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Should I upgrade my MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)?

nearly 8 years old · Not on the current macOS; endoflife.date lists Sonoma security support as ended 14 September 2026

MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)1MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Air against MacBook Air M5
FigureMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Price£1,1993launch price£1,2994Apple UK store
ChipCore i51.6GHz dual-core IntelM5chip
CPU2-coreCPU10-coreCPU
GPUNot available5GPU8-coreGPU
Memory8GBmemory, base16GBunified memory, base
Storage128GBstorage, base512GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to13 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to18 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released7 November 20183ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 30 October 2018.11 March 20266ReleasedIn Apple Stores; pre-order from 4 March 2026.
Security updates14 September 20267Security updates endedNot available8Security updates

Software support

Security updates
Not available9
macOS
macOS Sonoma, not the current macOSThe MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) is not on the current macOS (macOS 27 Golden Gate); the newest it runs is macOS Sonoma. endoflife.date lists security support for Sonoma as ended on 14 September 2026.

MacBook Air and the MacBook Air M5

The newest base-tier Mac in this line that Apple still sells.

Specifications

Body

Body: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Dimensions4.1–15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm11.3 x 304.1 x 215 mm
Weight1.25 kg1.23 kg
ColoursGold, Silver, Space GraySky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jackTwo Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports1022
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 4
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.11No USB-A ports.12
HDMINo HDMI port.13No HDMI port.14
SD card slotNo SD card slot.13No SD card slot.14
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.13Yes
KeyboardFull-size keyboard with LED-backlit keysBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Touch IDYesYes

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Display size13.3 in13.6 in
Resolution2560 x 16002560 x 1664
Pixel density227 ppi224 ppi
Display typeRetina displayLiquid Retina display
BrightnessNot available5500 nits
Wide colour (P3)Not available5Yes
Nano-texture optionNot available5No nano-texture display option.14

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Chip1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Apple M5 chip
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.11Yes
CPU cores210
Super coresNot available15416
Efficiency coresNot available15616
GPU coresNot available58
GraphicsIntel UHD Graphics 6178-core GPU, 10-core GPU17
Neural Engine coresNot available1816
Chip options1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i519M5 with 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU or 10-core GPU
Memory (base)8GB16GB
Memory (maximum)16GB32GB
Memory options8GB or 16GB16GB, 24GB or 32GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents20No, as Apple documents20
Memory bandwidthNot available21153 GB/s
Storage (base)128GB512GB
Storage (maximum)1.5TB4TB
Storage options128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1.5TB512GB, 1TB, 2TB or 4TB
Media engineNot available18Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginevideo encode engineProRes encode and decode engineAV1 decode

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Battery capacity50.3 Wh53.8 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles221,000 cycles22
Video playback (claimed)2313 h18 h
Wireless web (claimed)12 h15 h
Included power adapter30 WNo power adapter in the box.14
Fast chargingNo fast charging.13Yes

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-FiWi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth4.26
EthernetNo Ethernet port.13No Ethernet port.14
External displays (base)22

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Camera resolutionNot available2412 MP
SpeakersStereo speakersFour-speaker sound system
MicrophonesThree microphonesThree-mic array with directional beamforming

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Shipped withmacOS Mojave25Not available26
Newest macOSmacOS Sonoma27macOS 27 Golden Gate28
Model identifierMacBookAir8,127Mac17,329
Model year20182026

The rest of the range at the price

Macs from other lines with a price read from Apple’s UK store, released within a year of the MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) and priced within a quarter of its £1,299 at Apple’s UK price as read on 22 September 2026, nearest price first. Each links to its side-by-side table, with your MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) or, where that pair is not one this site indexes, with the MacBook Air M5 (13-inch).

Trade-in and used prices

No used or trade-in figures for the MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018): we have not matched it to a CeX listing we can confirm is this exact Mac, and we would rather show nothing than a near miss.

The MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) is £1,299 new at Apple’s UK price as read on 22 September 2026; we hold no trade-in figure for the MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) yet.

More

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Air · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Air M5 · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — All-new MacBook Air takes flight · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  4. Apple UK store — 13-inch MacBook Air M5, 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU — From £1,299 · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  5. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — All-new MacBook Air takes flight. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  6. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5 · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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  7. endoflife.date — Apple macOS · third-party figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  8. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  9. Apple publishes no end date of its own; the date in the macOS row is endoflife.date’s record, not Apple’s. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 2 Oct 2026

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  10. Different Thunderbolt generations. MacBook Air: Thunderbolt 3. MacBook Air M5: Thunderbolt 4.

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  11. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018): No USB-A ports. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  12. MacBook Air (13-inch, M5): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs. Read 14 Sep 2026

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  13. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No MagSafe port. No fast charging. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  14. MacBook Air (13-inch, M5): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No nano-texture display option. No power adapter in the box. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  15. Doesn’t apply: this is an Intel processor, and Apple lists a total core count only

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  16. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  17. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 14 Oct 2026

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  18. Doesn’t apply: Apple silicon feature; this Mac has an Intel processor

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  19. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  20. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  21. Doesn’t apply: Apple publishes it only for Apple silicon

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  22. Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops · Apple’s figure · read 15 Oct 2026

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  23. Two different Apple tests. MacBook Air: iTunes movie playback. MacBook Air M5: Video streaming.

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  24. Not published by Apple (Apple states resolution: 720p FaceTime HD camera)

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  25. Apple Newsroom (UK) — All-new MacBook Air takes flight · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  26. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5; Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  27. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  28. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  29. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Air. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7: the Mac chart has no entry for this Mac, so no figures are shown (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — All-new MacBook Air takes flight, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Air M5. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5; Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers, read 9 Oct 2026.

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