At $899, the Apple MacBook Air 15in M4 is surprisingly affordable. Surprisingly, because Apple isn't really known for that, and MacBooks tend to be expensive purchases. However, with the looming switch off of Windows 10, Apple senses an opportunity to capture some new business – specifically, small businesses – and now might be the best time to invest in its latest laptops.

There's little change to the design, save for a fancy new blue color option, and most of the upgrade centers around that super M4 chip. Compared to the M4 Pro, there are a few drops in quality, and no Wi-Fi 7. But you can have the M4 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 256GB of SSD – or configure them up to 32GB and 2TB, respectively.

Apple MacBook Air 15in M4: Design

So the new color for the MacBook M4 is a very light, almost grey, sky blue. A very particular sky blue, like the lightest sky you have ever seen. And in truth, there are times it just looks grey. But in the right light, it's sky blue and we like it. We're talking about the color a lot because that is really the only change in design compared to the M2 and M3 models of MacBook Air.

In a way, this is good, as the M3 was beautiful, as most MacBooks are. The M4 Air is pretty in a minimal way, with little noise around the chassis and keyboard, and just that webcam notch the only blemish. The build quality is cool and ridged – there is absolutely no flex in the lid. It is also not very light at 1.5kg, not very Air-like, but then again it isn't exactly heavy; the 15in size is harder to get in a backpack, but you'll not notice it when you have slipped it in.

Apple M4 MacBook Air: Display

The 15in Liquid Retina display on the MacBook Air is bursting with quality. It has a 2,880 x 1,864 resolution, covers 100% of the DCI P3 color gamut in its default mode, and reaches over 500cd/m2 for brightness (512cm/d2 in our tests).

Color accuracy was also high; with our colormeteier, and measuring in the default color mode, we recorded the MacBook Air showcasing 98.7% for sRGB gamut color coverage. The scores were largely similar to the MacBook Pro, which is impressive. In truth, video quality is not as good as your best OLED screens – you don't quite get those inky blacks – but it is nonetheless a high-quality screen.

And yet, there are still complaints. Apple will never go for a touchscreen on a MacBook, not a massive deal, to be honest, but they can and should be upping the refresh rates. 60Hz on a screen in this day and age is criminal. This, a MacBook Air, with all its quality elsewhere, should be giving us at least 90Hz for smoother scrolling. We found this an annoyance going up and down spreadsheets and documents, where everything blurs if you go too fast.

Apple MacBook Air 15in M4: Keyboard and trackpad

Apple has made major changes to its keyboard since its butterfly-switch catastrophe a few years ago. So the keys on the M4 MacBook Air are largely the same as the ones on the M3 and M2 models – and that's a good thing really. All three models have great keyboards, so there's little complaint here at ITPro.

The trackpad is largely the same as on the Pro, in that it is rather big and also very good. Single finger taps, multi-touch gestures, and a refined forced feedback engine that lets you double-click and prod with ease. The whole experience is effortless and makes navigation simple.

Apple MacBook Air 15in M4: Specs and performance

As with the Pro, the most noticeable upgrade on the MacBook Air is the M4 chip. The CPU count is up from eight to ten compared to the M3, and there are four performance cores and six efficiency cores. The GPU core count is the same a the M3, but there is a performance improvement.

In Geekbench 6, the M4 Air produced stellar results, with 3,762 for single-core performance and 14,872 for multi-threaded performance. These are only slightly below the scores of the MacBook Pro, but way ahead of the M3 MacBook Air. Apple is far and away from other vendors here, with only the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 coming close to its multi-threaded performance.

When it comes to battery life, the M4 MacBook Air is better than the M3, but not by much. However, it isn't as good as the M4 Pro by a significant distance. In our looped video test, the MacBook Air lasted 15hrs and 39mins – almost five hours off the MacBook Pro.

Apple MacBook Air 15in M4: Features

The M4 MacBook Air supports a range of features, and we will start with the standard stuff. Only Wi‑Fi 6E (not 7 for reasons unknown), and Bluetooth 5.3. There's a MagSafe 3 charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack. You get two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports with support for charging, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s) USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s).

Getting to the more advanced stuff, you have Apple Intelligence, the company's AI engine. On a laptop, as we found with the Pro, there are some handy features to enjoy here – though nothing much different from your average copilot. The writing tools feel like the best application (so far) as they are genuinely useful, helping with proofreading and summarisation. The former is on par with tools like Grammarly, while the latter is slightly less annoying than Google's Gemini.

Siri has also had a brain boost, as it seems a little bit cleverer; you can use a quick type search bar in the upper right of the display and learn new things quicker than clicking and typing in Google.

Ever more useful is the fact that you can now connect up to two external 6K monitors while continuing to use the MacBook's display – if you recall, the M3 model could only do so if you closed the lid. So that's a real improvement.

Apple MacBook Air 15in M4: Is it worth it?

The first question to ask yourself (or your business) here is what do you want the Air for? If you're a new business with a fondness for Apple hardware, the Pro, though more expensive, is the better laptop (longer battery life, Wi-Fi 7, slightly faster). And it feels more like a work machine, too.

That being said, the Apple MacBook Air M4, with its larger 15in display, is a smashing machine. It looks good (the blue is swish), it has a nice keyboard, it's fast, and the battery life is decent. Prices start at $899 (£899), which is surprisingly affordable.

Apple MacBook Air 15in M4 specifications

As most IT departments know, Apple MacBooks are highly sought-after laptops. Even in this age of NPU-powered Windows machines, the mighty Mac still holds great appeal in the office.

And, the MacBook Air, with its slimmer chassis, is a lightweight option for those who roam. It comes with fewer port options but it's great for those who work remotely or move around different workspaces in the office. Our review unit has a 13.6in display, the Apple M3 chip with the 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage – those can all be configured to suit, for a higher fee.

Apple M3 MacBook Air 13.6in: Design

MacBooks seldom change in appearance and there isn't much to get excited about here, aside from a new shade of navy, called 'Midnight', which is rather lovely. But visually there isn't much difference between the M3 and M2 models of MacBook Air.

The overall build is as good as ever with a recycled aluminium chassis and a pleasingly stiff lid. It's the first Apple product made up of 50% recycled materials, which is good. However, you can't upgrade it – there's no easy access to replace any parts, so it's not all that eco-friendly. It is, however, a very slim device with just 11.3mm thickness when closed and it's light at 1.24kg – perfect for a rucksack.

Almost all of the new design elements are on the inside, such as the M3 chip and support for Wi-Fi 6E. The keyboard, trackpad, and display are all largely the same as the M2 MacBook Air. It's the same iconic design that we know and love.

Apple M3 MacBook Air 13.6in: Display

There's no real change to the display, either, as the M3 MacBook Air has Apple's 'Liquid Retina' panel, which is a fancy name for a quality IPS screen. It measures 13.6in diagonally, supports P3 color reproduction, and comes with a sharp 2,650 x 1,664 resolution. Sadly there is only up to 60Hz for the refresh rate which is dwarfed by most of its Windows-based rivals that are hitting 120Hz. It is also worth noting machines that use more vibrant OLED panels where you can get more from the display, for a lot less.

In our colorimeter tests, the MacBook Air showcased 97.1% of the DCI-P3 gamut, which is a high score and a testament to its stunning visuals – though other screens, such as the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16, make this look dull (101.9%). There is also less brightness here than the M3 MacBook Pro, though not enough to be concerned.

What is concerning, however, is the default color settings. Out of the box, the MacBook Air has "Color LCD" mode, which is the main one used by Apple devices. Here, the gamut is restricted to sRGB colors, making it duller than all the other setting options. But, if you switch to the actual sRGB profile, it does the opposite and offers a more vivid spread of colors. This is probably just a small oops that will be fixed in a future update and nothing to really put you off this model, but it's strange, all the same.

Apple M3 MacBook Air 13.6in: Keyboard and trackpad

You get a great keyboard experience on the MacBook Air, with nicely cushioned keys and decent travel. It suits those who type at high speed with its gently muffled clack and comfortable layout. The keys are all quite large and well-lit, so they're easy to hit. We're also big fans of the large power on/fingerprint reader in the top corner of the keyboard which works seamlessly.

The Force Touch touchpad is as good as ever – arguably the best around. Largely because it is so big and expansive, but also with its haptic feedback. You don't get a physical click here, but it somehow makes you feel like there is one. There's even the slight clack sound – it's just a nice user experience.

Apple M3 MacBook Air 13.6in: Specs and performance

In case you missed it, the main addition to the 2024 MacBook Air is the M3 chip. This is a 8-core processor, built with Apple's innovative 3nm manufacturing process. While that sounds impressive, the result is only a small bump up in performance from the M2 chip of the previous Air models.

In Geekbench 6, the MacBook Air hit 3,085 for single-core, and 11,715 for multi-core – again, impressive. Though it is slightly behind its rivals on multi-core performance. The Acer Swift 14 AI, for example, hit 13,029 with its 10-core Snapdragon X Elite chip. What's more, if you're looking for MacBooks for your workforce, it's worth taking a look at the M2 Air as it offers near similar scores and you can get it cheaper.

You also get the slightly better battery; in our looped video test the M3 Air lasted 14hrs, and 33mins, almost three hours behind the M2 MacBook Air. Admittedly, that is a minor decrease that doesn't necessarily translate to real-world use. Our review unit was put through its paces for a whole week and showed absolutely no signs of stress, offering barely a hum of strain while processing all we could throw at it – but that's an extra $100 for basically the same performance.

Apple M3 MacBook Air 13.6in: Features

One big difference with the M3 MacBook Air is a feature that lets you power two external monitors. You have to close the lid for this to work properly, which is annoying. However, the switch between the Air's display and the second monitor once that lid closes is rapid – you will struggle to find a Windows machine that can keep up.

The port selection on the MacBook Air could be better tough. You have a 3.4mm headphone jack and two Thunderbolt 4 slots on the left-hand side, next to the MagSafe power connector. That's it. If you want anything else you have to stump up the cash for the MacBook Pro and this is probably how they keep the Air so thin and light, but it is still a slight bugbear for us.

Apple M3 MacBook Air 13.6in: Is it worth it?

So, in summary, everything that sets the M3 MacBook Air apart from the M2 model equates to about $100 dollars more. That's a slightly faster processor, the ability to connect two external monitors and the dark blue color option – as good as it is, it makes the M2 MacBook Air look more appealing.

However, if your business has reached its laptop upgrade cycle – or you're a new business ready to kit out employees with an attractive machine – the M3 MacBook Air is light, snappy, and stylish.

Apple M3 MacBook Air 13.6in specifications

You may see the new MacBook Air and think you already know what to expect. It’s not going to be particularly fast, it’ll be overpriced for what you’re getting, and that money will be wasted on a design that rivals already match or exceed. Not only that, but this new MacBook Air is the bottom of the range, so anyone with any sense will go for the MacBook Pro anyway, and there’s certainly nothing here to worry Windows, Intel or AMD. In short, it’s a classic example of style over substance.

Except this MacBook Air isn’t. This one has the analysts buzzing. It has hardware vendors looking nervously at their release schedules. It’s shining a bright spotlight on the whole PC industry and platform ecosystem, and much of what you see isn’t pretty. This is a product that marks a new era on almost every front. It doesn’t just ask questions – it provides answers, chiefly in the form of Apple’s all-new M1 chip.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review: Specifications

We knew this was coming. Apple announced the shift to the M1 processor back in June 2020: the company was done with Intel CPUs, and would move wholly onto its own chips. This would be an Arm-based system-on-chip (SoC) design, integrating as much as possible onto one piece of silicon, packing a ridiculous number of transistors onto a 5nm die. It wouldn’t just be CPU cores, either – the M1 would include a GPU, memory controller, security controller, interfaces and even system RAM.

But this move from Intel to Arm is a huge gamble. Apple is essentially betting the future of its two-trillion dollar company on it. You might think this an overstatement, given that Apple’s market share of laptops is in the high single digits, but that massively underestimates where M1 sits in the Apple universe. This has to succeed. There’s no going back. M1 must deliver, on every front, in ways that the competitive platforms cannot. And although there’s a grace period during which developers will be frantically moving their apps to support the native M1 platform, this isn’t a multi-year transition. Customers must have workable solutions well before the higher-power version arrives in the spring.

What’s so special about the M1? Stripped down to basics, it sounds similar to the chips inside iPhones and iPads. An Arm-based device with eight CPU cores, four of which are high performance/high power consumption designed for intensive workloads, and four are “efficiency” cores designed for lighter-weight processes. Then there’s a 16-core neural engine that can do 11 trillion operations per second, along with two machine learning (ML) accelerators capable of a trillion operations per second. Graphical kicks come from either seven or eight GPUs, depending on which version you buy.

Add to this either 8GB or 16GB of unified system RAM. This isn’t on the core chip itself, but within the same die package. And it’s fully unified, meaning it’s shared between conventional CPU operations and the GPU processes, so data doesn’t have to be copied between two separate RAM systems. This unified design means you can’t buy a MacBook Air with more than 16GB of RAM, but note that the M1 is the first in a new range of processor designs. We fully expect future, higher-power solutions to deliver more cores, more GPU and more RAM.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review: Performance

Enough theory: what’s it like to use? In a word, fast. In two, stupidly fast. There’s a level of snappiness that you simply don’t see on other laptops. Open the lid and the desktop is already there. Click on an app icon to start it and it loads – Microsoft Excel takes about one third of an ‘icon bounce’ to get running. For sheer silliness, we tried loading some 57 apps at the same time – the entire macOS app platform, plus all of Microsoft Office, and Logic and Final Cut Pro, and Blackmagic DaVinci and a pile of benchmark utilities. It took around 15 seconds.

