What are the differences between the "Late 2010" MacBook Air models and the "Mid-2009" MacBook Air models that they replaced?

Please note that all systems mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. The "Late 2010" MacBook Air line was replaced by the "Mid-2011" MacBook Air line on July 20, 2011. For more recent comparison Q&As, please refer to the main MacBook Air Q&A page.

The differences between the "Late 2010" MacBook Air models -- the MacBook Air "Core 2 Duo" 1.4 11-Inch (Late 2010) and "Core 2 Duo" 1.86 13-Inch (Late 2010) -- and the "Mid-2009" MacBook Air models that they replaced -- the MacBook Air "Core 2 Duo" 1.86 13-Inch (Mid-2009) and "Core 2 Duo" 2.13 13-Inch (Mid-2009) -- are substantial.

The immediately obvious difference is that the "Late 2010" MacBook Air series introduces an 11-Inch model in addition to a 13-Inch model, whereas previous MacBook Air notebooks only were available with 13-Inch displays. However, there are other technological and product positioning differences just about as significant.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left - 11" Right - 13" "Late 2010" MacBook Air)

All MacBook Air models have extremely thin all aluminum cases, but the "Late 2010" MacBook Air models are even a little bit thinner than their predecessors -- 0.11 of an inch at the front and 0.68 of an inch at the rear compared to 0.16 of an inch at the front and 0.76 of an inch at the rear for the "Mid-2009" MacBook Air models. The "Late 2010" MacBook Air models weigh a bit less as well -- 2.3 pounds for the 11-Inch model and 2.9 pounds for the 13-Inch model compared to 3.0 pounds for the 13-Inch "Mid-2009" models.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. ("Mid-2009" MacBook Air)

In a major difference, both "Late 2010" models have displays that are high-resolution for their physical dimensions -- 1366x768 for the 11-Inch and 1440x900 for the 13-Inch -- whereas the "Mid-2009" models have 13-Inch displays with a 1280x800 native resolution.

All MacBook Air models have a "full size" keyboard that essentially is the same "chiclet" keyboard used by all previous MacBook and MacBook Pro models. However, possibly due to space constraints, the "Late 2010" models have a keyboard that is not backlit, whereas the "Mid-2009" models have a backlit keyboard. The "Late 2010" 11-Inch model also has smaller function keys with the power key integrated into the same row to save space.

Trackpads provided by each line are considerably different. The "Mid-2009" models have a single-button "three-finger" multitouch gesture trackpad whereas the "Late 2010" models have have glass "no button" trackpads with "inertial scrolling" support.

Both lines have integrated webcams, although Apple refers to the webcam in the "Mid-2009" models as an "iSight" camera and the webcam in the "Late 2010" models as a "FaceTime" camera. Branding aside, the cameras are believed to be identical. Audio is considerably better with the "Late 2010" models as they have integrated stereo speakers whereas earlier MacBook Air models only have a mono speaker.

For the benefit of future readers, when such information may be useful for identification and differentiation, the model number on the bottom of the "Mid-2009" MacBook Air models -- and the "Late 2008" MacBook Air -- is A1304 and the model number on the bottom of the "Late 2010" MacBook Air models is is A1370 and A1369, for the 11-Inch and 13-Inch, respectively.

Connectivity is improved by the "Late 2010" MacBook Air models as well. Both lines have AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, analog audio out, and a Mini DisplayPort that supports an external 30-Inch display (2560x1600) as well as built-in internal microphones. However, the "Late 2010" MacBook Air models have dual USB 2.0 ports rather than just one and the 13-Inch "Late 2010" model additionally has an integrated SD Card slot. None of these models have Firewire, optical audio in/out, or Ethernet, although an external 10/100Base-T Ethernet adapter is available (standard on the "Mid-2009" models and a US$29 extra for the "Late 2010"). None support a remote via IR, either.

