MacBook Air 2017: DON’T BUY Until You Read My Experience

We always have a dream to buy Apple products whether it is a MacBook Air 2017 or MacBook Pro, iPhone X or iPad but when one of the dreams comes true, ya 🙂

I bought Apple MacBook Air 13 inch which price in India after student discount on the showroom price is Rs65,000 but when you buy the MacBook Air 13 inch 128gb from online it cost me Rs49,999 from Flipkart in the Diwali offer.

Now Apple has launched the MacBook Air 2018 with the lots of changes, you have to check it out how is the comparison between the MacBook Air 2018 vs MacBook Air 2017 to understand which one is right for you.

In this review, I am covering all the important information about MacBook Air 2017 edition, take a look at the best gaming laptop under 1 lakh to make sure they are competing with the Macbook Air.

MacBook Air 2017: Specification

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Model Number – A1466

Processor – Intel Core i5 1.8 GHz

RAM – 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 (2 slots 4×4)

Graphics – Intel HD Graphics 6000 1536MB

Hard Disk – 128GB or 256GB SSD

Display – 13.3” (1440 x 900) non-retina

Keyboard – Smooth Chiclet backlit keyboard with an Ambient light sensor

Webcam – FaceTime HD Camera up to 720p

Ports – USB3.0x2, Audio Jack, Thunderbolt, Card Reader

OS – MacOS Sierra

MacBook Air 2017: Overview

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MacBook Air 2017 weights only below 2 kg, it is lightweight and easy to carry even it is so lightweight that Times of India newspaper Sunday edition has more weight than this laptop.

In India, it comes only with the one color variation which is the default – Silver. However, you can be customized it by purchasing MacBook air skin.

MacBook Air 2017 has two variants 128GB and 256GB SSD, and rest are the same specification. Compare to the MacBook Air 2015 vs. 2017, and the 2017 processor has been upgraded to 1.8GHz with the turbo boost up to 2.9GHz, the custom option you can be expended to 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 up to 3.2GHz speed.

In MacBook Air 2015, it comes with 4GB ram, but in 2017, Apple have double the memory to 8GB 1600MHz.

Let me split other specification into their points:

MacBook Air 2017: Battery

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The in-build lithium-polymer battery provides up to 12 hours of battery backup and up to 30 days of standby time as they claimed for the MacBook Air 2017. However, my own experience says when it comes to the continuing work, the battery backup regularly down to 6-8 hours of normal usage like browsing in chrome with the few tabs opened.

Pros:

• When it is in standby mode, it gives more than 12 hours of backup
• The battery will not heat on average usage.
• Battery backup cycle is 1000 count, in previous models, it was 500 only.

Cons:

• In usage, Normal – 6-9 hours, Heavy – 4-6 hours
• It gets heat up quickly when doing heavy usages like video rendering or using an external webcam for recording.

Apps To Use:

1. Battery Health 2
2. Coconut Battery
3. Fruit Juice

Tips:

I read on many facebook groups and forums that all MacBook have a feature from lithium polymer to provide maximum battery life, I suggest you to keep plugged in your charger to the MacBook even the charging process is complete to 100%. This is not like the Windows Laptop which we have to unplugged and plug-in every time. To save your battery life we have to keep plugged in, however once in a month, you can fully be discharged it to 0% so the MacBook will calibrate the battery.

MacBook Air 2017: Hard Disk

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It has a 128GB and 256GB SSD drive variants. I bought the 128GB SSD variant but the total size I got after the Sierra was installed is 120GB size only which is not sufficient to carry apps, documents, music, and movies into one SSD.

So, in this case, either we have to customize the MacBook by installing more capacity of SSD drive from authorized MacBook service center or buy the MacBook Air 2017 256GB SSD variant. However, you can double the storage to maximum 512GB SSD.

I have done the speed test of the SSD drive. You can check the speed test image of my macbok air 2017 below:

You can do the same by installing the app “Blackmagic Disk Speed Test”. Note, if the app does not open after installing from App store, then open through Launchpad.

When upgrading the SSD from Apple service center, it cost you double than the market price. So buy the SSD for MacBook Air from online shopping sites or from the authorized local store.

MacBook Air 2017: Display

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In 2017 version of MacBook Air doesn’t have any changes like in 2015 version. They have the same size of the display screen which is 13.3” having a resolution of 1440×900 which records anything in under 720p HD.

Cons:

• No changes on display since MacBook Air 2015.
• Same old design.
• Can’t be used outside of the home or direct light contact like on garden or streets due to a non-retina display.

Tips:

1. How to clean MacBook display screen?

Ans. I use the soft microfiber cloth and Colin liquid to clean the screen. Spray the colin on a microfiber cloth and gently clean the macbok screen, don’t force or spray directly on the screen.

MacBook Air 2017: Keyboard & TrackPad

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Keys are very lightweight as Apple made for every MacBook editions. It won’t hurt your fingers after spending many hours on typing. MacBook Air keyboard function keys have up to F12 like as usual have to press FN + F1….F12 to command the functions.

The backlit in keyboard works by pressing the keys FN + F5 or F6. To be noted, if you are working where you have sufficient light, then you should power off the backlit, this will not reduce the battery backup.

The trackpad is very smooth and a large size of trackpad which is having a multi-touch sensor, support scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, four-finger sensor, browser back-forward sensor, double-tap and much more.

If you are coming from the Windows laptop background, then two-finger scrolling might be discomfort like me in the beginning but then it makes you a habit, there is no option I found to make it the one finger scrolling.