This makes it shockingly clear that despite ostensibly the Air not being one of Apple’s professional-grade devices, the Arm CPU core can absolutely handle a professional-grade workload. The unified memory architecture is incredibly rapid too, while the 1TB of disk storage in our MacBook runs to around 3GB/sec of read/write speed. Everything is turned up to 11 on the dial, and yet is still designed for minimal power consumption.

The benchmark results speak for themselves. We tested the M1 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM, and compared it against a five-month-old MacBook Pro with an eight-core Core i9 processor and 64GB of RAM, a two-month-old Mac mini with a six-core Core i7 processor and 64GB of RAM, and a 2013 Mac Pro desktop with a Xeon processor and 64GB of RAM, as well as to the M1 MacBook Pro. In all of our tests, the MacBook Air was at the head of the pack, but it was in the Geekbench 5 single-core tests where it really shone, demonstrating a 36.7% lead over the Core i9 MacBook Pro with an astonishing score of 1,724. A result of 7,476 in the multi-core test was similarly stonking, although the gap between it and the rest of Apple’s stable isn’t quite so broad here, with a lead of less than 5% over the i9 Pro.

In short, the M1 is very, very fast. Forget about the Air being Apple’s weediest MacBook - this machine can happily go toe-to-toe with Intel’s best laptop chips, and will crunch through even the most demanding workloads effortlessly.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review: Software compatibility

However, all of the CPU and other technical changes will come to nothing if the M1 doesn’t work with the software people want to run. To understand how this will shake out, we need to understand how Apple’s design will work in the developer community. We’ll cover the theory first, then the practice.

The first thing to understand is that the Arm core design of M1 can’t run Intel code by itself. There’s no Intel hardware compatibility here at all. Fortunately, Apple has two hugely important capabilities to hand. First, the developer community. Apple runs a tight ship regarding what can and cannot run on its platforms, whether that’s iOS, iPadOS or – to a lesser extent – macOS. There’s none of the long-term historical support for apps going back several decades that we have on Windows. But if an app for macOS has been written to the latest programming APIs and specifications, creating an M1 ARM version of the app should be relatively simple for the developer.

The phrase “relatively simple” is a moveable feast. You might expect smaller, lightweight apps and tools to move quickly, and that’s certainly the case. Yet even the big boys have their behemoths available in native M1 versions, albeit in early beta and pre-release versions for the moment. That includes Microsoft with the entirety of the Mac Office suite, while Adobe has an early release of Photoshop and Blackmagic Design has an M1 release of DaVinci.

As you’d expect, though, Apple leads the pack. The entire macOS Big Sur platform is native M1, as are its high-power packages such as Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. To be precise, the M1 version of the app is bundled together into something called a Universal Binary Package, which has both M1 and Intel code within it.

To get around the lack of Intel compatibility, Apple has developed Rosetta 2: a runtime platform that converts Intel x64 code into Arm code on the fly. Apple has history here – Rosetta 1 was part of the transition from PowerPC to Intel 15 years ago. Microsoft has a similar tech for the Windows 10 on Arm platform, again allowing Intel apps to run on the Arm core, but this is still only for 32-bit apps, with 64-bit support coming at some point (hopefully) in 2021.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review: x86 emulation

With that theory out of the way, it’s time to consider the effect of the Rosetta 2 emulation layer. Which is… virtually nothing. We simply didn’t notice it in operation. Granted, we can see the performance hit when we look at the benchmarks (around 25%, according to Geekbench 5), but this is to be expected.

The problem is that not all apps work using Rosetta 2. There are apps that clearly hang on by their fingertips to the Apple Intel platform, and these aren’t well behaved enough to run under Rosetta 2 in a convincing way. Videoconferencing apps, for example, appear to have been designed with the assumption that your device has a nuclear power station strapped to the back, given the way they rampantly consume battery power. Frankly, certain developers need to increase the quality of their code, both on Intel and now on M1.

Although there’s a hypervisor on the platform, Apple has no intention of allowing Rosetta 2 to act as a virtual machine running Windows Intel code. So the same capabilities that you have today on the Intel-based Macs – using a tool such as Parallels to host native Intel-based operating systems like Windows and Linux, for example – is simply not going to work. Microsoft might make a build of Windows 10 on ARM available to run in a hypervisor on the M1, but currently this is not how Windows on ARM is licensed.

Finally, we should touch on the ability to run iOS/iPadOS apps directly on the M1 processor. Don’t expect all apps to work – some need capabilities such as gyroscopes or GPS, and these aren’t supported on the M1. However, we found that a large portion of our existing library of iOS apps was available to download and run on the M1.

Clearly, developers must do extra work to make sure their apps take full advantage of the platform, but some have done this to great effect already. Others might not want to have their iOS app compete with their higher-priced macOS offerings, and a few might not want to offer an app on macOS at all. Perhaps they want to push users to the web-based experience for better advert monetisation and user tracking – expect to see social media companies resist the iOS-on-macOS capability. Playing Aliens vs. Pinball on the Air has been fun, though.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review: Battery

Battery life is both interesting and critically important. Apple claims 15 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback, compared to the 11 hours and 12 hours respectively for the Intel-based MacBook Air. And that’s despite both of the laptops having identical 50Wh batteries.

We first tested this using our standardised video-rundown test, looping a video with the screen set at 170cd/m2 and Flight mode switched on, and it reached a suitably strong 12hrs 15mins. Not the 18 hours Apple claims, so we switched to Apple TV – and hit the same figure. We suspect it would last closer to the claim if we dropped the brightness down, but note that we exceeded Apple’s figures for web browsing: here we got to 17 hours.

This brings us to one of the most significant differences between the new MacBook Air and Apple’s Intel-based Mac mini and MacBook Pro: the silence. No matter what you do on the Intel-based systems, the fans start whirring up almost as soon as your finger goes near the trackpad. The contrast with this new MacBook Air is deafening.

Despite the lack of active cooling, we saw little sign of real throttling, either – the Air maintained its full CPU performance for about ten minutes of maximum workload, and then gracefully declined about 15% over the next 20 minutes. A stark comparison to the poor thermal management and rather choked-off performance of the latest Intel-based MacBook Air.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review: Design, display and features

One thing that has remained precisely the same between this MacBook Air and the last iteration is the design. We’d be surprised if you could tell the difference between them just by looking, because we certainly can’t. The only detectable change is the screen, which now offers a wider palette – covering the DCI-P3 colour space rather than sRGB – and, as a result, more punch.

It’s still a 13.3in IPS panel with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, complete with True Tone technology and a peak brightness of 400cd/m2, and as ever with Apple laptops our technical tests couldn’t pick up any notable flaws. Rivals offer better colour accuracy, with an average Delta E of 1.87 and worst result of 4.49, but overall its colour handling is excellent.

But there are subtle changes, two of which benefit networking: the Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports are now USB 4 specification and the Air now supports Wi-Fi 6. It had no problem reaching 941Mbits/sec on our 802.11ax-based 10GbE infrastructure Wi-Fi testing rig, and when we plugged in a 10GbE adapter on Thunderbolt that hit the full 10GbE speed.

For those who criticise the lack of a design change, we say “so what”? In fact, we think this is a deliberate choice on Apple’s part. For its customers, M1 must be seen as “the same, only better”: more speed, more battery, more Wi-Fi, a better screen, but with the same look and operation. Given that the motherboard is smaller than the Intel version, Apple may have been tempted to increase battery capacity, but that also adds weight. When you’re already in the high teens for battery life (and somewhat hefty compared to rival ultraportables), it’s questionable whether that’s a good trade-off.

Sadly, the lack of physical changes extends to the 720p front-facing camera. It’s not as bad as some users make out, and the improvements in the video processing on the M1 silicon have definitely helped with how skin tone is handled, but there’s definite room for improvement here.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review: Verdict

All of which brings us to the question of whether you should leap in and buy this first-generation M1 hardware or wait for “M2”. There are reasons to wait, especially if you were hoping for a more radical redesign that takes advantage of reduced power demands and no fans. Note the lack of built-in 4G or 5G as well.

However, even with this first-stab device – and even with 16GB of RAM – the M1 has shone a stark, bright light on the whole industry, as well as the expected norms and rules by which it has been run for over a decade. Using this M1 MacBook Air, we have to remind ourselves that this is the low-end product of the new range, and the first version.

If you’re wedded to the Windows and Intel platforms then we understand your reluctance to move, but the combination of the M1 processor and macOS Big Sur makes that platform look stagnant and almost crippling in its backward-looking nature. Even if you’ve never bought a Mac before, the Air deserves your attention.

But what about the MacBook Pro? For us, the Air is the sweet spot. You can come to your own conclusions, but to our mind it doesn’t bring anything significant to the table in the way that it did when Apple was reliant on Intel processors. The lack of fan cooling in the Air isn’t an issue for most users, and we also suspect that the 8GB of RAM in the base model is enough too: our 16GB model performs much more like a conventional Intel-based 32GB product.

Apple made bold claims about its move to M1, and has delivered on every single one of them. It has used its world-class engineering to smash through the glass ceiling for performance of the Arm processor family. The M1 stands comparison with the best that the competition can deliver, Core i9 included, and this is only the beginning. Now can you see why the competition is worried?

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) specifications

After much rumour and anticipation, Apple has finally launched its own first-party processors, which have debuted in a range of updated macOS devices.

After launching the iPhone 12 last month, the company held another “One More Thing” event to show off the new hardware, which includes updates to the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini, all of which are powered by its all-new M1 chip.

Apple M1 chip

The Apple-built M1 chip is the first-ever personal computer chip built by the company in-house, and the announcement marks the first time since 2006 that new Macs will be powered by anything other than Intel processors.

The M1 is built on Arm architecture, and Apple says it’s the first PC chip built using 5-nanometer process technology. This eight-core chip also packs 16 billion transistors, the most ever in an Apple chip, and enhanced machine learning performance with the Apple Neural Engine.

Within the M1’s eight cores are four high-efficiency cores that save on power while still delivering "industry-leading" performance, and this comes at one-tenth of the power consumption of the current dual-core MacBook Air.

The M1 chip boasts many Apple-claimed records, including being the fastest CPU core in low-power silicon, the world’s fastest CPU per watt and the world’s fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer. Generally, personal computers require three or more chips for the CPU, I/O, security and other functions. The M1 chip can handle all these tasks itself, eliminating the need for three power-draining chips.

All this tech adds up to 3.5 times faster CPU performance, up to six times faster GPU performance, and up to 15 times faster machine learning than other personal computer chips, according to Apple. On top of the superior performance, the M1 chip also supposedly allows the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air to deliver about twice the battery life of previous-generation Macs.

The M1 chip also brings the Apple Neural Engine to the Mac lineup, supposedly accelerating the devices' machine learning (ML) capabilities by up to 15 times. This, Apple says, will enable the Mac lineup to deliver quick video analysis, voice recognition and image processing.

MacBook Air

According to Apple, the MacBook Air is the world’s best-selling 13in laptop, and the new-generation model aims to hold that title with significant improvements.

This starts with the new eight-core M1 chip, which Apple says makes it up to 3.5 times faster than the previous MacBook Air. The eight-core GPU also allegedly enhances its video performance, allowing it to process graphics five times faster for minimal lag. Machine learning should get a big boost with the Air’s M1 chip too, as the company claims it’s nine times faster than the previous MacBook Air. This will speed up a wide range of ML tasks, like facial recognition or object detection.

All told, Apple claims the MacBook Air with the M1 chip is faster than 98% of all PC laptops sold in the past year.

As we mentioned above, Apple says the M1 chip is also far more efficient. With the new chip, the MacBook Air delivers up to 15 hours of wireless internet browsing and 18 hours of video playback on a charge.

The MacBook Air promises plenty of other useful updates, including improved camera image quality with reduced noise, greater dynamic range and improved white balance; a more vibrant and true-to-life Retina display; Wi-Fi 6 connectivity; two Thunderbolt ports with USB 4 support; and a fanless design for minimal noise.

The MacBook Air comes in two base configurations - one with a 256GB SSD and a seven-core GPU, and one with an eight-core GPU and 512GB of storage. Both allocations feature 8GB of RAM as standard, which can be upgraded to a maximum of 16GB.

The 256GB configuration costs just $999 in the US and £999 in the UK. The 512GB hard drive pushes the starting price to $1,249 in the US and £1,249 in the UK. Education customers can get the MacBook Air for $899 in the US, but Apple hasn’t announced its UK educator pricing.

The MacBook Air is available for preorder now, and deliveries will begin November 17.

13in MacBook Pro

The all-new 13in MacBook Pro takes what the MacBook Air offers and kicks it up a notch to meet more specialized demand. Generally, the added functions meet the needs of graphic designers, audio and video editors or students studying in these fields.

The MacBook Pro starts with the same M1 eight-core chip as the MacBook Air which, according to Apple, makes it significantly faster than most other PCs on the market. With this new chip, Apple claims the MacBook Pro’s battery lasts 17 hours when wirelessly browsing the internet or 20 hours when watching videos.

