13-inch MacBook Air

Bottom Line

Once the pretty underachiever of the Apple family, the MacBook Air has matured as the years have gone by, and experts now say that the 13-inch MacBook Air is powerful enough to act as an everyday computer despite its diminutive size.

Performance

The MacBook Air has more than enough power for most users. With a dual-core 1.8 GHz Core i5 Intel Ivy Bridge CPU, 4 GB of RAM and a blazingly fast 128 GB solid-state drive, the 13-inch MacBook Air is more than capable of handling everyday computing tasks with aplomb. The improved graphics capabilities of Ivy Bridge let you play modern 3D games, but you'll need to tweak the graphical settings in order for recent titles to run smoothly. A step-up version (*Est. $1,500) ups the storage to 256 GB. Apple does allow for some user upgrades (more powerful processor, more memory, etc.), at a price. If that's something of interest, it bears noting that the higher-end configuration offers a wider range of upgrade options than the base model. If you're looking for even more power, experts say the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (*Est. $2,200 and up) is the best high-performance Apple notebook available, complete with discrete Nvidia graphics and a jaw-dropping high-resolution display (2,880 by 1,800 pixels).

Ergonomics

The MacBook Air travels light and feels great. Experts rave about the 13-inch MacBook Air's backlit keyboard and glass trackpad, and at around two-thirds of an inch thick and less than 3 pounds, you'll barely notice the notebook when you have to carry it around. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities help on the road, but you'll need to pick up a separate adapter if you want an Ethernet connection. The lack of an optical drive annoys some reviewers, but only mildly.

Design

A reference design ultrabooks aspire to mimic. The wedge-shaped, all-aluminum design of the MacBook Air is iconic -- and recently patented. Above-average stereo speakers and a 1,600-by-900-pixel display add to the allure. Experts say everything about the MacBook Air screams high class.

Support & Reliability

Apple has a strong reputation for quality. Users report that Apple products rarely break down but, if they do, the company's support staff is friendly and helpful. Any Mac owner can bring their notebook in for free help at a Genius Bar with a reservation. Phone support is limited to just 90 days after purchase, which lags far behind industry standards, but the notebook itself is under warranty for a full year.

Value

The 13-inch MacBook Air hits the sweet spot for value in the Apple lineup. Experts say this notebook is the one most buyers should get, as it delivers plenty of power, a decently big screen and enough storage space even in the 128 GB base configuration that you won't feel constrained. A $100 price drop in mid-2012 makes it an even more attractive proposition, though some reviewers note that Windows-based Ultrabooks are starting to rival the MacBook Air's capabilities at lower prices, albeit without Apple's best-in-class battery life, keyboard and trackpad.

Reviewers also say it isn't worth upgrading if you already own a MacBook Air with 2011's Sandy Bridge Intel processors, as the Ivy Bridge refresh brings only an incremental performance upgrade. If you can deal with a smaller screen and hard drive, budget-minded shoppers might want to consider the 11-inch MacBook Air (*Est. $1,000 and up). Experts say the base model delivers roughly the same amount of performance as this 13-inch variety, but for $200 less.