MacBook Air · Retina & Beyond · 2018
MacBook Air (Retina, 2018)
The beloved Air finally went Retina, gained Touch ID and slimmed its bezels, though it inherited the troublesome butterfly keyboard for a couple more years.
Long-overdue Retina screen and Touch ID for the Air, in 100% recycled aluminium.
MacBook Air (M1) (2020)
MacBook Air (Retina, 2018): key facts
When was the MacBook Air (Retina, 2018) released?
The MacBook Air (Retina, 2018) arrived on November 7, 2018. Apple discontinued it in March 2020.
How much did the MacBook Air (Retina, 2018) cost?
The MacBook Air (Retina, 2018) launched at $1,199 in 2018, about $1,499 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Core i5 at 1.60 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, 13.3" Retina, 2560×1600 display.
Why does the MacBook Air (Retina, 2018) matter?
Long-overdue Retina screen and Touch ID for the Air, in 100% recycled aluminium.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i5 · 1.60 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB (up to 16 GB) |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Display | 13.3" Retina, 2560×1600 |
| GPU | Intel UHD 617 |
| Ports | 2× Thunderbolt 3, headphone |
| Weight | 1.25 kg |
| Dimensions | Tapered wedge |
| Operating system | macOS 10.14 Mojave |
| Released | November 7, 2018 |
| Discontinued | March 2020 |
| Launch price | $1,199 |
How the MacBook Air (Retina, 2018) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 2.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.60 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.0× 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 32,800 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,199 in 2018, about $1,499 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
Apple touted it as its first notebook made from 100% recycled aluminium.
Related MacBook Air models
Open the MacBook Air (Retina, 2018) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11