MacBook Air Mid-2011

The Apple MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.7 13" (Mid-2011/Thunderbolt) is equipped with a 32-nm "Sandy Bridge" 1.7 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (2557M), which has two independent processor "cores" on a single chip, a 3 MB shared level 3 cache, 4 GB of onboard 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (not upgradable after purchase), 128 GB or 256 GB of flash storage, and an Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 384 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with system memory.

All of this is housed in a razor-thin (0.11-0.68 inch), 2.96-pound aluminum case with an integrated "FaceTime" video camera, a backlit full-size keyboard, and a 13.3-inch widescreen TFT LED-backlit active-matrix "glossy" display (1440x900 native resolution).

Connectivity includes 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, dual USB 2.0 ports, analog audio out, an SDXC card slot, and a new "Thunderbolt" port. This port is backward compatible with Mini DisplayPort and supports an external display at 2560x1600 while also passing an audio signal. Thunderbolt also supports other peripherals using the Thunderbolt standard, which provides up to 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions. It lacks internal Ethernet (an external USB adapter was a US$29 option) and also omits Firewire and optical audio in/out.

In comparison to its predecessor, this model has a very similar external enclosure, though it adds the aforementioned Thunderbolt port, a backlit keyboard, and is slightly heavier. Internally, however, it features a faster processor, architecture, and RAM, along with improved wireless capabilities.

This model was a huge step forward, replacing the aging Core 2 Duo with a much faster Sandy Bridge Core i5 processor. The performance difference was night and day, allowing the 13-inch Air to confidently handle more intensive tasks. The backlit keyboard made a welcome return, and the high-speed Thunderbolt port was a forward-looking addition. Paired with a higher-resolution screen and excellent battery life for its time, the Mid-2011 model was widely regarded as the point where the MacBook Air evolved from a niche ultraportable into a powerful, all-purpose laptop for the masses.