts the display and keyboard brightness automatically.

Specifications

• 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with a 1440 x 900-pixel resolution
• Up to 7 hours of wireless productivity plus up to 30 days of standby time
• 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processor (2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology; 3 MB L3 cache)
• 128 GB flash memory storage
• 4 GB installed RAM (1600 MHz DDR3; supports up to 8 GB)
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated graphics processor
• Built-in HD 720p FaceTime camera for video chatting
• Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
• Bluetooth 4.0 for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
• Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps) with native video output support for Mini DisplayPort plus DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI (requires adapters, sold separately)
• Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps; backwards compatibility with USB 2)
• Built-in stereo speakers along with omnidirectional microphone, headphone minijack
• Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.68 inches (WxDxH)
• Weight: 2.96 pounds

What’s in the Box

13.3-inch MacBook Air, 45W MagSafe 2 power adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord, printed and electronic documentation

Limited Warranty And Service

The MacBook Air comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a 1-year limited warranty, which can be extended to 3 years with the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Installed Software

At the heart of every MacBook Air–and every Mac–is OS X Mountain Lion, the world’s most advanced desktop operating system. Since the software built into every Mac is created by the same company that makes the Mac, you get a fully integrated system in which everything works together perfectly. OS X works with the processor in your Mac to deliver the best possible performance. Power Nap even takes advantage of the Mac hardware to keep the entire system up to date while it sleeps.

• OS X Mountain Lion (includes Mac App Store, Safari, Mail, Messages, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, Notes, Time Machine, FaceTime, Photo Booth, Game Center, iTunes, and more)

iLife helps you do more with photos, movies, and music than you ever thought possible. In iPhoto, you can browse, edit, and share your photos in stunning new full-screen views. Create epic Hollywood-style movie trailers from your home video in iMovie. And GarageBand gives you everything you need to make a great-sounding song–including tools for keeping your song in perfect rhythm and guitar and piano lessons.

• iLife (includes iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand)

AppleCare Protection Plan

Because Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and many applications, the Mac is a truly integrated system. And only the AppleCare Protection Plan gives you one-stop service and support from Apple experts, so most issues can be resolved in a single call. Extend the complimentary service and support on your Mac to 3 years from the original Mac purchase date with the AppleCare Protection Plan. You get direct telephone access to Apple experts for technical questions, and you get global repair coverage–including both parts and labor–for your Mac and select Apple peripherals.

Optional Accessories and Related Products

	45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter Need an extra adapter for home or work? The MagSafe 2 Power Adapter is held in place magnetically, so if someone trips over it, the cord disconnects harmlessly while your MacBook Pro stays put on your desk.
	Apple Thunderbolt Display The world’s first Thunderbolt display doesn’t just give you more pixels. It gives you more possibilities. Built-in Thunderbolt technology lets you connect as many as six devices through a single port and transfer data up to 20 times faster than with USB 2.0.
	Apple USB SuperDrive Compact and convenient, the Apple USB SuperDrive connects to your MacBook Air with a single USB cable and fits easily into a travel bag. It lets you install software and play and burn both CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.
	Time Capsule Time Capsule is the revolutionary backup device that works wirelessly with Time Machine in OS X Leopard or later. It automatically backs up everything, so you never have to worry about losing important files. It also doubles as a full-featured 802.11n Wi-Fi base station. Choose from 2 TB and 3 TB models.
	Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter The Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter lets you easily connect to a high-performance Gigabit Ethernet network. Small and compact, it connects to the Thunderbolt port on your Mac computer and provides an RJ-45 port that supports 10/100/1000BASE-T networks.
	Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter The Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter lets you connect an advanced digital monitor, such as the Apple Cinema Display, to your MacBook Air.
	Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter Use the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter to connect your MacBook Air to a 30-inch display that includes a DVI connector, such as the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
	Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter The Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter lets you connect a standard analog monitor, projector, or LCD that uses a VGA connector or cable to a Mac with a Mini DisplayPort.