The 2011 MacBook Air addresses nearly every concern anyone could lob at its predecessor. It's still light on ports, the missing SD slot on the 11-inch model is a drag, and no, it isn't cheap, but this machine is fast, efficient, and not to be underestimated.
Read the full review →Heads up! A newer version of this product is out!
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Conclusion: We like it
If you need the absolute smallest, slimmest, lightest mainstream laptop, the 11-inch Air belongs on your short list. However, at sizes this small be prepared to sacrifice a little battery life and performance. And then there's the matter of the pretty cramped 11-inch display. For our money, the 13-inch Air has a better balance of screen real estate and longevity, and is worth the extra money. But if every millimeter and every ounce counts for you in a fully capable portable computer, the 11-inch Air can't be ignored.
Critic reviews
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If you're looking for a small, fast MacBook and don't mind paying a higher price for superior design and performance, the 2011 11-inch MacBook Air is flat-out the fastest ultraportable we've ever used.
Read the full review →If you like thin and light ultraportables, the MacBook Air continues to be one of the best options around.
Read the full review →The 11-inch MacBook Air adds a backlit keyboard and faster Core i5 processor to one of the sleekest ultraportables on the market.
Read the full review →With the 2011 refresh, Apple has managed to keep the remarkable form, but also add some internals that make this more than just a rich person's plaything. Now, the Air is an excellent day-to-day laptop, and one that we think most people will find more than adequate for their needs.
Read the full review →In the end, the 11-inch MacBook Air is a worthy update and an excellent ultraportable. It provides more than enough oomph to handle most people's everyday needs.
Read the full review →Its styling and build are unrivalled, it has plenty enough performance for everyday computing, it'll at least half a working day on battery, and the improvements to MacOSX make it a lovely system to use. ... Many competitors are getting close but right now the Air is still flying high.
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ArmpitOfDeath
The 11-inch is perhaps when the Apple construction method of the Air makes the most sense. It's the smallest and therefore the most appropriately rigid (especially bearing in mind that once this particular variety of aluminium bends, it is pretty much bent for ever), and they've done an excellent...
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GeekOfComedy
The finest computer I've ever used to date. It just hits the point of a laptop, a computer is all about the specs, a laptop is the balance between specs and being a laptop and this goes both ways. It's a power house and it's PRETTY!... PRETTY GORGEOUS!
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tcapote
I have the Mid 2011 11" unit with the i7, 256gb SD, 4GB. FAST unit. I really like the portability of this unit without sacrificing performance. I am running Fusion with Windows 7 vm's and performance is spectacular. If you need high performance and high portability, this is the unit! Sandy Bridge...
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geneyus
The MacBook Air 11" delivers what you expect in the size & form factor it comes in. It isn't a spectacular performer and lacks a LOT of ports that power users come to expect, but this isn't what it was designed for. The MBA 11" is designed PRIMARILY for portability and it does that job very...
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RohanBhade
The MacBook Air was always billed as the worlds thinnest notebook and it came with a drool quotient that surpassed its Pro siblings. However, initial versions packed an underclocked chip, a slow hard drive and SSD options were prohibitively expensive. Apple corrected some of the missteps with...
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falleninsea
Over all I really do love this device. I tried the 13inch model thinking the additional real estate would be a nice upgrade from my previous 11inch air. The overall speed noticeably better than the previous model, the back light keyboard is a nice addition. The addition of the thunderbolt is...
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Jamdog30
There is little to say apart from the Sandy Bridge upgrade being an absolute monster compared to the core 2 line of cpus. The Lion OS is definitely different in regard to the multi touch bit but overall a real upgrade.
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jleasure
I bought the Mac Air as a replacement for a PC Netbook. I needed something I could take to meetings and still have the full functions of a computer. I also wanted a light weight and smooth user interface. The Netbook was a clunky design and was long in connecting to wifi and became hot quickly....
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BizLifeGuru
The best laptop I have every own and I have had at least 13 in my life!
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Avengelist
I initially bought this for my wife, as she needed something small and light, and did email and internet. It's a "fight for it" device now, as I find it can handle some moderately taxing photo editing business, and I don't have to drag the "beast" ( a 4 year old Acer) around the house. It...
Read the full review →How it stacks up
Instantly compare the Apple MacBook Air 11-inch (mid 2011) side by side with some of the top devices on gdgt!
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Other Apple laptops / portables
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Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina… 92 from $1899 -
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (mid 2012) 95 from $1129 -
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina… 90 from $1419 -
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (mid 2012) 88 from $1112 -
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (mid 2012) 90 from $1709
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