Internally, there are some similarities between these lines, but major differences, too. All models are powered by Core 2 Duo processors of varying speeds and have 2 GB of memory onboard by default, but the "Late 2010" models can be upgraded to 4 GB as a US$100 option at the time of purchase. The 13-Inch models all have 6 MB on chip level 2 caches and a 1066 MHz system bus, but the 11-Inch "Late 2010" model only has 3 MB of on chip level 2 cache and a 800 MHz system bus. The "Mid-2009" models have NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics and the "Late 2010" models have faster NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics but both share 256 MB of RAM with the system.

Perhaps most notably in terms of technology, however, the "Late 2010" models are only available with Mini-SATA connected flash memory for storage that is not intended to be upgraded whereas the "Mid-2009" models were offered with either a hard drive or a Serial ATA-connected flash-based SSD.

Battery life additionally is improved with the 13-Inch "Late 2010" model and is estimated to provide 7 hours of runtime compared to 5 hours for its predecessor and the 11-Inch "Late 2010" model.

Perhaps even more important than the technological differences is that the "Late 2010" models are sold at lower price points with the 11-Inch model hitting the psychologically crucial US$999 price point, and this in all likelihood will have a major impact on sales for the MacBook Air.

The differences between the "Late 2010" and "Mid-2009" MacBook Air models -- size, display size, connectivity, battery life, processor, technical architecture, configuration and price -- are summarized below:

	Mid-2009 13"	Late 2010 11"	Late 2010 13"
Processor Speed:	1.86, 2.13 GHz	1.4 GHz*	1.86 GHz**
Processor Type:	SL9400, SL9600	SU9400*	SL9400**
On-Chip L2 Cache:	6 MB	3 MB	6 MB
System Bus:	1066 MHz	800 MHz	1066 MHz
Standard RAM:	2 GB	2 GB	2 GB
Maximum RAM:	2 GB	4 GB†	4 GB†
Internal Storage:	120 GB, 128 GB	64 GB, 128 GB	128 GB, 256 GB
Storage Type:	Hard Drive, SSD	SSD	SSD
Internal Video:	GeForce 9400M	GeForce 320M	GeForce 320M
USB 2.0 Ports:	1	2	2
Ethernet Adapter:	Included	US$29	US$29
SD Card Slot:	No	No	Yes
Display Size:	13.3" Widescreen	11.6" Widescreen	13.3" Widescreen
Display Resolution:	1280x800	1366x768	1440x900
Backlit Keyboard:	Yes	No	No
Trackpad:	3-Finger	Inertial	Inertial
Speakers:	Mono	Stereo	Stereo
Battery Life:	5 Hours	5 Hours	7 Hours
Dimensions:	.16-.76 x 12.8 x 8.94	.11-.68 x 11.8 x 7.56	.11-.68 x 12.8 x 8.94
Weight:	3.0 Pounds	2.3 Pounds	2.9 Pounds
Order Numbers:	MC233LL/A MC234LL/A	MC505LL/A MC506LL/A	MC503LL/A MC504LL/A
Model Numbers:	A1304	A1370	A1369
Model Identifier:	MacBookAir2,1	MacBookAir3,1	MacBookAir3,2
Intro Price:	US$1499, US$1799	US$999, US$1199	US$1299, US$1599

* The MC506LL/A configuration of the 11-Inch "Late 2010" model, which has 128 GB of storage, can be upgraded to a 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo (SU9600) processor as a US$100 option at the time of purchase.

** The MC504LL/A configuration of the 13-Inch "Late 2010" model, which has 256 GB of storage, can be upgraded to a 2.13 GHz Core 2 Duo (SL9600) processor as a US$100 option at the time of purchase.

† Either "Late 2010" model can be upgraded to 4 GB of RAM at the time of purchase. This RAM is soldered in place and cannot be upgraded after purchase.

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Please refer to EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook Air model to any other G3 or later Mac.

Also see: How fast are the "Late 2010" MacBook Air models compared to one another and to earlier MacBook Air models? How fast are these models compared to the "Mid-2010" MacBook and MacBook Pro models?