MacBook Air 13-inch (2019): Review, Specs, And More

Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the MacBook Air 13-inch (2019). This sleek laptop was a popular choice back in the day, and even now, it still holds its own for many users. We'll cover everything from its design and performance to its display and battery life, helping you decide if it's still a worthwhile option in today's market. So, let's get started!

Design and Build Quality

The MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) boasts the classic Apple design that many of us know and love. It's incredibly thin and light, making it super portable for students, travelers, and anyone who needs to work on the go. The aluminum unibody construction gives it a premium feel and ensures durability. You can toss it in your bag without worrying too much about it getting damaged. The iconic Apple logo on the lid lights up when the screen is on, adding a touch of elegance.

One of the standout features is its weight. At just 2.75 pounds (1.25 kg), you'll barely notice it in your backpack. The dimensions are also quite compact, making it easy to use on cramped airplane trays or small desks. The available colors at launch were silver, space gray, and gold, giving you a few options to match your personal style. The hinge feels sturdy and allows you to open the laptop with one hand, a small but appreciated detail.

However, the design isn't without its drawbacks. The bezels around the display are thicker compared to the newer MacBook Air models, which can make it look a bit dated. Also, it still uses the older butterfly keyboard, which we'll discuss in more detail later, but it's worth noting that this was a point of contention for many users. Despite these minor flaws, the overall design and build quality of the MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) are still quite impressive, especially considering its age.

Display

The MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) features a 13.3-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels. This results in a pixel density of 227 pixels per inch (ppi), which means everything looks sharp and clear. Whether you're browsing the web, watching videos, or editing photos, the display provides a crisp and vibrant viewing experience. The Retina display also supports True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the color temperature of the display to match the ambient lighting in your environment. This makes the screen easier on your eyes, especially during long work sessions.

The color accuracy of the display is also quite good, covering close to 100% of the sRGB color gamut. This means that the colors are accurate and lifelike, making it suitable for creative tasks like photo and video editing. While it doesn't support the wider DCI-P3 color gamut found in some higher-end laptops, it's still more than adequate for most users. The brightness is also decent, although it could be brighter for outdoor use in direct sunlight.

One thing to keep in mind is that the display is glossy, which can cause reflections in bright environments. However, the high brightness and vibrant colors help to mitigate this issue to some extent. Overall, the display on the MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) is one of its strongest features, providing a sharp, vibrant, and color-accurate viewing experience that's perfect for both work and play.

Performance

Under the hood, the MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor. While it's not the latest and greatest CPU, it's still capable of handling everyday tasks with ease. You can comfortably browse the web, stream videos, work on documents, and even do some light photo editing without experiencing significant slowdowns. The base model comes with 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most users, but you can configure it with up to 16GB for improved multitasking performance. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 617 is fine for basic graphics tasks, but it's not suitable for demanding gaming or video editing.

The storage options range from 128GB to 512GB SSD. The SSD provides fast boot times and quick app loading, making the overall user experience snappy and responsive. However, the base 128GB model might feel a bit cramped if you have a lot of files or plan to install many applications. If you can afford it, upgrading to a larger storage option is highly recommended.

One of the biggest criticisms of the MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) is its use of the butterfly keyboard. This keyboard design was known for its shallow key travel and reliability issues. Many users reported that the keys would get stuck or stop working altogether. While Apple did make some improvements to the butterfly keyboard over time, it was eventually replaced with the Magic Keyboard in later models. If you're a heavy typist, you might find the butterfly keyboard uncomfortable or unreliable.

Battery Life

Battery life is one area where the MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) truly shines. Apple claims up to 12 hours of battery life for web browsing and up to 13 hours for video playback. In real-world usage, you can expect to get somewhere between 8 to 10 hours of battery life, depending on your usage patterns. This is more than enough to get you through a full day of work or school. The long battery life makes it an ideal choice for travelers and anyone who needs to work on the go.

The MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) also supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when needed. The included power adapter is compact and easy to carry around. Overall, the battery life is one of the strongest selling points of this laptop, providing excellent longevity and convenience.

Ports and Connectivity

The MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) features two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Thunderbolt 3 ports support data transfer, charging, and video output, allowing you to connect a wide range of peripherals and external displays. However, the limited number of ports means that you might need to use a dongle or adapter if you want to connect multiple devices at the same time.

The laptop also supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity. While the Wi-Fi performance is generally good, the Bluetooth version is a bit outdated compared to newer laptops that support Bluetooth 5.0. This means that you might not get the same range or stability when connecting to Bluetooth devices like headphones or speakers.

Audio and Webcam

The MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) has stereo speakers that provide decent audio quality. The sound is clear and balanced, but it lacks bass. It's fine for casual listening, but if you want to enjoy music or movies, you'll probably want to use headphones or external speakers.

The webcam is a 720p FaceTime HD camera, which is adequate for video conferencing and online meetings. However, the image quality is not great, especially in low-light conditions. If you need a high-quality webcam for streaming or recording videos, you'll probably want to invest in an external webcam.

Pricing and Value

When it was first released, the MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) was priced starting at $1,099. However, now you can find it at a much lower price. Whether it's worth it depends on your needs and budget. If you need a lightweight and portable laptop with good battery life and a Retina display, it's still a decent option. However, if you're a heavy typist or need more processing power, you might want to consider newer models with the Magic Keyboard and more powerful processors.

Final Verdict

The MacBook Air 13-inch (2019) is a solid laptop that offers a good balance of portability, performance, and battery life. The Retina display is sharp and vibrant, making it a pleasure to use for both work and play. However, the butterfly keyboard and limited number of ports are some of its drawbacks. If you can find it at a good price, it's still a worthwhile option, especially for students and casual users. But before you make the decision, consider your needs and explore some other options available.