Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 Review: Excellent Laptop

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Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013: At First Glance

The MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 has always been a strong contender in the ultraportable space. Just a little bit bigger than the iPad, it offers an exceptional computing experience in a portable form factor.

Furthermore, it includes all of the features that MacBook Air fans have come to appreciate and love. However, there are a few aspects that are starting to feel a little boring and may use some work.

The laptop’s main improvements over its predecessor will have to be the new fourth-generation Intel Core processors and better battery life. However, just like other MacBook Air laptops and its predecessor (MacBook Air 11-inch 2012), it features similar designs.

Despite the fact that the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 comes with some significant improvements, it is still very affordable. Its starting price was $289.97 as of September 2021, when this review was written.

Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013: Design, Dimension & Weight

You will not be able to tell whether someone was using a MacBook Air 2012 or a MacBook Air 2013 from distance. This is due to the fact that they are practically identical in every way.

The only change is that the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 has a second microphone on the left side. The first MacBook Air was widely praised for its design when it was released in 2008, but it fell short in practically every other category.

It was a typical case of appearance surpassing function. However, in 2010, Apple released the MacBook Air 11-inch with substantially improved hardware and a design that was just as sleek and beautiful.

Three years later, it released the Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 with the same design. Therefore, like any other MacBook Air, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 has a wedge shape with an aluminum body.

The solid aluminum construction indicates a sturdy device, which is backed up by the display lid and the keyboard’s minimal flex. Speaking of the lid, there is an Apple logo on it, which glows up when you turn on the MacBook.

Furthermore, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 is cool to the touch and feels nice, thanks to its subtle texture. Also worth noting is how effectively the laptop’s aluminum body resists fingerprints.

Despite not featuring a Retina display, the display screen of the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 is still impressive. Like its predecessor (MacBook Air 11-inch 2012), it has an 11.6-inch display with an HD (1366 x 768) screen resolution.

The MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 screen has excellent color reproduction and besides that, it is also vibrant. However, the color quality drops dramatically when viewed off-center, so viewing angles are a bit disappointing.

Moreover, glare might also be an issue, as the glossy screen reflects light and isn’t bright enough to cut through even at maximum settings. Overall, the 11.6-inch display is unexpectedly adequate and large enough to provide a satisfactory computing experience.

The MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 features a full-sized backlit keyboard. The keys are Chiclet-style, as is typical of MacBooks, with plenty of space between them.

However, because of the laptop’s tiny design, key travel is limited. It is, nevertheless, adequate, requiring only the proper amount of pressure.

On the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013, users should expect a pleasant typing experience, as well as one that is silent. This is due to the fact that when the keys are pressed, they make a very quiet sound.

Those unfamiliar with Apple keyboards, on the other hand, will need to adjust their workflow significantly in order to master the unusual layout. The power button, for example, is actually a key located on the top right-hand corner of the laptop’s keyboard.

Furthermore, no dedicated Page Down, Page Up, End, Home, or Insert keys are available. However, the majority of these features can be accessed by pressing the FN and navigation keys together.

The trackpad on the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 measures 104 x 63.5 mm and is situated directly below the space bar. It’s smooth and enjoyable to use, just like the keyboard.

Performing multi-touch gestures such as three- and four-finger swipe and pinch-to-zoom would also be easy due to its enormous size.

The MacBook Air has never been known for its abundance of ports, and the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 is no exception. A Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 port are located on the laptop’s right side.

However, the left side houses another USB 3.0 port, a headphone jack, the MagSafe power dock, and dual-microphone ports. Unfortunately, there’s no SD card slot, something I strongly believe should be included.

For wireless connectivity, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 supports Bluetooth 4.0. Additionally, it supports 802.11ac, often known as WIFI 5 – it offers 1.3Gbps download speed and more reliable performance.

Moving on, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013’s HD webcam produced clear images with precise colors. Moreover, this webcam is embedded in the laptop’s upper screen bezel. 

The operating system for the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 is OS X Mountain Lion. You may, however, upgrade to OS X Mavericks for free.

