After our time with the new MacBook Air, we are still struggling with the verdict. Besides the device itself, you also have to consider Apple's other laptops, especially the two 13-inch MacBook Pro models. But let's start with the new Air first.

high quality case; good screen; 2x USB-C w/ Thunderbolt 3; long battery runtime; great touchpad; Touch-ID fingerprint scanner; often silent operation; very good speakers; decent everyday performance

comparatively low CPU performance; display is not as good as on the MacBook Pros; only USB-C and stereo jack; fan is way too loud for this level of performance; long charging time; old Wi-Fi module without Bluetooth 5.0; no SD reader; very high prices for storage upgrades

The Apple MacBook Air (2018) delivers the much-anticipated update into the already excellent premium line of thin-and-light laptops, backed by new features, better design and solid components that will make Apple Fans happy.

The fan is blowing on this brand-new MacBook Air with Retina Display. It's a familiar sound: a computer trying to cool down a processor that's being overtaxed by one of the eight or so apps I have running. (In this case, it's TweetDeck going rogue.

Retina Display; Touch ID; Great new trackpad; Superb build quality

Display doesn't get super bright; Not a huge speed upgrade; USB-C ecosystem still a hassle; For $100 more; you can get a more powerful 13-inch MacBook Pro or smaller 12-inch MacBook

The MacBook Air 2018 features Intel's 8th gen Core-i5 processor, 8GB RAM and a gorgeous retina display with a resolution of 2560x1600 and it packs all this into a smaller and lighter chassis than its predecessor

Weighs lesser than before; Gorgeous; colour accurate display; Great battery life

No 16GB RAM variant available in India; Two Thunderbolt 3 ports not enough

For a machine that provides such a visually enjoyable user experience, we really wanted the MacBook Air to deliver under the hood too. However, the poor battery life and intermittently sluggish performance were hard to ignore and, when compared to other rivals in its class, it's difficult to justify...

Beautiful Retina display; Superb keyboard; Visually stunning design

Lacklustre battery life under load; Performance doesn't stack up to rivals in its field

Does not hold charge and is slow, slow, slow. I hate this computer and it's too late to return it. Waste of money and so frustrating to spend 1500 buck on a worthless product. Hope I can find someone who builds computers who can help me fix issues.

Apple is finally bringing a much-needed overhaul to its MacBook Air, its most affordable MacBook. Sure, there have been internal upgrades - such as the 2017 MacBook Air which saw a miniscule processor update - but it didn't stop the MacBook Air from looking like a laptop from, well, 2015.

Great build quality; nice design; Touch ID is useful; Retina screen looks sharp

Expensive; No longer the most portable MacBook

Apple says the MacBook Air is "the most beloved notebook ever," and it's not wrong. The huge success of the original Air had ripple effects throughout the industry, but it has languished in recent years.

Finally; a Retina display; Touch ID but no Touch Bar; Finally; a Retina display; Touch ID but no Touch Bar

$200 more than the old MacBook Air; Everyone's favorite keyboard is gone; No USB-A ports; $200 more than the old MacBook Air; Everyone's favorite keyboard is gone; No USB-A ports

The MacBook Air is an icon : A wedge-shaped computer fashioned from a block of aluminum into a device so thin it can fit in a paper envelope. But other laptop makers have riffed on Apple's idea in the last ten years.

It's pretty; light; and almost affordable for a Mac

There are better Mac laptops; and cheaper Windows ones

These two laptops offer plenty of features and aesthetics that make them desirable. If you’re a Windows fan then buy the Surface, otherwise the new MacBook Air is a solid workhorse.