
I couldn't help feeling that only having two USB‑C ports isn't ideal, because it means you're definitely going to need an additional array of hubs and adaptors, especially if you want to keep the laptop plugged into a power source when not on the move. In terms of connectivity, you'll find the familiar 3.5-inch headphone jack on the right-hand side and two USB‑C ports on the left, which each support charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 Gen 2. The quality isn't terrible by laptop standards, but you'll hear a big difference compared to a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The audio hardware is essentially the same as the previous generation, which already offered speakers with a wider stereo soundfield, twice the bass response, and a 25-percent volume increase when compared to earlier, non-Retina models. As before, it's also possible to use either a 5K display, or two 4K screens.

I have a feeling the need for this would be more common in video-oriented scenarios, but you never know.
RESET APPLE MAC SOUND CARD PRO
If you need to use an external screen, the integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics now supports a 6K display, meaning you can connect Apple's Pro Display XDR to a MacBook Air. However, these can be considered a luxury rather than a necessity for running music and audio software.
RESET APPLE MAC SOUND CARD UPDATE
True Tone technology is present (as introduced in a modest MacBook Air update last year), but the display lacks the P3 Wide Colour gamut and 500 nits of brightness offered by the Pro models. The screen remains the same as the previous generation, featuring a 13.3-inch Retina display with a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 that provides four scaled resolutions: 1680 x 1050, 1440 x 900, which is the default, and two lower resolutions for those preferring Brobdingnagian proportions. For context, the larger black area illustrates the extra display real estate available with the highest scaled resolution on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. These three screens illustrate the track and channel counts you'll see using the different display scaling settings when running Logic Pro X, Cubase and Pro Tools on a MacBook Air. So I quite like the fact that the MacBook Air preserves the physical past in this case.

While the Touch Bar is kind of neat, it lacks significant support from third parties and can often interrupt workflows rather than enhance them. Retaining the Touch ID button for certain kinds of authentication, such as logging in, the MacBook Air's Magic Keyboard also continues to use physical function keys instead of adopting the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar. And even if you don't type that much, using the new keyboard just for shortcuts and naming in your music or audio application of choice elicits a more pleasurable reaction. This provides an infinitely better typing experience than the 'Butterfly' alternative Apple had been adopting since the launch of the too-little, too-soon 2015 MacBook. This new keyboard sees the return of the inverted-'T' layout for the cursor keys, making them easier to navigate, and reintroduces a scissor-based mechanism.
/SoundSettingsannotated-1d1eae2f17e946ef87867d4f051f7526.jpg)
The new MacBook Air features what Apple are calling a 'Magic Keyboard', first seen on last year's 16-inch MacBook Pro.

It's available in either Gold, Silver, or Space Grey finishes - aesthetically, there's something about the foreboding Space Grey that appeals to my visceral predilection every time. With a footprint of 11.97 x 8.36 inches and the recognisable wedge shape starting at 0.63 inches and resolving to a 0.16-inch depth, the MacBook Air weighs in at 1.29kg.
RESET APPLE MAC SOUND CARD UPGRADE
The form factor has subtly evolved since then, and the latest model retains the same sleek appearance from the last significant upgrade in 2018, with tighter corners and a smaller bezel around the screen. The design of today's MacBook Air remains concordant with the model introduced by Steve Jobs in late 2010, which I reviewed back in SOS January 2011 issue. Mindful of this, Apple next turned their attention to the opposite end of the company's laptop line-up, unveiling a new MacBook Air in March. But with the base model costing £2399 $2399, not everyone has the budget, or perhaps even the requirements, to justify such a MacBook. Accommodating up to 64GB of memory and 8TB of storage, aided by an advanced thermal design and arguably the best speaker system yet heard on a laptop, the 16-inch MacBook Pro replaced the previous 15-inch model, putting the 'Pro' back into the MacBook Pro. Last year, Apple began a long-overdue refresh of the company's laptop range, starting with the announcement of a 16-inch MacBook Pro. How does the new version of Apple's entry-level laptop fare in a music and audio-based environment?
