MacBook Air - 2016 vs. 2017 - worth the difference?

[TexGator98]

I need a new laptop - but price is an issue and not interested in used. So I've been looking at the MB Air's - I need the 256GB HD - so the current price difference is $130 between the 2016 and 2017 - and the only difference is processor - but unless I've read wrong, they are both still Broadwell processors - just 1.6 vs. 1.8 clock speed. So my question to the experts here - is that difference even noticeable? And if so, is it a big enough difference to pay an extra $130?

 

[Bubble99]

Properly more important than being bit faster is Apple will most likely unsupported older one before unsporting the new one. So you get more years of support from Apple.

 

[hallux]

Properly more important than being bit faster is Apple will most likely unsupported older one before unsporting the new one. So you get more years of support from Apple.

I THINK what you said is Apple is going to stop supporting the 2016 sooner than the 2017. I'd say that will be the case for one year, and the 2016 will lose HARDWARE support in 2021 if it follows the MBP timing (the 2012 is considered "obsolete" for hardware this year but it's still getting OS updates). That's 5 years down the road and I'd say by then the one year difference in age isn't going to make a difference.

 

[CatherineVeraGat]

I need a new laptop - but price is an issue and not interested in used. So I've been looking at the MB Air's - I need the 256GB HD - so the current price difference is $130 between the 2016 and 2017 - and the only difference is processor - but unless I've read wrong, they are both still Broadwell processors - just 1.6 vs. 1.8 clock speed. So my question to the experts here - is that difference even noticeable? And if so, is it a big enough difference to pay an extra $130?

For $130 more, you get a 0.2 GHz in processor speed and a extra year of hardware support from Apple (If it follows the MBP timing).

If you're keeping this device for UNDER 5 years, I won't worry about the extra year of hardware support.

But if your planning on keeping this device for MORE than 5 years, I would spend the extra $130.

 

[TexGator98]

Thanks - yeah I'm not as concerned about 5 years down the road - I'm only figuring to need this to last me 3-4 years.

 

[ZapNZs]

Buy the 2015 (technically the 2016 is actually a 2015.) In some cases it is several hundred dollars less. The 128 GB models have been routinely on sale for under $800. If it were me personally and funds were limited, I would try to find a 128 GB model for $750 or less, and purchase a 128 or 256 GB Transcend JetDrive Lite when I needed more storage.

 

[Boyd01]

Actually there is no such thing as either a 2016 or 2017 MacBook Air (according to everymac). They are just different versions of the 2015 MBA. Have never used a new one but I find it hard to believe anyone could notice the speed difference. If you want something faster, get the i7 2015 MBA.

Otherwise, if price is a concern, I would look at a refurb 2015 MBA which will save you even more.
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http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...book-air-core-i5-1.8-13-early-2015-specs.html

"On June 5, 2017, Apple quietly updated the MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.6 13" (Early 2015) with a modestly faster 14-nm "Broadwell ULT" 1.8 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (5350U). This model otherwise is identical to late configurations of its predecessor apart from some identifiers."

 

[derohan]

Actually there is no such thing as either a 2016 or 2017 MacBook Air (according to everymac). They are just different versions of the 2015 MBA. Have never used a new one but I find it hard to believe anyone could notice the speed difference. If you want something faster, get the i7 2015 MBA.

Otherwise, if price is a concern, I would look at a refurb 2015 MBA which will save you even more.
________________

http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...book-air-core-i5-1.8-13-early-2015-specs.html

"On June 5, 2017, Apple quietly updated the MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.6 13" (Early 2015) with a modestly faster 14-nm "Broadwell ULT" 1.8 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (5350U). This model otherwise is identical to late configurations of its predecessor apart from some identifiers."

Agreeeed! 2015 is the newest model (5th gen i5/i7) only change made was 8Gb RAM standard since then (a must)

 

[Boyd01]

only change made was 8Gb RAM standard since then (a must)

Well, not quite. As the OP stated, the current model has a 1.8ghz i5 processor and the original 2015 had a 1.6ghz. Otherwise they are identical.

 

[jdechko]

I wouldn't worry about when the 15/16/17 models are retired in macOS. Chances are that Apple will remove support at the same time for all 3 models, as they all use the same class CPU.

My wife has a mid-2010 MBP that will still be supported with 10.13. That's 7 years of OS updates for this machine.

 

[derohan]

funny that the retina macbook is a 5W cpu vs MBA's 15W and furthermore the graphics chip (iGPU) in the air wins the core count;48 vs retina macbook's 16 ^^ such a difficult decision with 16gb RAM as an option though with USB-C, hi res screen etc...

(macbook air gets soooo much run time)