The MacBook Pro also promises 'studio-quality' microphones for clearer audio, and improved image quality for video calls thanks to the M1's image signal processor. Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro features two USB 4-enabled Thunderbolt ports and a default RAM allocation of 8GB, which can be boosted to a maximum of 16GB at point of purchase.

The 13in MacBook Pro with a 256GB solid-state hard drive retails for $1,299 in the US and £1,299 in the UK. Bumping to the 512GB hard drive pushed the price to $1,499 in the US and £1,499 in the UK. For educators, the MacBook Pro starts from $1,199 in the US. UK educator prices aren’t available yet.

The MacBook Pro is available for preorder now, and deliveries will begin November 17.

Mac Mini

Folks who want laptop portability with desktop functionality may prefer the Mac Mini, a high-powered small-form-factor desktop.

The Mac Mini’s big update is the new M1 chip, and like the Air and Pro, Apple claims it's three times faster than its predecessor. This small desktop also apparently features six times improved graphics performance and 15 times improved machine learning compared to the previous Mac Mini. All this power comes in a package that’s one-tenth the size of the average desktop tower.

Other upgrades to the new-generation Mac Mini include an advanced thermal design to help it stay cool and quiet, support for dual monitors and Apple Pro Display XDR in full 6K, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.

The Mac Mini with a 256GB solid-state hard drive runs $699 in the US and £699 in the UK. Increasing the storage to 512GB bumps the price to $899 in the US and £899 in the UK. As with the laptops above, RAM starts at 8GB but can be increased to 16GB.

This tiny desktop is available for order now, and deliveries will start November 17.

The new MacBook Air arrives as the third updated model in Apple’s fan-favourite laptop line in as many years.

While the 2018 MacBook Air, along with the 2019 model that followed, introduced a handful of nice-to-have features such as the addition of a Retina display and Touch ID sensor, both were let down by their terrible keyboards, with Apple ditching the MacBook Air’s much-loved keys in favour of its “new and improved” butterfly mechanism. And we all know how that turned out.

With the 2020 MacBook Air, the bizarrely-flat and awkward-to-type-on butterfly keys have been binned, replaced instead by Apple’s new Magic Keyboard that, thankfully, is just as impressive as the company is claiming.

While this is undoubtedly one of the best things about the new MacBook Air, that’s not all this 2020 model has to offer.

Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: Design

The MacBook Air is no longer the thinnest and lightest 13in laptop around - the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook takes that crown with its skinny 0.99mm-thick chassis - but as its name suggests, it’s still backpack and laptop-on-knees friendly. The 2020 model measures in at 16.1mm thick, slightly chunkier than the 2019 model, and tips the scales at a perfectly portable 1.29kg.

There’s no major redesign to swoon over, but the MacBook Air boasts the usual premium build quality that we’ve come to love from Apple laptops, arriving as a sleek wedge of brushed aluminum that oozes high-end appeal. It’s available in Gold, Silver or Space Grey colour options; we’ve been using the former, and if we were allowed to leave the house, the rose-gold tint would definitely be turning heads down the local.

Open the lid and things are just as premium; the dark grey keyboard looks dramatic and crisp in contrast to the pale metal, and the (impressively powerful) speakers that flank it are subtle enough that they disappear into the chassis. The only major let-down design wise is the chunky bezels; we were hoping Apple would carry across the smaller edging introduced on the 16in MacBook Pro.

Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: Keyboard and trackpad

Here’s where things get exciting. The 2020 MacBook Air is the first in the lineup to boast Apple’s new scissor-switch keyboard mechanism, which arrives as a replacement for the butterfly keyboard that was not only uncomfortable to type on, but was prone to failing if it came into contact with dust.

Apple thinks it’s new keyboard design, which boasts 1mm of key travel and a pleasantly familiar inverted-”T” arrangement for the arrow keys, is so good that it’s called it the Magic Keyboard. While we’d usually scoff at Apple’s over-the-top marketing terms, we don’t think it’s far off in this instance; the new keys are a huge improvement over every iteration of Apple’s maligned butterfly keys, providing a comfortable, accurate, and impressively near-silent typing experience. Whereas we soon tired of typing on our 12in MacBook’s clicky and frustrating butterfly keys, we could type on the Magic Keyboard for days in comfort.

Another great thing about the MacBook Air’s keyboard is its function row of keys. While it seems crazy to be considering this a “feature”, we’re incredibly relieved Apple opted for a tactile row of buttons as opposed to the Touch Bar found on all of the models in the MacBook Pro lineup.

The Magic Keyboard also comes with a Touch ID sensor built into the power button. While we’d have rather seen Apple finally integrating Face ID into its laptop line, the teeny-tiny sensor means you no longer have to type in your password every time you leave your laptop for more than two minutes. It’s also handy for approving App Store and Apple Pay purchases.

Underneath the Magic Keyboard sits a generously-sized Force Touch trackpad that dwarfs that on our previous 12in MacBook. As long-time MacBook users we may be biased, but we think the trackpad delivers better responsiveness than any Windows laptop on the market, and we’re fans of Apple’s cleverly-implemented gesture controls that allow you to satisfyingly swipe your way around macOS.

Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: Display

The Retina display on the MacBook Air isn’t new to the 2020 model, but it is excellent nonetheless. The 13.3in 2560x1600 IPS LCD panel is pin-sharp, well-balanced and plenty bright, though with 400cdm/2 of brightness compared to the MacBook Pro’s 500, the MacBook Air isn’t quite as dazzling.

As with most LCD panels, the MacBook Air’s screen can be difficult to see in bright sunlight, which isn’t ideal for working in our non-existent garden. Rather, the display performs at its best at nighttime thanks to Apple’s TrueTone technology. This sees the display shift to a cool blue tone as the sun starts to set, making it easier on the eyes when you’re 11 hours into an eight hour shift.

Though we’re fans of the MacBook Air’s display, we’re not so keen on the frankly-terrible 720p webcam that sits nestled above it, that just like the webcam found on the 2010 MacBook Air, produces sub-par, noisy images. It baffles us, particularly given the size of the bezels that remain on the MacBook Air, that Apple continues to stuff a sub-par camera into its webcams. This feature, which Apple is endlessly upgrading on its iPhones and iPads, has become ever-more important over recent months too, given the growing number of Hangouts calls, Facebook Messenger get-togethers and Zoom quizzes we’re all attending.

Audio is great, though, with the Dolby Atmos-capable stereo speakers that flank the keyboard proving to be some of the most powerful on a laptop of this size.

Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: Hardware and performance

Under the hood, things are almost as exciting as that new keyboard. Apple has equipped its 2020 MacBook Air with Intel’s new 10th-generation processors ranging from the 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3 to the 1.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7.

The model we’ve been reviewing packs a 1.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, which comes paired with 8GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory as standard, but this can be configured up to 16GB at point of purchase - which we did.

As you’d expect, especially when you consider its £200 RAM add-on, the MacBook Air breezes through everyday tasks without a hitch; having multiple apps open no longer causes our MacBook to judder or freeze, though we do still experience seemingly unnecessary fan noise on occasion.

Though nippy, it’s by no means as powerful as the enthusiast-level MacBook Air, but with a single-core score of 1070 and multi-core score of 2,766 in Geekbench 5, it’s no slouch either, particularly compared to our 2017 MacBook which scored 761 and 1494 in the same tests.

In terms of storage, the laptop comes with a reasonable 256GB as standard, and for the first time on a MacBook Air, you can upgrade to a hefty 2TB. Though it packs a slightly slower SSD than the 2018 MacBook Air, in the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, the 2020 model achieved a write speed of around 1326Mb/s, and read speeds of 1208Mb/s.

Unfortunately, the lacklustre port selection can’t be pimped. There are just three ports in total on this machine; two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports for charging and data transfer, and a lesser spotted headphone jack on the right edge. This isn’t ideal for those with elaborate work from home setups, nor those who rely on standard USB-A ports and SD card slots; we were forced to buy a £79 USB-C dongle in order to hook the machine up to our external HDMI display.

Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: Battery life

One area where the MacBook Air doesn’t live up to its promise is in the battery life department. It’s not terrible, but it’s certainly not as world-beating as advertised; Apple says all models of the 2020 Air will run for 11 hours of web activity and 12 hours of video playback. We found it was more like, er, six.

We’re by no means power users, either. Typically, we’ll have just Safari, Slack and WhatsApp open at once, but it doesn’t take much tab-switching or GIF-sending for the battery on the new MacBook to rapidly drain. This is disappointing for a laptop of this calibre, particularly when compared to its Windows competition; the Asus ZenBook Duo, which also utilises Intel’s 10th-generation CPUs, lasted more than 10 hours by comparison.

Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: Verdict

Battery life disappointment aside, it’s never been clearer as to why the MacBook Air remains Apple’s most popular laptop. The 2020 model is the one we’ve been longing for too, particularly in this newfound era of working from home where a comfortable keyboard, desk-to-sofa portability and a clear, crisp screen are at the top of our feature wish-list.

Let’s just pray this penchant for endless Zoom calls soon comes to an end, otherwise we’re going to be forced to buy a standalone webcam.

Apple MacBook Air (2020) specifications

Apple has finally given in to fans' demands, releasing a slew of new updates to some of its most beloved products including the Mac mini and the MacBook Air.

The company took the wraps off its new devices at an event in Brooklyn, New York. The bulk of the event was dedicated to the new iPad Pro models, but many old-school Apple fans will be more excited by the re-launch of fan-favourite Mac devices. The MacBook Air, for example, was first revealed in 2008, but hasn't had a significant update for several years despite remaining one of the company's most popular notebooks.

Apple MacBook Air

The company has refreshed the MacBook Air at long last, adding some heavily requested features like a high-resolution Retina display and current-gen processing hardware. The new MacBook Air features a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor clocked at 6GHz, with a maximum RAM capacity of 16GB and up to 1.5TB of SSD storage. Like its other laptops, Apple has gone all-in on USB-C for the newest MacBook Air, and the redesigned chassis features two Thunderbolt 3 ports in place of the previous USB Type-A connector.

Apple has also borrowed features from its newer MacBooks, like the excellent butterfly keyboard and Touch ID support (enabled by Apple's T2 security chip) from the most recent MacBook Pro redesign. The speakers have been beefed up too.

One of the original MacBook Air's defining features was that it was unbelievably thin and light, so it's unsurprising that Apple has trimmed some of the fat from the MacBook Air. What is surprising is the fact that it hasn't trimmed all that much.

The newer MacBook Air weighs in at 1.25kg and 15.6mm thick - not all that much smaller than the 1.34kg and 17mm thickness of the previous model, despite the fact that this particular design has been around since 2010. In fact, the MacBook Air is ever-so-slightly thicker than the MacBook Pro - at its widest edge, at least.

The biggest difference is the retina screen, which now has a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution (up from 1,440 x 900) and a higher-quality panel, which supposedly features almost 50% more colour. The bezels have also been massively reduced compared to the last version, meaning the same 13.3in display can be fit into a smaller footprint. The new MacBook Air will start at 1199 inc. VAT, and is available for pre-order now, with shipping starting from next week.

Apple Mac mini

Elsewhere, the Mac mini has also had an update for the first time since 2014, adding desktop-grade Intel processors starting at four cores and moving up to six cores, with support for a maximum 64GB of memory. It has a brand new cooling system to maintain thermal efficiency and it even comes in a new Space Grey finish.

Connectivity has been boosted too, courtesy of four Thunderbolt 3 ports, 2 USB Type-A ports and an ethernet port configurable up to 10Gbe. The new Mac mini starts from 799 inc. VAT and will also begin shipping next week.

Apple iPad Pro

The biggest portion of Apple's event was devoted to the new iPad Pro. The company's flagship tablet has been totally redesigned; as with the iPhone X, Apple has ditched the home button and added an edge-to-edge display, although it sadly isn't an OLED panel.

Like the last generation, the new iPad Pro comes in two sizes. There's an 11in version, which maintains the same physical footprint as the previous generation but ups the size of the display, and the 12.9in version which does the reverse, keeping the same screen size but reducing its footprint. The thickness has also been fractionally reduced to 5.9mm on both models.

Amazingly, the seemingly less likely pre-release rumours were true as well: Apple has indeed switched from a Lightning port on the iPad Pro to a USB-C connection, allowing users to connect the iPad to storage devices, external displays, docking solutions and third-party chargers. This will likely make the iPad Pro much more attractive to businesses, although the question of whether the lack of a trackpad will prove to be a barrier still remains.

Unsurprisingly, specs have received an upgrade too, with Apple moving to its A12X Bionic chip as expected. This 7nm octa-core chip supposedly offers 90% faster multi-core performance over last year's A10X Fusion processor along with 35% better single core speeds and more capable graphics performance. The new models go up to a massive maximum capacity of 1TB too.

Creative tasks are still high on the list, and the Apple Pencil has been refreshed along with the iPad Pro. It now attaches magnetically to the side of the device (just like the Surface Pen) and charges wirelessly whenever it's attached. It also includes a new interaction method, where contextual actions can be performed by double-tapping the side of the device.

These upgrades will come in handy for designers, as Adobe Photoshop and Autodesk's AutoCAD software is coming to iPad. These aren't stripped back mobile versions, either - it's supposedly the full desktop experience, including all of the regular features.

The 11in version starts from 769, and the 12.9in model starts at 969. As with the other devices launched at the event, both models will be available next week.

Apple has launched two new MacBook Pros, a 13in and 15in, which are on sale in the UK now. The big new feature is the touchbar, which has replaced the function buttons, but battery life and graphics capabilities have also been increased, as has memory capacity.

