Annoyingly, this MacBook can still only connect to one external monitor (a limitation on the M1 MacBook Air as well). It sounds like a small boost, but I noticed (and appreciated) the larger real estate. The screen size also goes from 13.3 to 13.6 inches, thanks to slimmer borders around the display.

It's still an LCD panel stuck at 60 Hz, but Apple has bumped the brightness a smidge, and I had zero trouble reading the screen when I worked outside in my backyard. If you're coming from an older Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro, you'll likely most appreciate the new display. (No HDMI or SD card slot.) As someone who mainly uses a MacBook for writing, emails, video calls, and Netflix, the lack of ports didn't bother me, but it would have been nice. The new MacBook Air only has two USB-C ports, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and-thankfully-a MagSafe port for charging. It might share a similar look, but sadly, you won't get the same connectivity upgrade. At just 2.7 pounds, I tend to lift it with too much force because I'm not used to carrying around such a lightweight machine. (It's thinner and lighter than the 2020 MacBook Air too!) The new model now has the same boxy chassis as the latest high-end MacBook Pro models, which in my eyes gives it a more sophisticated look. Gone are the days of the signature wedge design on the MacBook Air. It's still no MacBook Pro, which has a nicer selection of ports and more raw power, but after all these years, the Air is still light, portable, and perfect for writing stories on the go.

The base MacBook Air now starts at $1,199 (you can still get the 2020 M1 MacBook Air for $999). With these upgrades comes the inevitable increase in price. The new 2022 MacBook Air actually offers more than the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, including a slick new design, a bigger and brighter display, MagSafe support ( yes, it's back!), and a 1080p webcam. But a decade later, I couldn't feel more different.

I always felt like I was settling for the Air-sacrificing some features I thought I needed for portability. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious whenever I saw another student carrying around a MacBook Pro. It powered me through four years of classes, internships, and a stint at my college paper. A store clerk pointed me toward the 11-inch MacBook Air and said, “It's light! It's portable! It's perfect for writing stories on the go!” He was right. I set a budget under $1,000 and was on a mission to find the perfect laptop for a soon-to-be journalism major. In 2012, I walked into an Apple Store to buy a MacBook for college with all of the money I earned from my summer job.

Apple store macbook 11 inch