MacBook Air 2019

The Apple MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.6 13-Inch (True Tone Retina, 2019) model is powered by a 14-nm "Amber Lake Y" 1.6 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (8210Y) with two independent processor "cores" on a single chip, a 4 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of onboard 2133 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM, and 128 GB or 256 GB of onboard PCIe-based flash storage. It also includes an "integrated" Intel UHD Graphics 617 graphics processor that shares system memory. Both the RAM and the SSD could be upgraded at the time of initial system purchase, but not later.

This is all housed in a slim, wedge-shaped aluminum case with an integrated 720p "FaceTime HD" webcam, Touch ID, a thin, backlit revised "third generation" butterfly mechanism keyboard, a large "Force Touch" trackpad, and a high-resolution 13.3-inch LED-backlit 2560x1600 (227 ppi) "Retina" display with True Tone technology.

The aluminum case comes in three color options—gold (pictured, left), silver, and a darker "Space Gray" (but no other colors)—and weighs 2.75 pounds (1.25 kg). Apple estimates the battery life to be 12-13 hours, depending on the task being performed.

Connectivity includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB-C connector), and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Compared to its predecessor, this MacBook Air looks virtually the same and has the same processor and architecture. However, the newer model features a higher-quality display (due to the aforementioned True Tone), a revised keyboard design for improved reliability, a slightly lower-powered battery, smaller custom-configured SSD options, some different identifiers, and a lower price point.

The 2019 model was a minor update, primarily adding a True Tone display for more natural color reproduction and featuring a slightly refined butterfly keyboard that used new materials intended to improve reliability. While the keyboard was a step in the right direction, many users still found it inferior to traditional designs. Performance remained identical to the 2018 model, which was a point of disappointment for some. The most welcome change was a lower starting price, which made the Retina Air more accessible, though it was largely seen as an incremental stopgap before a more substantial redesign.