MacBook Air 7,1 (11-inch, Early 2015) – Full Information

MacBook Air 7,1 (11-inch, Early 2015) is the subnotebook, engineered, designed and manufactured by Apple, powered by Broadwell ULT processors family. It is the ultra-thin machined aluminum case with a full-size backlit keyboard, 11.6-inch widescreen TFT LED backlit active-matrix display and solid-state drive.

Apple MacBook Air 11-inch & 13-inch (2015): Unboxing and Comparison [Video]

Published by DetroitBORG on March 10, 2015

MacBook Air 7,1 (11-inch, Early 2015)

MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015) is powered with a Dual Core i5 (5250U) and Intel HD Graphics 6000 integrated graphics processor with 1.5GB of shared DDR3 memory. It features 4GB of RAM, a 128/256GB SSD storage. The memory could be upgraded at time of a purchase up to 8GB, but 4GB was a standard configuration. The amount of SSD storage installed also determined the price. The widescreen TFT LED backlit active-matrix display has 1366 x 768 native resolution and a glossy surface.

MacBook Air 7,1 (11-inch, Early 2015) has an inbuilt FaceTime video camera with 720p resolution and two stereo speakers placed under the keyboard for multimedia and AirPort Extreme (802.11a/ac/b/g/n) port and Bluetooth 4.0 for communication. Two USB 3.0 ports, analog audio out and Thunderbolt 2 video\audio out with external display support sum up the connectivity options. MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015) lacks Firewire, Ethernet (with an external adapter available for an extra cost), and optical audio in/out. A 45W MagSafe 2 power adapter comes in a bundle.

MacBook Air (11-inch, 2.2GHz Intel Core i7, Early 2015) is the build-to-order but later standard iteration of MacBook Air (11-inch, 1.6GHz Intel Core i5, Early 2015) that never made it to the standard one. It is powered with a top-class dual Core i7 (5650U) processor and Intel HD Graphics 6000 integrated graphics processor with 1.5 GB of shared DDR3 memory. As its standard sibling, it features 4GB of RAM, a 128GB/256GB SSD storage. The memory could be upgraded at time of a purchase up to 8GB, but 4GB was a standard configuration. The amount of SSD storage installed also determined the price.

Release Date

• Released: March 9, 2015.
• Discontinued: October 27, 2016.

Specifications

• Codename: MacBook Air.
• Processor Speed: 1.6GHz or 2.2GHz (CTO/BTO version).
• Boost Speed: 2.7GHz or 3.2GHz (CTO/BTO version)
• Processor Architecture: 64-bit.
• Processor type: Core i5 (5250U) “Broadwell” or Core i7 (5650U) “Broadwell” (CTO/BTO version).
• Processor upgrade: soldered.
• Cores: 2.
• Graphics core: Yes.
• On-Board RAM: 4GB, DDR3 1600 MHz.
• Max. RAM: non-upgradeable.
• Video: 11.6-inch LED-backlit TFT active matrix IPS, 16:10 widescreen, 1366 x 768 pixels max resolution.
• Webcam: FaceTime 720p resolution.
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 6000 graphics with 1.5 GB of shared DDR3 memory.
• Storage: 128GB/256GB SSD (optional 512GB).
• Storage upgrade: 512GB from 256GB at the time of purchase.
• Fusion Drive: No.
• Input\Output: 2 x USB 3.0, analog audio out and Thunderbolt 2.
• Power Connector: MagSafe 2.
• Battery: inbuilt lithium-ion polymer, 38-watt-hour.
• Internet \ Wireless connection: inbuilt AirPort Extreme (802.13a/ac/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0.
• Preinstalled OS: 10.10.2 (14C2507).
• OS max. upgrade: current.
• Dimensions: .11-.68 x 11.8 x 7.56.
• Weight: 2.38 lb.

Original Price

• $899 – 128GB of storage
• $1099 – 256GB of storage
• $1049 – 128GB of storage (CTO/BTO  version)
• $1249 – 256GB of storage (CTO/BTO version)
• The higher-end configuration could be equipped with 512GB of storage at the time of purchase for an additional US$300

MacBook Air 7,1 Models

MacBook Air (11-inch, 2.2GHz Intel Core i7, Early 2015)

MacBook Air (11-inch, 1.6GHz Intel Core i5, Early 2015)

Features

Apple alleged the slightly longer battery life (up to 10 hours on one charge) to win over the nearest rival: Windows Surface Pro 3 with 9 hours of life. Yet the promised life boost came not from the battery but from the Broadwell CPU better performance. Intel Broadwell is up to 30% more power efficient.

Miscellanea

• Apple skipped Skylake in their last MacBook Air line-up for no obvious reason at all. Some tech viewers speculated, Apple thinks big and aims for next generation Kaby Lake. Now, at the end of 2016 with no Kaby Lake available in stores or in manufactured computer systems and gadgets, this theory looks weak. Yet, waiting for Kaby Lake and even more anticipated Cannonlake seems the only excuse for MacBook Air to be left without an upgrade for a year more. On the other hand, with iPad Pro hitting the market, we at iGotOffer suspect, Apple has ditched Airs for pads. iPads has long been titled ‘laptop killers’, and now with detachable keyboard option they win over laptops with minuscule displays, to say nothing of Windows Surface that rapidly catches up.
• MacBook Air 7,1 (11-inch, Early 2015) has two year old models of SSD similar to those installed in MacBooks Air (11-inch, Mid 2013).
• The case is held on with Apple’s proprietary Pentalobe screws to resist tampering with the insides. You need a special screwdriver if you’re going to upgrade your laptop. Keep in mind that the only upgradeable part here is the SSD drive – and this is identical to the models of 2013 year, so you won’t have any difficulties finding a spare part – while the RAM is soldered to the motherboard.

Links

• MacBook Air 7,1 Quick Start Guide
• MacBook Air Manuals: User Guides, Quick Start Guides, Essentials & more
• MacBook Air Firmware Updates
• Why sell your old mac to iGotOffer.com? Our service is great for those that don’t want to worry about seeing their laptop stolen. We are great for people who value their time and prefer not to waste it. We at iGotOffer pay much more for the same MacBook and in the same state than our competition: Sell Macbook Air now!