MacBook Air · The Aluminum Age · 2010
MacBook Air 11-inch (2010)
The 11-inch Air felt like Apple’s anti-netbook: tiny, fast enough, beautifully built and instantly awake. It made the old first-generation Air look like a prototype.
Apple’s smallest modern notebook: an 11.6-inch Air built around flash storage.
MacBook Air (2013) (2013)
MacBook Air 11-inch (2010): key facts
When was the MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) released?
The MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) arrived on October 20, 2010. Apple discontinued it in July 2011.
How much did the MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) cost?
The MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) launched at $999 in 2010 — about $1,469 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Core 2 Duo at 1.40 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 62.5 GB storage, 11.6" LED LCD, 1366×768 display.
Why does the MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) matter?
Apple’s smallest modern notebook: an 11.6-inch Air built around flash storage.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo · 1.40 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB (up to 4 GB) |
| Storage | 62.5 GB |
| Display | 11.6" LED LCD, 1366×768 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce 320M |
| Ports | 2× USB, Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe |
| Weight | 1.06 kg |
| Dimensions | Tiny tapered wedge |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard |
| Released | October 20, 2010 |
| Discontinued | July 2011 |
| Launch price | $999 |
How the MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.40 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.3× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 16,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $999 in 2010 — about $1,469 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Did you know?
Its screen was smaller than some iPads would soon become, but it ran full Mac OS X.
Related MacBook Air models
Open the MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-29