MacBook Air 2017: Webcam

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The facetime records at 720p HD resolution. I am not very happy with the macbook air camera quality in low light performance, I tried on room light but still not getting a clear video quality, and there are lots of grains in videos which is not easy for the opposite side viewers.

Question: How to turn on camera on Macbook Air?

Answer: You can use by default Facetime app or download the VideoPad Video Editor app for recording or Filmora Scrn

I am using the Logitech C920 Webcam for full HD for interaction and recording, but it cost around Rs8,500 which is quite expensive for the budget. I will review for Logitech C920 webcam soon in the future.

Macbook Air 2017: Ports

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It has two USB 3.0 ports, one MagSafe 2 connector, one thunderstorm, one headphone jack and one card reader slot.

MacBook Air 2017: Sierra

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MacBook Air comes with the Sierra OS after then you can update and install to the latest version. There are lots of debate on upgrading to the High Sierra, but as per my experience, I am stuck with the default Sierra.

MacBook Air 2017: Accessories

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There are lots of MacBook Air Accessories must have to buy and make your Macbook Air more comfortable. I have written the complete list of accessories below:

• Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard
• Logitech M235 Wireless Mouse
• Logitech C920 Webcam
• Philips SHL5000 Wired On-Ear Headphone With Deep Bass
• MacBook Air keyboard Skin (Aliexpress, Banggood)
• AmazonBasics Laptop Stand – Silver
• Cnct DP Mini Gold thunderbolt to VGA cable for External Monitor
• MacBook Air Laptop Sleeves
• Apple Mac USB3.0 Port Hub Power Adapter
• Transcend JetDrive Lite 130 128GB Expansion Card For Macbook air

Almost all the above accessories easily available in online shopping sites like Amazon, Banggood, Aliexpress, etc. You do not have to buy expensive original Apple products when you have an alternative product in less than the original price.

I have written the blog post for the Banggood India, you can read my experience on Banggood.

MacOS Sierra: Apps

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These is the top apps which I installed and using them.

• Bear App (Notepad)
• VLC Player
• Zapya (File Transfer to/from Mobile)
• Mediunic (Medium.com app)
• Evernote
• Trello
• Google Chrome & Mozilla Firefox
• Visual Studio Code
• MAMP
• ImageOptim (Image Compression)
• VideoPad Video Editor (Recording)
• FileZilla
• TeamPaper Snap (Screenshot)
• Foxit Reader (PDF Reader)
• The Unarchiver
• FruitJuice 2 (Battery Checker)
• InsomniaX (Avoid to display sleep)
• Skitch
• CCleaner
• Fanny

Questions & Answers:

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Q1. What is the difference between a MacBook Air 2015 and 2017?

Ans. I have written the comparison between both version in image format display below:

The rest of the features are same which are not mentioned in the above image.

Q2. Is Apple going to discontinue the MacBook Air?

Ans. The answer is NO. This news is spreading by the Rumors, and we do not have to listen to them. After MacBook Air 2015, everyone had said this is the last MacBook Air but in 2017 Apple has released a new MacBook Air 2017 with some upgrades.

Q3. Is Apple MacBook Air worth Buying?

Ans. I am writing here my experience of using MacBook Air. If you were buying a laptop for normal usages like for college or office works or gaming or programming, then go for MacBook Air up to 512GB SSD else for heavy usage like Video Editing, Android Studio, Photo Editing then thinks about MacBook Pro only.

Q4. Is a MacBook Air with 128GB sufficient for office use?

Ans. Maybe yes, I am using a Laptop for YouTube videos and web development.

Q5. Is the MacBook Air 2017 suitable for programmers?

Ans. If you want to do programming like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Nodejs, React, Angular and any other frameworks then yes but for Android and iOS programming, I would prefer MacBook Pro because the memory, storage, and processor are far better than MacBook Air. DO NOT see the minimum requirement of the Android Studio and SWIFT programming, always eyes on Recommended requirements.

Q6. I want to buy a MacBook Air from Flipkart. Is it safe?

Ans. I bought this MacBook Air from Flipkart in Diwali offer at the price of Rs48,990/-, the lowest price at that time. Flipkart and Infibeam are the authorized online retailer partner of Apple products, click here to see by yourself. When buying from Flipkart, make sure to purchase from this seller “RetailNet,” it is the official Flipkart seller.

I sold my HP DV6 Laptop in OLX at the price of Rs14,500, so you can imagine how lowest price I got the MacBook (14,500 – 48990) = Rs34,490/-:). I suggest you sell on OLX or similar sites for better price instead of local market or exchange offers.

Q7. Is there a MacBook best suited for gaming?

Ans. The simple answer is NO.

Q8. Is MacBook Air suitable for video editing?

Ans. I tried many video editing software for rendering like when I am recording for a YouTube through Logitech C920 Webcam, it started gets heating after a few minutes and then it becomes laggy while recording, the same when I am rendering the editing parts, It takes much time for the 5 minutes video, and the temperature goes up to 90 degree Celsius again lagging, so my answer to this question is NO. You should buy MacBook Pro for video editing and for heavy process and memory.

There are a couple of question always arise to our mind about buying expensive MacBook but you can ask me on comments below, and I will answer your questions.

Conclusion:

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For the programmers except for Android Studio, iOS development, Video, Photo editing but not limited to office, students and home users should use MacBook Air 2017. This is all my experience of using MacBook Air since last SIX months.