It’s the same thing every year: Apple launches a new product and iFixit runs to get their hands on it in order to … take it apart! It was no different with the new MacBook Air, which is now available on the Brazilian Apple Online Store.
The main changes were the adoption of Intel’s new generation of processors, faster SSDs, the incorporation of two microphones and the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. Despite this, the model identification remains the same: A1466. With that in mind, we will highlight these changes in machine engineering compared to the latest model.
Outside, no changes – with the exception of the ports of the two microphones, almost imperceptible. Access to the interior continues through special style screws “Pentalobe”.
In the image above we can see the difference between the 2012 model (left) and 2013 (right). And there are few, as I said: a smaller SSD module, modified AirPort, integrated control platform, new clamp to dissipate heat and changes to the speaker connector. Despite being practically the same size, the battery has improved a lot, too (the current one has 7.6V, 7.150mAh against 7.3V, 6.700mAh from the previous model).
Guess who is the manufacturer of the new SSD modules (PCIe, not SATA anymore), which are 45% faster than the previous ones! Samsung. The Asian is responsible for supplying the flash controller (S4LN053X01-8030, ARM), flash storage (K9LDGY8SIC-XCK0, 8x16GB) and RAM (K4P2G324ED, 512MB).
AirPort features Broadcom’s BCM4360 chip, which operates at 5GHz and can reach speeds of up to 1.3Gbps – in addition to Bluetooth 4.0 communication – and the Skyworks SE5516 module dual-band 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac WLAN.
Just like the MacBook Pro Retina and iPhones, the two microphones help to eliminate ambient noise while we are on a FaceTime call, for example.
Above, we see the new processor (“Haswell”) Core i5 from Intel and the control platform (PCH), in what is apparently a new design from Intel / Apple.
Besides, everything is very similar to the 2012 model. So similar that it got the same “repairability” note: 4/10.
For those interested, the video above brings the teardown complete. ?