Initially introduced as a "configure-to-order" upgrade for the MacBook Air "Core 2 Duo" 1.4 11" (Late 2010), the Apple MacBook Air "Core 2 Duo" 1.6 11" (Late 2010) was later established as a standard configuration. Apart from its processor, this model is identical to the MC506LL/A configuration of the 1.4 11" model, with both shipping with 128 GB of flash storage.
The system is powered by a 1.6 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (SU9600) featuring two independent cores on a single chip, a 3 MB on-chip shared L2 cache, and an 800 MHz frontside bus.
It includes 2 GB of onboard 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (upgradable to 4 GB only at the time of purchase, though the MC906LL/A configuration came standard with 4 GB), 128 GB of flash storage, and an NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor that shares 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM with system memory. Housed in a 2.3-pound, razor-thin (0.11-0.68 inch) aluminum case, it also features an integrated "FaceTime" camera, a non-backlit full-size keyboard, and an 11.6" widescreen TFT LED-backlit "glossy" display with a 1366x768 resolution.
Connectivity consists of AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, dual USB 2.0 ports, analog audio out, and a Mini DisplayPort that supports an external 30" display. It does not have built-in Ethernet (a US$29 external adapter was available) and also omits Firewire and optical audio ports.
This model utilizes the same completely new housing as its 1.4 GHz counterpart, featuring an 11.6" display and an "inertial" multitouch trackpad. Internally, it follows the same design principles: onboard RAM, no optical drive, and flash storage and battery cells not designed for user replacement. Apple emphasized that the flash storage architecture delivers "instant on" capability, up to 30 days of standby time, and enables a thinner design with improved battery life.