The mid-2013 MacBook Air isn't a genius compared to the outgoing model in terms of CPU performance, but it does show gains in graphics thanks to Intel HD 5000 graphics, and better yet it runs even cooler and much longer. So how about CPU performance improvements? These are small compared to the outgoing third generation Ivy Bridge platform, but they're impressive because they slightly outperform Ivy Bridge while running at lower clock speeds and consuming less power.

We're talking a few percentage points and 5-7 fps gains in demanding 3D games. Don't get too excited, because as it turns out neither HD 4400 nor HD 5000 come anywhere near dedicated graphics performance (watch our video review below where we play Diablo 3). As it turns out, the Air gains a bit more in the graphics department since it uses the faster Intel HD 5000 graphics rather than HD 4400 graphics found in the Vaio Pro. The MacBook Air, much like the Sony Vaio Pro 13 Ultrabook and Vaio Duo convertible, stand to gain the most. While we've seen a few desktops and gaming quad core machines with Haswell, they're largely the least to benefit because Haswell's improvements particularly target Ultrabooks and thin and light laptops where they can amp integrated graphics and bring significant battery life improvements. The mid-2013 MacBook Air gets special notice because it's one of the first ultraportables to run the new fourth generation Intel Haswell CPUs (the Sony Vaio Pro is the only other Ultrabook with Haswell at the time of the new Air's launch, and the Sony Vaio Duo 13 convertible will follow in a few weeks).

It started the Ultrabook craze before Intel coined the word 'Ultrabook' as a way to gain PCs some market share and encourage manufacturers to produce good looking, light laptops in the face of Apple's challenge. In Chief (twitter: MacBook Air hardly needs an introduction. Base 1.3GHz model makes us feel less future-proof than the 1.7GHz Core i7 option. What's Not: 1440 x 900 non-IPS panel not hugely competitive with similarly priced full HD Windows 8 Ultrabooks. What's Hot: Latest gen Intel Haswell CPU with HD 5000 graphics, super solid yet slim, attractive design, great keyboard and trackpad. MacBook Air Review (mid-2013) Editor's rating (1-5): Home > Notebook Reviews & Ultrabook Reviews > 13' MacBook Air (mid-2013, Haswell)

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