Here we round up everything you need to know about the new MacBook Pro 2016.

MacBook Pro 2016 at a glance

• New MacBook Pro is on sale in the UK now
• Three options, 13in MacBook Pro, 13in MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and 15in MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
• Intel core i7 processor on 15in version, core i5 on 13in
• 15in MacBook Pro has up to 2TB storage, 13in MacBook Pro has up to 1TB storage
• 13in Touch Bar MacBook Pro UK price from 1,749
• 15in Touch Bar MacBook Pro UK price from 2,349

Apple MacBook Pro 2016 news

07/11/2016: Apple released its new MacBook Pro earlier this month, with some changes in its basic design and the introduction of a USB-C port.

The company faced criticisms due to this latter new feature, particularly due to the need for most users to buy adapters and carry them around, as the new port is not yet widely used.

While the previous MacBook Pro had a variety of ports, such as USB type-A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 2 ports as well as an SD card slot, the new model only offers users the USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports, meaning that users will have to buy adapters to use existing peripherals.

This has led to an outcry from disgruntled users and has forced Apple to drop the price of USB-C adapters, to stem the flow of criticisms and encourage customers to purchase the new MacBook Pro.

The prices of adapters have been dropped by up to half price, while third-party peripherals such as the 4K and 5K LG screens introduced last month, have seen a 25% drop, while SanDisk's SD card reader has seen a 40% price cut.

The new ports are not the only complaint relative to the new MacBook, which some users claimed is underpowered and has too little RAM (16GB).

Apple said in a statement: "We recognise that many users, especially pros, rely on legacy connectors to get work done today and they face a transition. We want to help them move to the latest technology and peripherals, as well as accelerate the growth of this new ecosystem. Through the end of the year, we are reducing prices on all USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals we sell, as well as the prices on Apple's USB-C adapters and cables."

The new MacBook Pro was launched at an Apple event called "Hello Again", which took place on Thursday 27 October.

31/10/2016: The classic Mac startup chime, which has been a feature of both dasktop and laptop Apple Macs for over 30 years, has been removed on the new MacBook Pros.

The chime is an indicator to the user that the computer has finished its initial hardware and software diagnostic tests successfully and is starting up. However, website Pingie first noted that it is missing from the latest MacBook Pros.

But, where one feature dies a new one is born. In this case, the MacBook Pros will start up upon opening the device's lid, whether or not it's connected to a power source. It will also start up when it's connected to a power adaptor either if the lid's open or if it's connected to an external display.

All three MacBook Pros 13in, 13in with Touch Bar and 15in with Touch Bar are available to buy immediately from 1,449.

Apple Hello Again: Live Blog

19:25: Out now!

Cook finishes up by saying that the MacBook Pro is out now!

Apple's releasing three models; a 13in Pro with no Touch Bar, and a 13in and 15in with the Touch Bar.

The non-Touch Bar model is available from Saturday, and the other two ship in three to four weeks, according to Apple's UK site.

Here's the UK pricing: 13in MacBook Pro (without Touch Bar) 1,449; 13in MacBook Pro 1,749; 15in MacBook Pro 2,349

And with that, the event is over. Thanks for following our live blog!

19:16: 10 hours battery life

Both the MacBook Pro 13in and 15in models have up to 10 hours of battery life, according to Phil Schiller. It's also 6.8 million times faster than the original Pro, he points out - it can do a year of the 25-year-old golden oldie's computing in less than five seconds.

18:52: 67% brighter MacBook Pro

The new MacBook Pro is 67% brighter and offers 67% higher contrast ratio than its predecessor, while offering 25% more colours.

Its SSD storage is 50% faster, and holds up to 2TB.

18:40: Apple scraps function keys for OLED Touch Bar

It adapts to the software you're using, for instance, letting you straighten photos, or offering a search bar when you land on a website.

It also comes up with typing suggestions:

18:40: New MacBook Pro

Here it is:

It comes in two models - 13in and 15in, and boasts a ForceTouch trackpad that's two times larger than previous generations.

18:30: MacBook 25th anniversary

This week amrks the 25th anniversary of Apple's first notebook - the Power Book.

Wanna have a look? Oh go on then...

18:28: Search Mac files with Siri

On MacOS Sierra, you can search for files with Siri, Cook reminds us.

18:23: Siri voice commands

Siri on Apple TV is getting better, too: it can understand questions like 'what other football games are on?' and will know what show to bring up if you say 'let's watch the Louisville game'.

18:16: Apple TV

"The future of TV is apps," says Cook, boasting Apple now has 8,000 TV apps.

But even more important is, Cook wants it to be the one place to discover TV shows and watch anything.

To do that, it's announcing a new app caled 'TV' (er, Tim, I think that one's been taken).

In TV's Watch Now, ou can browse by category - TV shows, movies, and more. It looks like Apple wants TV to be the new Netflix.

It lets you download iTunes movies or head to the Store for more content.

18:11: Apple Watch Nike Plus

Cook says the Nike version of the Watch 2 comes out tomorrow, which is great for sporty types (I wouldn't know).

18:05: Updates

Tim Cook starts out by detailing some new updates, beginning with the iPhone.

He says the "customer response has been very strong" to the iPhone 7 - important, considering Apple just experienced its first decline in 15 years.

Memories

A new feature on the iPhone 7 will pull out new photos everyday from your collection to remind you of cool memories, says Cook.

iOS 10

Cook says 60% of iPhone users are now on iOS 10, as compared to 1% of Android users on Nougat...

18:04: And here's Tim Cook! He says he spots "a few iPhones out there" in the audience.

17.57: After an accidental leak, Apple rather gave the game away yesterday when it posted images of its new MacBook Pro, all but confirming it will feature an OLED bar above the keyboard that replaces its normal function keys.

It's also very likely to feature Touch ID and will replace the USB port with a USB Type-C.

But we're about to find out a lot more... stay tuned!

Apple seems to have accidentally leaked pictures of its newest Macbook Pro, confirming that the laptop update will be announced later today.

The images were released on MacRumours and appear to have been inadvertently added to a page about Apple's latest operating system.

The pictures show the new Macbook Pro's keyboard, with an additional panel that seemingly replaces the physical function keys on a standard keyboard.

It would also include a fingerprint sensor - presumably so people can log into the computer without a username and password - and a touchpad that suggests it would use gestures or sweeps as is the case with the touchpad rather than keys to carry out actions such as lightening the screen, turning the volume up and down or controlling music with iTunes.

Although there's some speculation that Apple may have released the pictures on purpose to promote its new line on Macbook Pros, one analyst doubts this is the case with the Macbook Pro.

"The leaks are massively damaging as these companies want to have their 'wow moments' when products are unveiled, and an explosion of media coverage, rather than a more tepid response because the details are known in advance," said Ben Wood from CCS Insight told the BBC.

"But it seems to have become virtually impossible for any large company to keep new tech products under wraps."

24/10/2016: Hello Again: iMac won't launch at Apple Event

Apple' is expected to present its new series of Macbooks at an event on Thursday, 27 October.

Ming-Chi Kuo, of KGI Securities analyst, predicts that at Thursday's "Hello Again" event, Apple will introduce its new MacBook series, but not the new iMac, according to MacRumors.

Kuo's report suggested Apple will present a redesigned MacBook Pro and a 13-inch MacBook, which could be a MacBook Air.

He also believes Apple will place Intel's Skylake processor on Apple's MacBook Pro, as well as an oxide panel that ensures better display quality and energy efficiency.

The new MacBook series should also come with substantial changes in design, including an OLED touch bar, Touch ID sensor and the substitution of a traditional USB port with a USB-C port. According to the analyst, Apple could include a Type-C and MagSafe-like adapter.

Although Thursday could be the time at which Apple releases new MacBook models, iMacs might not be included in the event.

Although Apple is developing iMacs and Cinema Display, their shipping schedule is not imminent, hence Kuo is uncertain whether these products will be introduced this week.

The analyst believes interested users might have to wait until the first half of 2017 for these devices to be announced.

20/10/2016: Apple sends out invites for possible MacBook Pro launch

Apple's colourful invite to the upcoming Cupertino event on 27 October, sent out to press on Wednesday, may suggest something more significant than it first appears.

The word "Hello" has become a significant call sign for Apple since the release of the original Apple II in 1977. The 'hello' program was a feature on Apple DOS 3.1, which would automatically launch on boot and allow for program selection if the disk contained more than one title.

Fast forward to 1984, the cursive "Hello" featured in marketing materials, painted across the black and white screen of the Macintosh 128k. It was not until the release of the iMac that saw the use of 'Hello, (again)' featured once more in marketing campaigns, evoking nostalgia of the original Macintosh.

Importantly, Apple, who is particularly savvy when it comes to marketing, has used the word 'Hello' during significant shifts of company focus. With the recent press invite, users are once again expecting something big at the event in Cupertino.

Rumours are suggesting we will get to see the new MacBook Pro, but it may feature some significant changes, including a shift to USB-C and the scrapping of physical function keys above the keyboard in favour of an OLED touch bar.

Whatever Apple has planned, it is certainly creating some excitment.

19/10/16: Apple may launch a new MacBook Pro at a Cupertino event on 27 October, according to Recode, but another model pegged for release further in the future might not feature a USB port.

The new laptop to be unveiled later this month is rumoured to include an OLED touch bar above its keyboard, replacing the existing physical keys there.

It will be thinner and lighter, with Touch ID support to unlock the laptop with a fingerprint, according to 9To5Mac.

It may also swap traditional USB ports for USB Type-C ports. This is a smaller USB plug that could make the new MacBook thinner and easier to carry.

The OLED bar's functions could change according to what the user is currently using the laptop for, hence making the next MacBook Pro even more user friendly.

These drastic changes would come in the same year in which the company introduced the EarPods, headphones that work with the iPhone 7 by connecting through the Lightning port, removing the traditional headphone jack.

Apple might present a new MacBook Air and iPad Pro at the same event, and if so, it would come one day after an event at which Microsoft is expected to be introducing updated versions of its Surface Book and Surface Pro 4.

Following the release of its 12in retina Macbook in 2015, Apple is through to working on next versions of its MacBook Pro to be released in late 2016.

In this article we will be rounding up news, rumours about the 2016 MacBook Pros.

MacBook Pro news

15/06/2016: Apple's next MacBook Pros could be fitted with an OLED touch bars, new details suggest.

Last month, rumours emerged that Apple's is planning major revamp of its Macbook Pros, and may include, of all things, an OLED touch bar above the keyboard. It has already made for some stylish-looking concepts.

Now, code in the new masOS Sierra appears to corroborate those rumours further, as French site Mac Generation (translated by 9to5 Mac) reports.

Several new options are prefaced by the term "kHIDUsage_LED".

Among them is "kHIDUsage_LED_DoNotDisturb" an option that appears to suggest a dedicated LED Do Not Disturb button. The Do Not Disturb button can already be accessed via the Mac's notification settings, but having quick access to this function on an OLED display would make sense.

As well as this, other toggling options point to a camera on/off switch, caps lock, night mode, play and pause, rewind and fast forward, and data mode.

The OS also makes reference to biometric input methods, backing up another earlier rumour that a Touch ID fingerprint sensor would be coming to the new MacBooks.

Simply because the functions currently exist in the code does not confirm hardware is on the way. Although, previous discoveries have come true. In 2013, resources in the iOS 7 beta pointed to a biometric sensor for the next iPhone, which was realised months later with Touch ID in the iPhone 5s.

Having not been announced at Apple's WWDC 2016 briefing this week, the earliest we are likely to hear about Apple's shake up its MacBook line is in September, during its iPhone announcement.

13/06/2016: Concept renders show what new MacBook Pro could look like

Rumours have suggested that Apple will be using its keynote at WWDClater today to announce updates to certain members of its MacBook range, and thanks to graphic designer Martin Hajek, we now have an idea what they could end up looking like.

Back in 2015, Apple took the wraps off its reimagined, redesigned 12in MacBook. The result was a stunning ultraportable, with an all-metal chassis and the slimmest, lightest dimensions ever seen on an Apple notebook.

Apple is now expected to refresh its larger MacBook models - possibly including members of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air families - to incorporate these design values.

Martin Hajek (also known as @deplaatjesmaker) has produced 3D concept renders of the what a new 15in MacBook Pro might look like, based on the visual design of the 12in MacBook.

For the purposes of comparison, Hajek has pictured the new MacBook Pro next to the current Retina MacBook Pro, as well as the redesigned 12in MacBook.

Like the new MacBook, many of the ports on Hajek's MacBook Pro have been replaced with multifunctional USB-C ports, including the charging, Thunderbolt and USB ports.

However, while the 12in MacBook has only one USB-C port - meaning you'll need a splitter if you want to connect a USB drive and charge your device simultaneously - Hajek's updated MacBook Pro has a comparatively generous four.

Hajek has also opted to keep the 3.5mm headphone jack and an SD card reader, neither of which the 12in MacBook has.

While Hajek's renders are essentially speculation at this point, an updated MacBook Pro is a strong possibility, and will more than likely end up looking not dissimilar to these images.

We'll know more after Apple's WWDC keynote address, which you can read more about here.

Apple's next release looks set to be a brave redesign of the MacBook Air that features a single USB Type C port to make it ever smaller than previous models, a new leak by 9to5mac suggests.