Apple sells the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 with a one-year warranty and a three-year Apple Care warranty as an option. Therefore, users can have their laptops serviced over the phone or in person during the warranty period. 

In terms of size and weight, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 measures 300 x 192 x 3.0 -17 mm and weighs 1080 g. Comparatively, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S is similar in size but heavier than the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013.

Specifically, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S measures 297 x 203 x 17 mm and weighs 1360 g. It is worth noting that the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 has the same size and weight as its predecessor – Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2012.

In conclusion, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 boasts a beautiful design with an exceptional keyboard. However, just like any other MacBook, it comes with a limited amount of ports.

All things considered, I believe the laptop deserves a nine out of ten in this design review section.

Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013: Processor (CPU) Performance

Apple’s MacBook Air is among the first notebooks to include Intel’s Haswell-based 4th-generation Core CPUs. These processors promise a modest performance improvement as well as longer battery life.

Specifically, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 comes with two Haswell processors options. The processors include Intel Core i5-4250U or Intel Core i7-4650U processor.

Both processors are dual-core processors. However, the Intel Core i5-4250U features a 3 MB cache while the Intel Core i7-4650U features a 4 MB cache.

Additionally, the Intel Core i5-4250U has a base frequency of 1.30 GHz and a maximum frequency of 2.60 GHz. The Intel Core i7-4650U, on the other hand, has a 1.70 GHz base frequency and 3.30 GHz maximum frequency.

My review laptop came with the Intel Core i7-4650U processor, which is stronger and faster than the Intel Core i5-4250U. This is due to the fact that it has a higher clock speed (base and maximum frequency) and better cache memory.

Moreover, to test the processing capability of the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 I reviewed, I ran a Geekbench test. Geekbench is a CPU benchmarking program that runs several tests on a processor and records how long it takes for the tasks to be completed.

Additionally, the faster the processor completes the tests, the higher the score. On the Geekbench test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 got a score of 6,809 points.

Moreover, this score is higher than the category average of 5,923 points. Additionally, it is also higher than the score of 5,055 points achieved by the VAIO Pro 11. 

When compared to its predecessor, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 once again prevailed. Its predecessor, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2012 scored 5,239 points on the Geekbench test.

Finally, in this section, I will rate the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 a nine out of ten. This is because it offers multiple processor options and also performed better than its competitor and predecessor on a benchmark test.

Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013: Memory (RAM) Performance

The Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 comes with a single 1600 MHz LPDDR3 RAM slot and a standard memory of 4 GB. However, you can also get the laptop with 8 GB RAM, which is the maximum memory supported.

Unfortunately, just like previous models, the memory on the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 is soldered directly to the motherboard. As a result, you cannot remove the memory, neither can you upgrade it.

Therefore, if you want to purchase the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013, make sure you choose the one with the exact memory that you need. The MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 I reviewed came with 4 GB RAM.

Despite using 4 GB RAM, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 was still capable of light multitasking. As a result, I was able to launch 10 Chrome tabs while editing a document on MS word.

Performing these tasks concurrently wasn’t an issue for the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 as I didn’t notice any shuttering or lag. However, when I opened some memory-hungry applications such a Photoshop, I noticed the laptop began to slow down.

For determining the overall performance of the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013, I conducted a PCMark 7 test. PCMark 7 combines more than 25 different workloads into seven different tests to provide diverse perspectives on a system’s performance.

The PCMark test evaluates your system’s overall performance and provides you with a PCMark score. According to the results from the PCMark 7 test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 got a score of 4723 Points.

Comparatively, its predecessor, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2012 scored 3921 Points. Therefore, it performs better than its predecessor.

Additionally, when compared to one of its competitors (Lenovo Yoga 11S), the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 once again excelled. On the PCMark 7 test, the Lenovo Yoga 11S only managed to score 3728 points.

In conclusion, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 memory may not be upgradeable and may also be insufficient for most users. However, it performs better than its predecessor and competitor on the PCMark 7 test I conducted.

All these considered I will rate the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 a seven out of ten for the processor performance.

Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013: Storage Options & Performance

Just like its predecessor, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 features an SSD storage that supports 512 GB maximum storage capacity. My review laptop came with a 256 GB SSD.

