Apple introduces new MacBook Air models at WWDC 2013
WWDC isn't just about software, it's also about the hardware that powers Apple's esteemed software. To that end, Phil Schiller today took to the stage where he announced some welcome and exciting changes to Apple's MacBook Air lineup.
First and foremost, the battery life on Apple's new MacBook Air has increased dramatically. On the 11-inch model, battery life has gone up from five hours to nine hours. On the 13-inch model, battery life has increased from seven hours to 12 hours. Those are some incredible improvements, and something Schiller noted was the result of close collaboration between Apple engineers and Intel.
And speaking of Intel, the latest MacBook Air makes use of Intel's new Haswell processor. Schiller noted that Haswell is designed for power savings, while simultaneously offering impressive and improved performance. For instance, Schiller said that the new Air offers up to 40 percent faster graphics performance. What's more, the new Air can wake up from sleep mode in one second and can stay in standby mode for a whopping 30 days. Lastly, the new Air will feature 802.11ac networking, otherwise known as 5G WiFi.
When it comes to pricing, the base model 11-inch MacBook Air comes with 128 GB of flash storage and retails for $999. That's twice the storage at the same price. An 11-inch Air with 256 GB of flash storage will set you back $1199.
As for the 13-inch model, a configuration with 128 GB of flash storage will check in at $1099 while 256 GB will cost you $1299.
Even better, Apple's new MacBook Air starts shipping today.
