Apple MacBook Air Teardown: Updated, With a Lot of Familiar Parts - Desktops and Notebooks - News & Reviews - eWeek.com | eWeek

The MacBook Air

The MacBook Air
Jul 22, 2011
1 minute read
eWeek content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More


The MacBook Air

MacBook Air combines power and lightness

Apple’s updated MacBook Air offers Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, a Thunderbolt port, an HD slot, and an ultra-thin form factor.


Screws

2

According to iFixit, the MacBook Air “uses the same pentalobe screws as the previous generation on the lower case.” The updated laptop’s shell, apparently, bears precious few differences from its predecessor.


Interior

3

The interior of the updated MacBook Air bears a heavy resemblance to the old version, as well.


Thin and Light

4

Everything about the MacBook Air seems designed with an eye toward an overall “slim and light” aesthetic, itself heavily influenced by Apple’s push into mobility. “We asked ourselves, what would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up?” is how Apple CEO Steve Jobs once described the MacBook Air’s design philosophy.??í


Advertisement

SSD

5

According to iFixit, the SSD (solid-state drive) isn’t soldered to the MacBook Air’s logic board, which “means you can upgrade the SSD for more storage, but you’re still out of luck if you need extra RAM.”


Battery

6

The battery offers some seven hours worth of wireless Web use for the Air’s 13-inch edition and five hours for the 11-inch system.


WiFi/Bluetooth Board

7

Here is a look at the MacBook Air’s WiFi/Bluetooth board.


Wireless Card

8

This is the mini-PCIe wireless card.


Air Fan

9

Here is a look at the MacBook Air’s fan.


Little Difference

10

In its teardown, iFixit suggested the current MacBook Air’s heat sink “looks nearly identical to the one used on the Core Duo Airs of last year.”

eWeek Logo

eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site's focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.