256 GB of storage space should be quite sufficient for most users to save their important files, images, or videos. However, those who require more storage space could easily upgrade to the maximum storage capacity of 512 GB.

To test the storage performance of the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013, I ran various tests. Firstly, I conducted a CrystalDiskMark test, which measures the read and write speed of a system’s storage. 

According to the CrystalDiskMark test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 has a sequential read speed of 534.8 MB/s. Also, the laptop has a sequential write speed of 520 MB/s.

In comparison, its predecessor, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2012 has a slower sequential read and write speed. Specifically, on the CrystalDiskMark test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2012 recorded a 410.7 MB/s sequential read speed and 153.3 MB/s sequential write speed.

Moving on, I also carried out a file transfer test to further determine the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013’s storage performance. On the file transfer test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 copied 5 GB of mix-media files in 23 seconds.

Impressively, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 did this at a transfer rate of 221 MBps. This transfer rate is double the 99 MBps category average.

Additionally, the transfer rate was faster than the rate achieved by the Sony VAIO Pro 11 and Acer S7. The Sony VAIO Pro 11 recorded a transfer rate of 97.9 MBps, while the Acer S7 recorded a 196 MBps transfer rate.

In conclusion, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013’s storage transfer rate is better than most of its competitors. Therefore, it deserves an eight out of ten for this reason.

Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013: Graphics Card Performance

For graphics, Apple equipped the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 with an integrated Intel HD Graphics 5000 graphics card. The base GPU frequency of this graphics card is 200 MHz while the maximum GPU frequency is 110 MHz. 

As mentioned earlier, this is an integrated graphics card, therefore; it doesn’t feature dedicated VRAM. As a result, the graphics card and processor share the computer’s memory (discussed 2 sections earlier in this article).

Given that the graphics card lacks dedicated VRAM, don’t anticipate playing modern or graphic-intensive games on the laptop. However, despite not featuring dedicated VRAM, the laptop is still able to run some less graphical-demanding games.

For example, while playing World of Warcraft, the laptop achieved a frame rate of 48 fps. This is more than the 39 fps category average and the 30 fps achieved by the VAIO Pro 11.

Moving on, I also tested the graphics performance of the laptop using a 3DMark 11 test. 3DMark 11 is a benchmarking test for measuring the gaming capabilities of a computer.

On this test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 recorded a score of 1163 Points. Compared to its predecessor, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 performed far better.

Its predecessor, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2012 scored 619 points on the 3DMark 11 test.

In conclusion, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 may not be a gaming laptop but it delivered smooth performance on a gaming test. Also, it outshined its predecessor on a graphics benchmark test.

As a result, I’ll rate the laptop an eight in this aspect. 

Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013: Battery Life & Performance

A 38 Whr lithium‑polymer battery powers the Apple MacBook Air 11-inch 2013. Apple claims that, with this battery, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 can last 9 hours on a single charge.

As a result of Apple’s claim, I put the laptop on multiple battery tests. The first test involves repeatedly surfing the web via WIFI, while the laptop’s brightness is set to 40%.

Based on this test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 lasted 8 hours and 53 minutes – really close to Apple’s claim. The second battery test I conducted involves repeatedly playing a video on VLC until the laptop run low.

On this test, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 lasted 8 hours and 37 minutes. Comparatively, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 lasted longer than its predecessor which lasted only 5 hours and 25 minutes.

Also, it lasted longer than the Lenovo Yoga 11S which lasted 6 hours and 4 minutes.

Hence, in this battery test review, I will rate the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 a nine out of ten.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

With the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013, Apple has created a genuinely great computer. The laptop has an outstanding keyboard and strong CPUs, as well as long battery life.

There really isn’t anything about the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 to hate. However, a couple of additional ports would be helpful, but because this is an ultraportable laptop, that isn’t a major concern.

The only main criticisms I have of the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 are its display’s viewing angles and memory’s inability to be upgraded. Aside from that, the MacBook Air 11-inch 2013 is one laptop you should get your hands on right away.

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