New reports have suggested that the new MacBook Air could be released in 2015's first quarter. This follows news that Apple supplier Quanta Computer is recruiting for its production team, in addition to the 30,000 employees recruited to work on the Apple Watch during the same period.

The 12-inch MacBook Air, expected to sport a high-res Retina display, will be much thinner and narrower than either the 13-inch and 11-inch models, according to "sources within Apple". Meanwhile, features such as the keyboard, trackpad and speakers have also undergone significant redesigns in order to make this a reality.

The keyboard will spread across the entire width of the laptop, according to the site, with keys pushed closer together. This mean the MacBook can be narrower, with the trackpad made taller. The clicking function may also have been removed, which allows Apple to maintain the laptop's thinness.

Four speaker grills will allegedly be placed above the keyboard, and these will also act as ventilation in the absence of a cooling fan.

The number of ports will be scaled down significantly as a result of the smaller size, with just one USB Type C port on the left, removing standard USB ports, the SD Card slot and others.

The images on 9to5mac show the 12-inch MacBook Air in its "Space Gray" variant, with speculation suggesting the device could start shipping in mid-2015.

This article was originally published on 07/01/15 and has been updated multiple times (most recently on 13/01/15) to reflect new information that has become available since publication.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) will kick off later today in San Francisco, and there are plenty of rumours about what might be revealed.

CEO Tim Cook labelled 2014 as the year in which Apple would showcase "amazing new hardware, software and services", so what can we expect to see at Cupertino's biggest showcase?

iOS 8

Apple has all but confirmed iOS 8 will be showcased at WWDC.

Much of the speculation around iOS 8 has been centred on one of its apps called "Healthbook". Leaked screenshots have shown it appearing next to the other debutant apps called Preview and TextEdit. The app will be based on the design of Passbook and will include a number of tabs relating to various health categories. Healthbook will reportedly work together with the forthcoming iWatch, which 9to5Mac's sources claim is "well into development."

iOS 8 is likely to include split-screen functionality for the iPad, too. Users will be able to run two applications at once, similar to the "snap" multitasking features in the Microsoft Surface line. The ability to multitask is popular in business and enterprise, and put the Surface forward as a true laptop replacement. Apple is trying to go one further by providing developers with tools to design apps that can interact with each other when run simultaneously.

OS X 10.10

Apple has confirmed that it will show off the next version of OS X at WWDC, named Syrah. The update is expected to convert the look and feel of iOS 7 across to the Mac. The desktop OS will enjoy a larger presence at WWDC than iOS 8, according to Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac and will feature an end-to-end redesign.

For those worrying that their Mac might be turned into a glorified iPhone, Gurman says that Apple won't move too far towards iOS, instead taking the best features and designs from the handeld OS and importing it to desktop.

iPhone 6

Apple is expected to continue with its annual smartphone release cycle. A Taiwanese newspaper claimed that the next Apple range will be set for release in August.

The new models, according to the Economic Daily News' sources, will feature increased screen sizes (between 4.7in and 5.5in) to rival Samsung's Galaxy series. Though the newspaper's source is shady, the even-numbered iPhones tend to see redesigns, so it could be possible that an announcement at least will be made in June.

Apple customers are so sure that a new model will arrive soon that they have apparently stopped buying the iPhone 5s. Sales for the model are reported to be slowing as WWDC approaches. A survey by 451 March revealed that 40 per cent of Americans said that they would buy the next iPhone, compared to 33 per cent that said the same in 2012.

Straight outta' Cupertino

Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre will reportedly join Apple's board following the $3.2 billion acquisition of Beats headphones. The two will be taking executive roles at the company according to sources close to the company. Might they be making an appearance at WWDC 2014?

Apple TV

The television market has always been more of a hobby for Apple than anything. The last major update for Apple TV came in 2012 and competitors have seized on the opportunity: Amazon, Google and Western Digital have all released their own versions, making the set-top market highly competitive.

References to a fourth-generation Apple TV were discovered in iOS 7 configuration files, while analysts reckon that it will be released in the latter parts of 2014. Despite this, there are no concrete ideas on what the new version of Apple TV might look like: a set-top box, a USB or a whole television itself.

Re/Code reported that that WWDC won't be used to reveal Apple TV or preview any software for it, according to its sources. With the two new operating systems on the way Apple does have a lot on its plate. Perhaps the company is writing up a rain check to give Apple TV its own event?

iWatch

Apple has said nothing about the potential release of its own smartwatch but that hasn't stopped widespread reports. With Microsoft looking into wearables, and with Google announcing its Android Wear, it would be a perfect opportunity for Cupertino to trump its rivals and steal some thunder.

The iWatch is rumoured to be a companion to the incoming Healthbook app, recording biometric data like pulse, calories burned and steps taken that will be stored within the iPhone for analysis.

If Apple was considering the release of an iWatch, it is more likely that it will wait until the public release of iOS 8, which, if Apple follows tradition, won't be available until September 2014.

Retina MacBook Air

Despite Apple updating its Air line-up rumours still persist that a new model could be on the way. A Retina-enabled Air featuring a 12in high-resolution screen could be forthcoming, designed to phase out older models. The 13in MacBook Air will then be replaced by the Retina-enabled 13in MacBook Pro.

Whispers also suggest Apple will drop the trackpad in favour of optical sensors and new touch gestures. The model is also supposed to be feature a fanless processor design.

Connected home software

Sources recently told the Financial Times that Apple is gearing up to enter the smart home market, with plans afoot to launch a software platform that will allow users to control the heating, security and lighting systems in their homes with their iOS devices.

This information is based on a patent application Apple made in November 2013, which suggests the firm is planning to use location-based technology to activate/deactivate lights or security systems whenever someone enters or leaves a property.

With the likes of Google and Samsung already making a big play in this area, we wouldn't be surprised to see some news from Apple at WWDC about this later today.

Apple has introduced MacBook Air models with faster Intel Haswell processors and has also cut the price.

Rumours suggested Apple would release two new entrants into the MacBook Air line-up, but the "new" models turned out to be upgraded versions of the original range.

There are no significant exterior changes. However, the latest MacBook Airs now ship with a improved processor.

Processor speed of the Core i5 CPU has increased from 1.3GHz to 1.4GHz. Other hardware remains as standard: Intel HD Graphics, resolutions of up to 1440 x 900 pixels, 802.11n Wi-Fi, 4GB of memory and a choice between flash storage.

As well as the processing upgrade, each model has undergone a price cut. The 11.6in MacBook Air dropped from 849 to 749, while its 13.3in cousin fell from 949 to 849. The higher end, 246GB versions of the Air series have also seen price drops of around 100.

Configure-to-order options include a 1.7 GHz Core i7 with Turbo Boost, an upgrade to 8GB memory and 512GB flash storage.

The most expensive MacBook Air, following these cuts, is now the same price as the cheapest MacBook Pro (without the Retina Display).

The MacBook Air series has also seen an increase in its bundled software, upgraded entrants to the line will now include office applications Pages, Numbers and Keybone as well as iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband.

Apple has warned users that solid state disks (SSDs) in 2012 MacBook Air laptops could fail abruptly, and is offering customers free replacements.

MacBook Air laptops with 64GB and 128GB SSDs purchased worldwide between June 2012 and June 2013 could have the faulty part, Apple said.

A MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.1 has been made available to help users to determine if their device is affected by the problem. The firmware update is a 2.21MB download in size and requires OS X 10.7.5 or later to install.

The update tests the flash storage drive and determines whether the problem can be fixed with a firmware update.

Customers who have a faulty system that cannot be fixed with software can take their device to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorised Service Provider where they will be replaced without charge.

Users that have already paid for a replacement drive or repair may be eligible for a refund from Apple.

The latest Air laptops sporting Intel Haswell processors are thought to be unaffected.

The replacement program will be available for the next three years from the date users bought their faulty laptops. However, it will not prolong the original warranty period.

In the meantime, Apple recommends that users should not install any other updates to the operating system, or download any new applications.

Apple has released a fix for its mid2013 MacBook Air range to tackle three problems including a flickering screen bug, volume inconsistencies and Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

"This update fixes an issue that in rare instances may cause an intermittent loss in wireless connectivity, an issue with Adobe Photoshop which may cause occasional screen flickering, and an issue which may cause audio volume to fluctuate during video playback," the firm said in the release notes.

Users began to experience the flickering screen when the brush tool was set to over 100px in Photoshop, and it was suggested the issue was related to either a driver or the GPU.

Meanwhile, the Wi-Fi connection issue appears to be more widespread than Apple is making out. Several hundred users have taken to the Apple forum to share their problems and the thread has been viewed over 86,000 times.

Some users report that Wi-Fi drops out after a few minutes of connection and they need to restart their machine to fix the problems. Others report the signal still shows full strength but there is no connection.

This network issue appears to be related to the use of the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, which aims to boost connection speeds and bandwidth.

iOS 7 has been officially unveiled, silencing months of speculation and rumours about its release date.

The new Apple OS was unveiled during the keynote at the tech giant's worldwide developer conference (WWDC) in San Francisco today alongside many other updates to the company's iCloud, Mac and Safari portfolios among other things.

"iOS 7 has amazing new features and a stunning new user interface. It's the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the Phone... We are incredibly proud of all of these products. They are great examples of what Apple does best," Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, said during the WWDC opening keynote.

iOS 7 features a new user interface and enterprise-friendly features such as per app VPN, Apple confirmed today, reiterating that the new OS was the same but different. And much better. The iOS 7 SDK includes more than 1,500 new APIs for developers, according to Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

iOS 7 will be run on the iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad Mini and the fifth generation iPod Touch, Schiller confirmed.Other iOS 7-specifc features include a new colour palette and typography, layers, Control and Notification Centres, beefed up multi-tasking, AirDrop, an enhanced camera and photo management functionality and a new and improved mobile version of Safari.

A video featuring Apple design head design guru Jonathan Ive also gushed about the new OS and what it will offer both users and developers alike.

"Design is so much more than just the way something looks. Ultimately, of course, design defines so much of our experience. I think there is a profound and enduring beauty in simplicity, in clarity, in efficiency. It's about bringing order to complexity," he said.

"Even the simple act of changing your wallpaper has a very noticeable effect on the way your iPhone looks and feels across the entire system. Even though iOS 7 is new, it was important to us to make it instantly familiar. We wanted to take an experience people know very well and actually add to it to make it more useful, more enjoyable. It defines an important new direction and, in many ways, the beginning."

There is no doubt this latest version of the OS, which is available immediately for developers but not until the Fall for the general public, will divide opinion. It's radically different enough to mark a new dawn for Apple's OS, yet it may stray too far from what users have become accustomed to, according to experts.

"iOS 7 is easily the biggest news because it represents a massive overhaul of the look and feel of the operating system, which has remained largely unchanged visually since the original version," said Ovum chief telecoms analyst Jan Dawson.

"On the other hand, this is a clear statement from Apple that it acknowledges the need to refresh the user interface and is willing to do something pretty dramatic. Many of the new features Apple added to iOS 7 are fixes to problems rather than dramatic or clever new ideas Notifications, Siri, and Multitasking enhancements and the introduction of Control Center all deal with deficiencies rather than providing surprising new features no-one would have thought of," Dawson continued.

"The fact that iOS 7 isn't coming until the fall is a disappointment from a user perspective, but the delay is necessary to give developers time to rework their apps to take advantage of the new operating system and fit in visually."

The WWDC keynote wasn't just about the latest version of iOS. Apple also talked up the next generation Mac Pro which will be an eighth of the size of its older sibling and include beefed up features such as double the CPU performance.

"Can't innovate anymore, my ass," Schiller said when talking about the Pro's future.

A revamped MacBook Air lineup was also announced that promises to offer all day' battery life. The current 11inch MacBook Air will be transformed into an endurance machine that lasts nine hours instead of the current five, while the 13inch machine's battery life will get a boost from seven hours to 12.

Apple also took the wraps off a more intelligent Siri with expanded voice options and a made-over App Store, adding that apps will now be updated automatically rather than harassing the user to do so.

Take a look at our live blog from the keynote for the full breakdown of the latest Apple announcements.

Google is not short of money, success or users, but the firm is less used to failure. And that must make its boardroom an unpleasant place to be when Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt address the firm's continuing Chromebook project.

These diminutive laptops were meant to be Google's first big venture in PC hardware: sturdy, portable machines that combined fine ergonomics with an always-on, cloud-based OS. It was a system that should have exploited the firm's strengths, from its search technology and Chrome web browser to its Docs office suite and its mobile experience with Android.

But it is almost a year since the Chromebooks arrived, and the devices have so far -- not met expectations. Headlines dub them "the flop of 2011" and others claim that "sales [are] even lower than thought". These are laptops that retailer Dixons predicted would account for 10 per cent of its computer sales after a year on the market, but the latest numbers suggest that only 5,000 of these devices have been sold by Acer, and even fewer by Samsung. What went wrong?

Fundamental problems

The Chromebook is fundamentally a risk for businesses and, in many cases, its design is a double-edged sword. Instead of using Windows or another conventional operating system, these laptops use Google's cloud-based Chromium OS, with basic browsing and productivity apps included, but traditional software left out in the cold.

the platform's limited use, while disconnected, overrides everything positive about it

That makes Chromebooks fast, easy to use and easy to take out into the field, but the lack of Windows or other traditional productivity software has many drawbacks. Analyst Rob Enderle says the "very limited applications" make them "worse than netbooks" in terms of functionality.

