Retina Display at Last
Replacing a lower resolution screen in the previous-gen MacBook Air is a gorgeous Retina Display, with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 and In-Plane Switching (IPS) tech to prevent washout when you're looking at it from extreme angles.
Excellent Force Touch Trackpad
Apple's Force Touch trackpad, now available on the MacBook Air, is the best, most precise touch pad I've ever used. Not only are your finger motions registered with extreme accuracy, but clicks are completely virtual—they're simulated by tiny vibrations called haptic feedback instead of a physical hinge.
Recycled Aluminum
The MacBook Air is made of recycled aluminum.
New vs. Old Bezels
Apple reduced the borders around the display to achieve a smaller chassis with the same size screen for the new MacBook Air.
New Vs. Old Height
The most striking visual change by far is that the laptop is now noticeably smaller than its predecessor both in width (11.97 inches vs. 12.8 inches), depth (8.36 inches vs. 8.94 inches), and weight (2.75 pounds vs. 2.96 pounds).
Optional Expensive Sleeve
Apple's new leather sleeve designed to fit the MacBook Air costs an eyebrow-raising $179.
Headphone Jack
On the right edge, the only port is a 3.5mm audio jack.
USB-C Only
On the right, you get two USB-C ports, each of which support Thunderbolt 3. There are no other type of ports available, so you'll almost certainly need an adapter if you have several older peripherals.
Fingerprint Reader and T2 Chip
The new MacBook Air comes standard with Apple's fingerprint reader. It doubles as the power button and recognized my print with 100 percent accuracy over several days of locking and unlocking the laptop.
Butterfly Key Switches
The MacBook Air now has Apple's unique butterfly-style switches. When struck, each key travels a far shorter distance than every other laptop key I've ever used.