I tried Apple’s new MacBook Air before release – it’s got a stunning surprise

THE MacBook Air has never been better – in fact, it’s in a class of its own.

I’ve been testing Apple’s new 2022 model and it’s genuinely mind-blowing.

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It was announced at WWDC 2022 earlier this year and is about to land in customer hands.

There’s so much to talk about, but the headline feature is that it boasts Apple’s new M2 chip.

But that’s not all: Apple has changed plenty about this powerhouse notebook.

The big surprise is just how stunning it looks.

After all, the MacBook Air has been around for years.

And its Apple’s most popular notebook, so you see them all the time.

But the new design is very slick, and the Midnight colour option on the model I tested is gorgeous.

There’s also a Starlight option that looks similarly pretty in the flesh (or rather metal).

Of course you can still opt for the more traditional silver and space grey options.

It’s also spectacularly svelte at 11.3mm thin and weighing just 2.7 pounds.

Apple says overall it’s 20% smaller than the previous MacBook Air.

The display is large (bigger even than the entry-level MacBook Pro at 13.6 inches), colourful, bright and very sharp.

Performance is spectacular – especially given the tiny design.

That’s in large part thanks to the new M2 chip.

If you’re an Apple fan, you’ll know that the company recently moved away from Intel processors – and began making its own.

The M2 is the second-generation of Apple chips, and it’s ruddy quick.

There’s a souped-up 8-core CPU, as well as GPU options right up to 10 cores.

It offers truly blistering pace and power: you can run multiple heavy apps – including Photoshop and Final Cut Pro – simultaneously, even with heavy 4K and 8K workstreams.

And if you’re just doing casual computing, you’ll basically never run into a performance roadblock.

For most students and professionals, the MacBook Air will do just fine.

But you can always splash a few hundred to upgrade to the more powerful MacBook Pro if needs must.

One of the best bits about the new MacBook Air is the switch to MagSafe charging.

Long-time MacBook fans will remember the magnetically-attaching quick-snap chargers of old.

They were dropped for a time, but are finally back.

It means you won’t drag your MacBook off the table if you accidentally tug the wire.

You also get two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, as well as a headphone jack.

The keyboard is as good as you’d hope: it’s easy to type on for long periods (handy when writing gadget reviews).

It also benefits from a full-height function key row, as well as Touch ID fingerprint scanning for authenticating purchases and logging in.

There’s a 1080p FaceTime HD camera on the front, and a surprisingly impressive four-speak sound system.

Battery life is seriously impressive.

The official promise is 18 hours, and I struggled to run it down in a day.

You’ll be able to use this as a work machine no problem, even as a power user.

It’s not a gaming laptop – certainly not for hardcore players who want all the latest titles – but Mac always struggles against Windows in this regard.

But more titles are supporting Mac over time, so it’s a fine option for casual players.

And generally, macOS trumps Windows in most ways – I use both daily, and the Mac experience is just smoother.

That’s especially true if you have other Apple gadgets, like an iPhone or iPad.

The MacBook Air has always been a cracking machine.

And Apple has somehow found a way to improve it in the two most significant ways: performance and design.

It’s never looked or worked better, which is amazing for such a mature gadget.

And it’s still very reasonably priced at $1,199 / £1,249.

If you’re a student you can shave another $100/£100 off that price too.

The Sun says: The MacBook Air at the greatest it’s ever been – a brilliant machine that looks the part and delivers where it matters. 5/5

• MacBook Air at Apple for $1,199 / £1,249 – buy here

All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.

Always do your own research before making any purchase.

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