And Patrick Moorhead, president of Moor Insights and Strategy, agrees: "the platform's limited use, while disconnected, overrides everything positive about it". Indeed, sister title PC Pro said the Chromebook's "reliance on online applications" put paid to the Samsung Series 5's prospects, with an infrastructure that was "currently too limiting" when compared to equivalent Windows machines.

Analysts and experts agree that the Chromium OS just can't cope with the range of uses demanded of a modern laptop. Reviews cited several specific aspects of Chromium as major problems, with the lack of a file system and a need for an always-on internet connection proving to be especially restrictive.

A question of business

Google pitched these "dumb terminal"-style machines at businesses, hoping their basic, always-on nature would appeal, and business software vendors -- including Ericom with AccessNow and Citrix with Receiver - signed up- - but more fundamental issues mean uptake has been slow.

DigiTimes has written that "Google Docs cannot meet the needs of enterprise users", and IDC analyst Al Hilwa has said that the total reliance on cloud-based applications is a big problem: "I expect cloud and offline services to be the prevailing norm for a long time to come". It is a view that confirms that machines not offering both of these types of functionality are, for now, doomed to suffer.

IT managers were not keen, either, at the prospect of having updates pushed out on a whim by Google, rather than managed in-house. In a time of recession, that is a disruptive and expensive change that many firms just will not want to make. And there is the fact that it is Google: Moorhead says that "enterprises don't trust Google with reliable, scheduled updates; they only need to look at Android, which is currently a mess".

A crowded market

Then, crucially, there is the competition. The trickle of Chromebooks appearing in the market has overlapped with a veritable torrent of Ultrabooks, and while these machines are more expensive, they are fully-featured laptops that offer MacBook Air-style luxury and Windows functionality, usually for sub-Apple prices.

It is easy to see why Ultrabooks have already gained so much traction. They are much quicker, for starters, with top-end models including Intel Core i7 mobile processors, and they are able to run traditional applications and access cloud services. Such a familiar operating system is also much easier to service and support: a prime consideration for IT departments and managers.

Then at the bottom end, there is the device that Google's Chromebook most closely resembles: the netbook. Both run on similarly low-powered hardware but, while Samsung and Acer's Chromebooks cost around 300, netbooks are cheaper still and generally include Windows.

And the market for these type of devices is shrinking anyway: Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek said last year that "we view [netbooks] as a dying product category", with Taiwanese analysts estimating the netbook market will shrink by 40 million units in 2012. Samsung, once a major player in this market, has already halted production. It is a sign that low-cost laptops are not the safe bet they once were, with their market swiftly being eroded by the emergence of tablets and smartphones as productivity devices.

Retailers respond

Despite this, Google has remained bullish throughout the Chromebook's short life. Immediately after launch a Google statement said the company was "very pleased with the response to Chromebooks", and it certainly will not be axing its faltering laptops any time soon although its firm "no comment" in response to this feature could be interpreted in a variety of ways.

Google opened an Apple-style Chromebook store in PC World's flagship Tottenham Court Road branch, and Google representative Laura Thompson said "many things in life are best experienced in person; Chromebooks are no exception". DSGi, which owns PC World, believes Google might yet push Chromebooks harder ahead of the launch of Windows 8.

John Lewis also sells Chromebooks through its website, and the firm remains firmly on-side: a spokesperson told us that "John Lewis is committed to the very latest technology" and that, while Chromebooks remain "a new, niche product" the firm intends to keep offering them as part of its "comprehensive IT offering".

A future for Chromebooks?

So, is there still hope for the Chromebook? Google reckons so. And there are whispers, too, that Google will be dramatically improving the hardware inside its devices. Recent changes to the open source boot environment that allows Chromebooks to boot into Chromium OS allow for support of Intel's older Sandy Bridge and new Ivy Bridge processors, and bug reports have been spotted from developers using unannounced laptops using ARM-based processors.

With tablets, smartphones and Ultrabooks gaining ground and only so much space for IT in the average business, though, it seems that there might not be much time left for the Chromebook to make a significant impact.

Google might have placed plenty of stock in the Chromebook, but analyst Enderle reckons the platform is "unlikely to ever be successful". That may be a pessimistic view, but we are sure of one thing: Google might be the world's biggest internet company, but it's a long way behind when it comes to building hardware businesses will actually want to buy.

A study by networking vendor Cisco Systems suggests that 95 per cent of US companies have some form of support in place for staff who want to use their own technology at work.

This development has been welcomed by IT departments, with 76 per cent of IT directors citing benefits for their businesses.

To an extent IT is just bowing to the inevitable. Cisco's statistics suggest that knowledge workers will have an average of 3.3 devices each in 2014, up from 2.8 now.

And, increasingly, employees are using personal technology to make them more mobile, with smartphones and tablets high on the list of purchases.

So far, this will surprise few IT professionals. Cisco is just one of a number of vendors promoting management solutions for BYOD.

But, perhaps, the most interesting finding from the research is the sum employees are willing to invest in their own technology: Cisco puts this at US$600 (377).

This is not, as some IT sites wrongly reported, what Cisco charges its staff for BYOD. That would be a management own goal worthy of David Brent.

Even in Europe's less competitive IT market, a spend of $600 seems rather low. That might be because Cisco employees have a preference for Android tablets or are simply good at hunting out technology bargains.

It is also likely that employees' personal spending on devices will increase, as higher-specification tablets and phones come to market, and as BYOD extends to laptops.

The experience of companies that allow users to bring their own laptops suggests that staff tend to substitute the bog-standard corporate PC with a premium one, such as a MacBook Air or a Wintel ultrabook.

One of the reasons staff and IT managers like BYOD is because it boosts the organisation's IT capabilities, without incurring direct cash expenses.

Although, there are other expenses to consider. Cisco believes that mobility projects will take up 20 per cent of IT budgets by 2014. Supporting BYOD also increases IT costs, especially in areas such as security and desktop virtualisation.

Unfortunately, Cisco's report stops short of quantifying these additional costs, even though there will be projects firms will want to carry out for other reasons than supporting personal devices.

And the prize productivity gains of between $300 to $1,300 per person should make those investments worthwhile.

But companies should not go down the BYOD path without making a business case for it first.

Employees might want to bring devices to work anyway. But that does not mean IT cannot, or should not, provide some advice about the best devices and the best way to use them.

Stephen Pritchard is a contributing editor at IT Pro.

Lenovo has been making budget ultraportable laptops for some time, so were intrigued to see how the famous makers of the ThinkPad would approach the task of designing a laptop based on Intel's Ultrabook guidelines. Interestingly, Lenovo's first Ultrabook, the U300S, has been released under the company's IdeaPad consumer brand rather than the more well-known ThinkPad business brand.

Thankfully, unlike some other Ultrabooks, the U300S isn't yet another MacBook Air look-alike. It has its own distinctive, angular gunmetal grey design. Sadly, an even more distinctive orange version isn't yet available. Although the laptop generally feels sturdy, the whole chassis did flex under pressure more than we'd like.

Unlike some other Ultrabooks, the U300S isn't yet another MacBook Air look-alike - it has its own distinctive, angular gunmetal grey design.

One particularly classy touch is the subtle status lights which blend invisibly into the front edge of the chassis when not in use. The U300S doesn't have a tapered design like some of its competitors, but maintains a constant thickness of 15mm instead. It's still very slender and light though at 1.32kg it's the same weight as other 13in Ultrabooks so it's light enough to carry around all day. The power supply, while not as cleverly designed as Apple's magnetic MagSafe power adapters, is still thoughtfully manufactured. It's a slender rectangle that should fit into most overstuffed laptop bags easier than the chunky bricks shipped with some other laptops.

Unlike the Toshiba Portg Z830, the U300S has a L-shaped hinge reducing its height which makes it more comfortable to use in tight spaces such as an economy-class airline seat. However, this also means that unlike the Portg it doesn't have room on its rear for lots of ports. Although it has a USB2 port, a USB3 connector and a full-size HDMI socket, it lacks the SDHC slot and Ethernet port found on the Portg. There's no built-in 3G modem either.

What the U300S lacks in connectivity, it makes up for in battery life. The battery lasted just over eight and a half hours in our light usage test, which is one of the longest scores we've seen yet for any ultra portable laptop. It's beaten by the 13in MacBook Air though which lasted nearly 10 hours.

Sadly, the keyboard isn't backlit for working in dimly lit conditions, but none of the keys are small or in oddly placed positions - refreshingly for a Lenovo laptop, the Ctrl and Fn keys are in their proper places rather than switched round. The keys are comfortable enough to type on quickly and without errors, although they don't have quite as much travel or give quite as much tactile feedback as the best ThinkPad keyboards we've used.

We weren't fond of the touchpad.

Since this is an IdeaPad aimed at consumers, most of the business features you'd expect to see on a ThinkPad are absent such as a TPM chip and a fingerprint reader. The preinstalled 64-bit version of Windows 7 is Home Premium rather than Professional so you won't have access to such useful business features like BitLocker encryption without upgrading. The warranty is also rather short at just one year RTB.

Another design choice due to the U300S' consumer focus is the glossy display. This means the screen will reflect a lot of light in offices with overhead lighting, resulting in lots of distracting glare. It is brighter than other Lenovo laptop screens, although it's still nowhere near as bright as other laptops with glossy screens we've seen. If you turn down the brightness to conserve battery life, you will end up squinting at the gloomy screen. Colour accuracy and viewing angles aren't great either, so you may want to keep an external monitor on your desk when showing off files to colleagues in the office. It's also disappointing the screen's resolution is limited to just 1,366x768 pixels. Although standard for a 13in screen, other ultraportable manufacturers have squeezed in even higher resolution displays.

Although the U300S isn't quite as fast as some other ultraportable laptops, it's by no means slow. The 1.6GHz Core i5 2467M processor should be fast enough for most tasks it scored a respectable 37 overall in our applications benchmarks. The 4GB of RAM can't be upgraded though. As expected for an Ultrabook, there's a SSD. It's 128GB in size, so if you have lots of files then you'll need to carry only the most essential ones or invest in external or cloud storage. The rugged SSD is less prone to mechanical damage and malfunction than a regular hard disk though.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

Despite our concerns about the touchpad, screen brightness and lack of business-oriented features, the IdeaPad U300S is our favourite Ultrabook yet thanks to its long battery life, good looks and reasonably good keyboard. Overall though, the 13in MacBook Air remains our preferred ultraportable thanks to its superior battery life, great keyboard and more thoughtful design. If you prefer Windows, the U300S is the best Ultrabook alternative to the MacBook Air available so far, but we suspect the real challengers to Apple's dominance will be the second generation of Ultrabooks based on the upcoming Intel Ivy Bridge range of processors. Hopefully by the time these processors are released, Ultrabook manufacturers will have had time to refine their designs and supply chains.

SPECIFICATIONS Processor: Intel Core i5 2467M, 1.6GHz Memory: 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: integrated Intel HD Graphics Hard disk: 128GB solid state disk Display: 13.3in 1,366 x 768, LED-backlit screen Features: 1.3 megapixel camera, microphone, stereo speakers Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports: 1 x USB2, 1x USB3, 1 x HDMI, 1 x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo audio socket Dimensions: 216x334x15mm (WxDxH) Weight: 1.32kg Warranty: 1 year RTB OS: Windows 7 Home Premium Part code: M6845UK BENCHMARK RESULTS Image editing 51 Video encoding 36 Multiple apps 33 Overall 37 Light usage battery life – 8h39m POWER CONSUMPTION Sleep 1W Idle 18W Active 41W

With their incredibly slim dimensions and light weight, Ultrabooks seem perfect for workers on the go. They are amazingly portable, yet still squeeze in a full-size keyboard, and performance is quick without sacrificing battery life. It's a shame that this normally comes at the expense of connectivity, which can create a problem when it comes to getting work done.

Toshiba's Portg Z830 is an Ultrabook designed with the workplace firmly in mind. With a matt display coating, backlit keyboard and full-size connectivity ports, it resembles bigger, more feature-packed laptops than any other Ultrabook we've seen so far. It also looks the part the gunmetal grey magnesium alloy chassis looks quite distinct from the iconic MacBook Air. It's a featherweight 1.12kg so you won't notice it in a briefcase or laptop bag, and at 83mm it's barely any thicker than a magazine. Even with its charging cable, this is one laptop you won't mind keeping with you at all times.

The Z830's gunmetal grey magnesium alloy chassis looks quite distinct from the iconic MacBook Air.

Despite its small dimensions, there's still plenty of room inside the Z830 for a host of high-performance components. The Intel Core i5-2557 processor runs at 1.7GHz, but can Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz for some extra grunt in certain tasks. Paired with 4GB of RAM and a super-fast 128GB SSD, the Z830 sped to a very respectable 46 overall in our multimedia benchmarks. This isn't quite as fast as the Core i7-powered Asus Zenbook, but it's still powerful enough for most tasks. If you want to upgrade the 4GB of RAM to the maximum 6GB, then this need to be done by a reseller as it's not designed to be user-serviceable.

The SSD also helps Windows boot in less than 15 seconds, and resume from sleep in a lightning-fast 2 seconds. The battery lasted a respectable six hours and 48 minutes in our light-use test, but we've seen other ultra-portables last even longer.

Intel's processor also supplies the Z830's graphics, courtesy of its integrated chip. It's powerful enough to play high definition video, either at 720p on the laptop or at 1080p on an external display, but it won't be strong enough for graphically intensive work such as CAD.

The shallow travel in each key made it difficult to tell if our presses had registered.

The touchpad directly below it is a good size and is made from a similar magnesium alloy to the main chassis. There's almost no friction, which makes navigating Windows quick and smooth, but we were less than impressed with the touchpad buttons underneath. Because the fingerprint reader has been placed directly between the two mouse buttons, they have had to shrink the size of the buttons as a result. This makes them harder for large fingers to press. There's a reasonable amount of travel in each button, but the slippery silver plastic finish detracts from what should be a premium laptop.

The Z830 has a useful selection of ports, including an Ethernet connector.

Beyond the fingerprint reader, business customers are sure to appreciate the full-size Ethernet port at the rear of the chassis. This will let you connect to a network without having to keep an adaptor close by as with some other ultra portable laptops. Joining it are two USB2 ports, a USB3 connector, a SDHC slot and a full-size HDMI port. There's also a VGA socket for connecting older displays and projectors. This may seem old-fashioned, but you're still likely to encounter displays and projectors with VGA connectors when out and about. Separate audio jacks for input and output means you won't need a specific headset for voice, although there is an integrated microphone for when you make video calls using the internal webcam.

The SDHC slot is located on the side of the Z830 next to the headphone and mic connectors.

Toshiba installs the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional as standard on the Z830, as well as a host of OEM software. Face Recognition and Security Assist are the most useful, but unlikely to replace any security systems already in use by your company. BIOS controls are also fairly limited, but IT administrators will at least be able to password protect it to prevent any unwanted changes and it is compatible with the Computrace remote tracking service.

The Z830 gets a lot of things right, but it's not the perfect Ultrabook performance and screen resolution are both only average and the keyboard and touchpad leave a lot to be desired. The fairly wide selection of full-size ports are definitely welcome additions. Although the adapters used by other laptops aren't large or bulky, they are one more thing to forget and leave behind when you're in a rush.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

Although it has several unique features that are sorely missing in Ultrabooks from other manufacturers, the Z830 isn’t head and shoulders above its competition. No other manufacturer has managed to perfect the formula so far, but they all have selling points that make them more desirable than the Toshiba. If you're not beholden to Windows, the 13in MacBook Air, which is available with a similar specification to the Z830 at a similar price, is still our preferred ultra-portable laptop, but Ultrabooks are slowly catching up.

Processor: Intel Core i5-2557m, 1.7GHz Memory: 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: integrated Intel HD Graphics Hard disk: 128GB SSD Display: 13.3in 1,366x768, LED-backlit screen Features: 0.3 megapixel webcam, integrated microphone Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports: 2x USB, 1x USB3, 1x SDXC card reader, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm headphone, 1x 3.5mm microphone, 1x Gigabit Ethernet Dimensions: 16x316x227mm Weight: 1.12kg Warranty: one year RTB OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Part code: PT225E-00800DEN BENCHMARK RESULTS Image editing 62 Video encoding 41 Multiple apps 43 Overall 46 Light usage battery life – 6h48m POWER CONSUMPTION Sleep 1W Idle 17W Active 42W

Built from tough yet lightweight aluminium and only three millimetres thick at its thinnest point, the 13in Zenbook UX31 is a stunning looking laptop. Its sharp edges, straight lines and brushed metal lid are a stark contrast to Apple's curvier MacBook Air, which should help it stand out from the crowd of Air imitators inbound from other manufacturers. Having said that, the resemblance between the two is striking especially the tapered profile and rigid, sturdy metal build. Both machines weigh an incredibly light 1.3kg, but the Zenbook is a bit smaller by a few millimetres although it's not enough to notice. You won't find taking the Zenbook with you on the move a struggle.

The Asus Zenbook UX31 looks great and feels incredibly rigid and robust.

The UX31 stands out from the competition thanks to its high resolution screen. Where other manufacturers are using 1,366x768 resolution panels, the 13in Zenbook has a much bigger 1,600x900 display. This makes a huge difference when working on multiple documents or large spreadsheets, as you can fit much more onscreen without having to scroll. Image quality is excellent, with accurate colours and ample contrast. The screen is almost painfully bright, but viewing angles were only average and we would have preferred a matt display to combat light reflections, but there's enough screen tilt that screen glare shouldn't be a major problem.

The Zenbook isn't backlit and, more importantly, isn't quite as comfortable and responsive as others we've seen.

Despite the razor thin chassis edge that can rub on your wrists, the keyboard is comfortable to type on. The full-width keys are well spaced apart and use a standard layout, which makes it easy to find the lesser-used punctuation keys. Given the incredibly thin chassis, there's not a lot of travel in each key, so the keys felt a touch stiffer and less responsive than the MacBook Air's keyboard but it is possible to get used to it. You don't get a backlit keyboard like you do with the MacBook Air, but our real concern is that the power button is dangerously close to the backspace key. A white LED in its corner helps it stand out from the other keys to avoid accidental presses, but it feels identical to the other keys and could still result in some shutdown-related mishaps.

We weren't fond of the buggy touchpad.

If you prefer to use a mouse rather than a touchpad, you might want to invest in a Bluetooth wireless model given its svelte dimensions, it's unsurprising that the UX31 doesn't have a huge range of connectivity options. There's no internal optical drive; you only get two USB ports, an SD memory card reader and a combination audio jack. We were disappointed that only one of the USB ports supports the faster USB3 standard, but a USB to Ethernet adaptor is a welcome inclusion for when Wi-Fi isn't an option.

If you want to connect an external display to the Zenbook, you have to use either the micro VGA or micro HDMI port.

Connecting an external display is surprisingly trouble-free, thanks to the included mini-VGA to VGA adaptor. More up-to-date displays and projectors can be connected to the micro-HDMI port, although you'll need an adaptor as one isn't included with the laptop.

The Zenbook's resemblance to the MacBook Air extends even to the integrated rubber feet which stops the laptop from sliding around on your desk.

The solid state disk has other benefits besides aiding application performance the UX31 boots into Windows in an incredibly quick 20 seconds and resumes from sleep mode in less than two, making it perfect for working on the go. You shouldn't find yourself running out of battery on most journeys as the UX31 managed a respectable seven hours in our light use test, however we've seen other laptops last much longer.

Since Asus is aiming the Zenbook primarily at consumers rather than businesses, it comes with the Home Premium version of Windows 7 preinstalled rather than Professional, and doesn't have a lot of security features either. There's no fingerprint reader, and while the integrated webcam above the display is useful for video conferencing, there's no facial recognition software. The BIOS is equally limiting, with no control over the I/O ports, although administrators will at least be able to password protect it.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

There's no doubt that the Zenbook looks and feels great and has the advantage of a high-resolution screen. It's no MacBook Air-killer though. Its battery doesn't last as long as the Air's and the keyboard and touchpad can be frustrating to use. Even if you're tied to Windows, there are better alternatives such as Toshiba's similarly price 1.5kg Portégé R830 which has far superior battery life. The Zenbook will only appeal to those that want a Windows ultraportable that looks like a MacBook Air and are willing to put up with the Zenbook's flaws to get one. While it's possible Ultrabooks from other manufacturers will do a better job, it'll be tough as the MacBook Air isn't just a collection of components but a result of tight integration between hardware and software. We'll have to wait and see.

Processor: Intel Core i7-2677M 1.8GHz Memory: 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: Intel HD Graphics integrated Hard disk: 128GB SSD Display: 13.3in 1,600x900, LED-backlit screen Features: 0.3 megapixel webcam, integrated microphone Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports: 1 x USB, 1 x USB3, 1 x 3-in-one card reader, 1 x mini-VGA, 1 x micro-HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio combination jack Dimensions: 325x224x17mm (WxDxH) Weight: 1.3kg Warranty: 1 year RTB warranty OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Part code: UX31E-RY012V BENCHMARK RESULTS Image editing 73 Video encoding 40 Multiple apps 43 Overall 47 Light usage battery life – 7h 06m POWER CONSUMPTION Sleep 1W Idle 17W Active 38W

The MacBook Air is our favourite ultraportable laptop thanks to its excellent battery life, low weight and incredibly slender yet sturdy design. Until now there's been little to match it if you're determined to stick with Windows - a situation Intel hopes its ultrabook initiative will fix.

Asus has just announced the Zenbook, one of the first ultraportables designed under Intel's Ultrabook brand, and we got the chance to try one out at Asus' London press conference.

There is no question the ASUS Zenbook has been inspired by the good work of the late Steve Jobs. The 11in version is incredibly lightweight weighing in at a mere 1.1kg so it won't strain the shoulders of the mobile worker on the move, whilst the attractive aluminium casing will never leave you with that horrid feeling of inadequacy when sat in a room full of Macs.

It is pretty, no question, although you will have to make sure your fingertips are clean for all the marks they will make on the smooth-to-touch brushed metal casing.

The specifications, regardless of whether you opt for the 11in UX21 or the 13in UX31, are almost identical. Both have 4GB of RAM and 128GB SATA3 SSDs.

The difference comes in the processor, either an Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 for the smaller version and a faster i7 for the larger 13in model. However, for those of you waiting for Windows 8 and Intel's upcoming Ivy Bridge chips, the head honchos at the Zenbook launch promised there will eventually be touch-capable models.

The USB3 and microHDMI ports on the right-hand side of the Asus Zenbook.

Lightweight laptops often suffer from low screen resolutions which can make working in some applications a struggle. Not so with the Zenbook. On the 13in model, resolution comes in at a whopping 1,600x900 pixels, topping most of its competitors, while the 11in model has to settle for 1,366x768 pixels which is standard at this size.

The garish pink lighting of Asus' launch venue wasn't ideal for trying out the backlit keyboard.

The backlit keyboard feels comfortable to type on, despite the slightly stiff feel of the keys. The return key was smaller than we'd like, but we suspect it'll be easy enough to get used to. The trackpad is responsive, but not overly sensitive.

What we really liked though, besides the stylish and lightweight build, was its sturdiness. We would have no fears of it being beaten about in aeroplane storage and it's highly unlikely anyone could snap the device, as it reassuringly lacks the unnerving bend that afflicts some other ultrabooks.

So what are our first impressions?

Verdict

The Asus ZenBook has a lot of promise and it'll be interesting to see if it lives up to its stated five hour battery life. Both the UX21 and UX31 will be available on October 21st, so it's likely to beat rival ultrabooks from Acer and Toshbia to market. Even better, at £849 inc VAT for the 11in model and £949 for the 13in version, the Zenbook either matches or undercuts Apple's pricing for the MacBook Air range. We would be lying if we said we weren’t tempted. We'll bring you a full review as soon as we can.

We're big fans of thin and light ultraportable laptops here at ITPRO. Unless your laptop is never going to leave your desk or office, we don't see the point in a laptop that's so big and heavy it's uncomfortable to carry around.

Previously known as the ZX310, Samsung's sleek and stylish new 900X3A is remarkably thin - it's just 19mm at its thickest point so it's not much thicker than the cord of the battery charger. It's lightweight too at around 1.33kg, making it easy to carry around all day.

The black brushed metal construction looks and feels very classy. It feels robust too, although it flexed under pressure more than we'd like, especially when compared to the remarkably rigid build of the latest MacBook Air.

The 900X3A comes equipped with a 1.4GHz Core i5 2537M processor. This may sound slow, but paired with 4GB of RAM it managed a reasonably quick overall score of 31 in our cross-platform applications benchmarks. This was no doubt helped by the processor's Turbo Boost ability which can temporarily up its clock speed to 2.3GHz when applications demand it. It's certainly faster than the ageing ultra low voltage Core 2 Duo processors that Apple still uses in the MacBook Air.

Unfortunately its battery lasted just five hours and 50 minutes which is shorter than the 13 hour 13in MacBook Air as well as many other ultraportable laptops and netbooks. We were hoping for more given both the energy efficient ultra low voltage processor and the long battery life of previous Samsung laptops.

Its slender build means that the ports are hidden behind flip-down doors on either side of the laptop, just like the very first MacBook Air released back in early 2008. This makes plugging in cables more fiddly than we would like and that the tightly-spaced ports make it too easy for a chunky cable or peripheral to foul an adjacent port.

On the left hand side there's a USB3 port, a micro HDMI connector and proprietary socket for an Ethernet adapter which is included in the box. On the right hand side there's a USB2 port, a combo headphone/microphone jack and a microSD slot useful for transferring files to and from an Android smartphone, but of little use for copying photos off digital cameras which rarely use microSD cards.

Another useful feature for working in dimly lit conditions is the backlit keyboard. It's a feature we've seen on laptops from other manufacturers, but it's still a welcome feature. The keyboard itself was large and felt comfortable to type on.

The large touchpad felt accurate and responsive. It supports multitouch gestures which felt more responsive than other Windows laptops we've tried, although they're still not quite as fluid as those found in MacOS X. The buttons appear to be built into the pad itself, but you actually have to click quite precisely in the bottom left and right hand corners of the pad. This is quite annoying and makes certain tasks, such as dragging icons, more fiddly than they have to be.

The 128GB SSD has no moving parts, so it shouldn't suffer any damage from knocks or drops. Only 41GB was available for use on our review model though, so you'll need to be conservative about storing large files on it. The SSD is a RAM DIMM-style chip that uses the still uncommon mSATA interface, so replacing it with a larger capacity SSD isn't trivial.

There aren't any business or security-specific hardware features or bundled software. This includes a Kensington security slot an increasingly common omission from incredibly thin laptops. Without you can't tether your laptop to a heavy object to deter thieves, so you'll need to more watchful when out and about with it.

So what's our verdict?

Verdict

We had high hopes for the Samsung 900X3A, but the ultraportable laptop feels like a Windows version of the flawed original MacBook Air, with its odd design choices and short battery life, rather than the most recent, greatly improved Air. Plus, the 900X3A is about £100 more expensive than Apple's laptop. Despite the 900X3A's faster processor, if you need a thin and light ultraportable laptop that has long battery life and is comfortable to use, the MacBook Air remains our top pick.

Processor: Intel Core i5 2537M, 1.4GHz Memory: 4GB 667MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: Intel HD Graphics Hard disk: 128GB SSD Optical drive: none. Display: 13.3in 1,366 x 768, LED-backlit screen Features: 1.3 megapixel camera, microphone, stereo speakers Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 2 x USB2, 1 x USB3, 1x micro HDMI, 1 x microSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo audio socket Dimensions: 329x227x19mm (WxDxH) Weight: 1.33kg Warranty: 1 year C&R warranty OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit BENCHMARK RESULTS Image editing 57 Video encoding 26 Multiple apps 25 Overall 31 COD4 4.8fps Light usage battery life 5h50m POWER CONSUMPTION Sleep 2W Idle 17W Active 50W

The MacBook Air is Apple's lightest and thinnest laptop, but the company made some controversial compromises to achieve this in the original model. The first Air only had one USB port, with no memory card reader, Ethernet port or any other connectivity besides wireless networking and Bluetooth. Most disappointingly of all, the first Air had battery life of less than four hours which is far from ideal for an ultra-portable laptop designed for travelling.

A new, smaller 11.6in version of the Air has been introduced, but in this review we concentrate on the dramatically improved 13.3in model. This new Air is still very light, weighing just 1.33kg, so it's easy to carry around all day. It's also very thin the tapered design is just 15mm thick at its chunkiest point and a mere 4mm thick at its thinnest point so it's immediately eye-catching. Despite its slender, lightweight build it feels robust and very well-made thanks to its aluminium construction.

The most immediately noticeable improvement is the number and variety of ports. There are now two USB2 ports and a SDXC memory card reader in comparison to the single USB2 port on the original Air. There's still no built-in Ethernet or optical drive, although Apple sells a portable USB DVD writer and a USB-to-10/100Mbit/s Ethernet adapter separately. More disappointingly, there's still no built-in 3G.

Battery life has been dramatically improved. We recreated our Windows light usage battery test, where the computer is set to scroll through a series of webpages until the battery depletes, under MacOS X. The Air lasted an astonishing 13 hours and 40 minutes before the battery ran out. This is the longest battery life we've seen in any ultra-portable laptop so far and is long enough to last all but the most epic journeys. The battery isn't designed to be user-replaceable though. Unlike other MacBooks, there aren't any sLED lights indicating sleep status and the level of battery charge. Apple claims these aren't necessary since the battery can hold a charge for 30 days before completely depleting, although we didn't have time to test this.

We suspect that Apple has managed to achieve such remarkable battery life, and managed to make the Air so slim, not only by using a big battery which is, unfortunately, not user replaceable, but also by using a solid state disk (SSD) instead of a hard disk. SSDs not only use less power than most hard disks but also have no moving parts so they're more rugged and less prone to damage.

SSDs in laptops, both from Apple and from other manufacturers, are nothing new but Apple has used a SSD with a RAM chip-style form factor in the Air rather than the chunkier hard disk-style form factor used by most other laptop manufacturers. The RAM-style SSD uses the still uncommon mSATA connector, a compact version of the SATA port found on hard disks, and isn't designed to be user-replaceable. You're therefore confined to a 256GB SSD, the largest size Apple currently sells in the Air, which is relatively cramped compared to 500GB and 750GB hard disks.

However, the SSD does speed up common disk-based tasks. Resuming from hibernation, which can take at least 40 seconds to a minute on a 13in MacBook Pro with a 5,400rpm hard disk, is nearly instantaneous on the Air. Rebooting into Windows w(hen it's installed using Apple's Boot Camp utility) which can take a minute or two on the Pro, took just 45 seconds on the Air. Because of the SSD, the Air feels much more responsive than its relatively slow processor and meagre amount of RAM would lead you to believe.

Instead of a new Core i3 or i5 low voltage processor, the 13in Air uses a comparatively old 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo SL9400 low voltage processor. Although not as fast as the newer Core i3 and i5 chips, it's still more than fast enough for most tasks and is much, much faster than any netbook. However, it managed a relatively low overall score of 62 in our Windows benchmarks which we suspect is due to the meager 2GB of RAM fitted. Memory isn't user upgradeable, so if you want to fit the 4GB maximum, which we strongly recommend you do, you'll have to order it pre-fitted from Apple adding an extra cost of 80. 4GB should really be fitted as standard in a laptop at this price.

We suspect Apple has stuck with the older Core 2 Duo processors so it could continue to use Nvidia motherboard chipsets and the Nvidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics chip, which are more powerful than their Intel i3 and i5-compatible equivalents. Due to a legal dispute between Intel and Nvidia, there currently aren't any motherboard chipsets from Nvidia that work with the i3 and i5 processors.

We were pleased by the keyboard and touchpad. The keys are large and give plenty of feedback when pressed, so typing for long periods is comfortable. However, the keyboard isn't backlit like the keyboards on the previous Air and the MacBook Pro range, which will disappoint those who frequently work in dimly lit lecture halls and meeting rooms.

The touchpad is huge and supports several multitouch gestures, although these work best under MacOS X and not Windows. The buttons are built into the pad itself, but it still feels accurate to use, even when dragging and dropping icons, which hasn't been the case with touchpads from other manufacturers that have built-in buttons.

Although this Air has a 13.3in screen, its resolution of 1,440x900 pixels is higher than the 1,366x768 resolution we usually see on laptop screens of this size, so more information can be viewed at once. We'd usually expect to see such a resolution on 15in or even 17in laptops. Text is still sharp and legible with wide viewing angles. It's very bright, even when brightness is turned down to conserve battery life.

The screen has a glossy finish to boost brightness and contrast. Although it's more reflective than screens with a matte finish, when placed under fluorescent strip lighting the resulting glare isn't as a intrusively distracting as the glare we've seen from other glossy screens.

Like other Apple MacBooks, the Air's power supply has a magnetised MagSafe connector. This disconnects easily when tripped over, instead of dragging the laptop to the floor or being wrenched out and potentially damaging the connector or the socket. MagSafe isn't a new feature, but it's one of our favourites.

One welcome, if minor new feature is the system restore USB flash drive. This makes much more sense than a traditional system restore DVD for a laptop that lacks a built-in DVD writer.

Verdict

The latest 13in MacBook Air isn't perfect. It's pricy, although cheaper variants with smaller SSDs are available, and it should really come with 4GB of RAM as standard at such a high price. Despite these flaws it's the best ultra-portable laptop we've seen thanks to its sturdy yet slender and lightweight design, excellent battery life, bright, high-resolution screen and large, comfortable keyboard and touchpad. If you can afford it and can live with its limitations, it's a great buy.

SPECIFICATIONS Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400, 1.86GHz Memory: 2GB 1,066MHz DDR3 RAM Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 320M integrated Hard disk: 256GB solid state disk Display: 13.3in 1,440 x 900 pixels, LED-backlit screen Features: 0.3 megapixel camera, microphone, stereo speakers Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Ports: 2 x USB2, Mini DisplayPort output, 3.5mm combo headphone and microphone audio socket Dimensions: 325x228x15mm (WxDxH) Weight: 1.33kg Warranty: 1yr C&R or customer carry-in warranty OS: Mac OS X 10.6 Part code: MC504B/A BENCHMARKS Image editing 79 Video encoding 52 Multiple apps 68 Overall 62 Light usage battery life 13h40m POWER CONSUMPTION Idle 10W Active 46W

Tech giants Dell, Intel, EMC, Fujitsu and IBM have come together to establish a working group to push standardisation of storage drives based on the PCIe standard.

The Solid State Drive (SSD) Form Factor Working Group includes 12 other members and they will work with the five founding companies on producing standards with the aim of improving products.

In particular, the group will look at establishing a connector specification to promote interoperability of various storage protocols specifically SAS 3.0, SATA 3.0 and PCIe 3.

Secondly, standardisation will be sought in form factor, building on the current 2.5in standard to allow for "enclosure flexibility."

"By enabling PCIe standards, Dell is delivering breakthrough storage performance to a mainstream audience," said Forrest Norrod, vice president and general manager for Dell Server Platforms.

"We're taking a leadership position in PCIe storage technology and standardisation which will help our customers achieve greater interoperability, scalability and choice."

Bill DePatie, vice president for hardware engineering at EMC, added: "In addition to other high speed protocols, PCIe will be a key interconnect for SSD technology moving forward. EMC is committed to driving standards in this space."

Intel is hoping to help "collectively define the essential building blocks for future generations of non-volatile memory storage solutions," added Tom Macdonald, vice president of Intel architecture group and general Manager of platform components group at the chip manufacturer.

The formation of the SSD Form Factor Working Group comes just days after Apple's introduction of its new MacBook Air laptop which uses RAM DIMM-style SSDs that communicate with the motherboard using the SanDisk-developed mSATA connector. Whether the Working Group can outmaneuver manufacturers with their own ideas about the future of SSDs, such as Apple, remains to be seen.

As we cast our eyes back over laptops in 2008 we couldn't help but notice a running theme. They tend to get stolen quite a lot. Obviously, this is an inevitable consequence of the portable computer if you can take it off your desk and put it in your bag, you can also leave it on the train, or someone can relieve you of it against your will.

Of course, it's not so much the laptop's themselves that the problem here but rather the data they contain. Sensibly, it looks as though the hardware manufacturers are started to create technology to deal with this. Of course there are security measures that companies could already employ, such as passwords, encrypted drives and fingerprint readers, and but these would require pro-activeness and forethought, which is probably asking a bit much. Instead, many of the moves are reactive ones designed to safeguard the horse after its bolted.

Only recently, Intel announced that it has teamed up with Ericsson to put GPS inside laptops, enabling them to be tracked if stolen and even deactivated remotely with a kill command, which sounds quite ominous in a Sci-Fi kind of way, but is cool.

In a similar vein, Lenovo has worked with Phoenix Technologies to be able to shut off PCs by remote text message.

Laptops don't just get lost though sometimes they overheat and explode, which is always quite exciting. Back in September, Sony had to recall 73,000 VAIO laptop batteries, though actually there was only single report of someone getting burnt. The recall also only applied to VAIO's from outside of the UK.

Netbooks

In terms of laptop hardware there was plenty of big events. Perhaps the biggest was the rise of the netbook. It may have been born in 2007 as the original Eee PC, but in 2008 it grew into a proper child, in the form of the Asus Eee PC 900, which added an extra inch to the size of the screen making it a bit more usable.

Before long though Intel had released its Atom chip, and from there a flurry of netbooks hit the shelves from the likes of HP with its Mini Note to Acer with its Aspire One.

Our pick though was MSI's Wind, which managed to offer the best mix of build quality, features, battery life and price. We liked it so much we even gave one away in our reader survey.

The netbooks also offered up their fair share of disappointments. Of these, we have Vodafone edition of Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 this should have been a winner, thanks to the Dell brand and an integrated 3G modem making it simple and easy to get online. While that part was fine the Dell was let down by a very poor keyboard and even worse performance, rather spoiling the whole experience.

It wasn't nearly as bad though as the Pico an attempt at a netbook from Apricot. While initially we were pleased to see the brand back, we were less than happy at the hardware it had been associated with, with naff styling and the worst keyboard and mouse we've ever used.

In terms of full size laptops, highlights of the year were the controversial MacBook Air. It looked fantastic but Apple had seemingly written the "world's thinnest laptop" tagline before it had started making the laptop itself, resulting in a laptop grossly lacking in connectivity. One USB? No Ethernet? Per..lease.

Lenovo however, went on to prove that you could offer a seriously thin laptop and still include multiple USB ports, Ethernet connectivity and even an optical drive. It's was called the Lenovo X300, and it was brilliant. Silly Apple.

Apple's MacBook Pro ended the year on a laptop high for the company in terms of style and power but while the the new single block aluminium structure made for a very strong machine, it also made for a very pricey one. The fruity people also decided to remove FireWire from the standard new look Macbook, forcing people to either stay with the old white MacBook, or pay twice as much for a FireWire equipped MacBook Pro all for a $10 port. Silly Apple.

Dell looks set to reveal a new laptop rival to the MacBook Air, codenamed "Adamo", at next month's Consumer Electronic Show (CES).

As well as the creation of a website for the mystery new product, documents uncovered by a New York Times blogger revealed that the "Adamo" trademark covered computer hardware, including laptops and desktops.

Although Dell has made no official statement about Adamo, the New York Times went on to speculate it would be a super-thin and ultra portable rival to the MacBook Air.

The newspaper based this on the fact that Michael Tatelman, Dell's vice president in charge of consumer sales and marketing, looked stunned and had to look away mouth agape when asked if they had an Air-like product in store.

Dell has been looking to shed its reputation for producing dull products in the last few years, and recently revamped PCs and laptops among most of its brands, including its Inspiron and Latitude lines.