Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Won’t Support eSIM Until Later This Year

Apple today released iOS 12.1 with support for the digital eSIM that will allow for dual-SIM functionality on the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, but eSIM support isn’t going to be immediately available from U.S. carriers.

AT&T, for example, is telling customers that eSIM activations are being delayed until later in the year due to technical issues in part related to Visual Voicemail.

According to one AT&T store manager who spoke to MacRumors, retail outlets have been told that AT&T is not supporting dual-SIM or eSIM at the current time, with stores advised not to sell eSIM cards to customers.

Verizon and T-Mobile will also not be supporting the eSIM at the current time, according to company spokespeople who talked to PCMag. T-Mobile said that eSIM support is in the works and will be available “when its software is ready” with no timeline provided. Verizon, meanwhile, said that eSIMs will be available after some kinks are worked out.

It’s also worth noting that Verizon customers should not activate eSIMs from other companies at this time because of performance issues. As outlined by PCMag, when a physical Verizon SIM is relegated into a “secondary” position by an eSIM from another company, the Verizon connection gets downgraded to the 2G CDMA network.

Verizon says it is working with Apple to resolve this issue to allow its customers to use eSIM without a performance hit.

“Wireless customers will be able to activate Verizon service eSIMs as soon as we’re confident you’ll be able to have the great, high-quality service you expect from us on both your primary and secondary line. If you are a Verizon customer and you activate another carrier’s service on your iPhone’s eSIM, your Verizon service will be degraded due to the current software configuration.

“Based on our discussions with Apple, we believe these concerns will be resolved quickly and you should be able to add our great Verizon service on your secondary line before the end of the year. Until the secondary line can deliver Verizon’s full suite of voice and high-speed data services, we won’t activate Verizon service on any eSIM. This includes our own customers’ iPhones with dual SIM capabilities as well as iPhones on competitors’ networks.”

The fourth major carrier in the United States, Sprint, is not on Apple’s list of carriers that are going to be implementing eSIM support, but Sprint has said it will add support at some point.

The eSIM, or digital SIM, is a non-physical SIM card slot that pairs with the physical SIM card in the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR to enable dual-SIM dual-standby, a feature that lets iPhone users have two phone numbers available at once.

With dual-SIM support, iPhone users are supposed to be able to swap between the two phone numbers readily, alleviating the need for a second phone or SIM swapping for work and travel.

While eSIM support will not be available from the major carriers in the United States at this time, it is available in other countries around the world. Apple has a list of all the carriers supporting eSIM functionality on its website.

On Apple’s site, eSIM support for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile says “coming later this year,” suggesting the three carriers are aiming to launch the feature before the end of 2018.

Related Roundups: iPhone XS, iOS 12, iPhone XRBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now), iPhone XR (Buy Now)
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Hexologic review: A hexagon-based logic game that will twist your brain

Most of the times we play a game on our Android device, so we can relax and take our mind off things. Simple games like Cooking Madness or Candy Crush are a great way to tune out the daily noise, but what if you’re looking for something more challenging? Something that truly puts your mind at work?

Well, today we’re taking a look at Hexologic, a game that will challenge you to think differently, imagine and solve ever-changing problems that won’t allow you to get used to them and fly on autopilot.

Overview

Hexologic is a game developed by MythicOwl and costs $0.99 to download from the Play Store.

The game doesn’t offer a tutorial, but the gameplay is simple enough, so you won’t have to do much guessing.

Impressions

First off let me tell you that Hexologic has a very calming overall feel. It features nice, soothing graphics in pastel colors that allow you to concentrate on the puzzles at hand. Although, they tend to be a little repetitive, boasting the same vibe throughout the entire game.

On top of that, you also get some nice ambient music thrown in, so for a moment, you might think you’re in a meditation app instead of a game.

The premise of this Sudoku-inspired game is pretty straightforward. It’s all about hexagons! You’ll need to combine the dots inside the hexes in three possible directions so that their sum matches the number at the edge.

As with any puzzle/logic game, the level starts easily enough, and you’ll find you can go through the first 10 stages quite fast. But by the time you hit level 30, things get a lot more complicated.

For example, more advanced levels feature linked blocks, so when you change the value of one of these hexes, others with the same colored outline will also automatically get the same value. Which means you’ll have to adapt your whole strategy based on that.

Alternatively, some tiles have numbers of them which you cannot change. Their value can larger than the three dots you’re normally allowed to add in the empty hexagons.

There are 60 levels in total, which are broken off in four worlds which have their own, unique gameplay mechanisms.

Unlike other puzzle games, Hexologic doesn’t have a timer. So you can take your sweet time completing the levels. Interestingly enough, there are no repercussions for incorrect moves, so you’ll never have to start from the beginning if you make a mistake.

So in that sense, the game poses no real challenge. But the satisfaction of knowing you’ve mastered the complete set of 60 levels is in itself a goal.

Additionally, the game has no real replay value. Once you’ve figured out the levels, there’s nothing else much to do. Yes, you can unlock certain bonus stages, but they are not so very different from the standard levels.

Honestly, Hexologic ends way to quickly – you could finish it in one day if you have a few hours to spare – and I think the game could have used a little bit more variation when it comes to gameplay. For example, it could have included a timer, as to prolong gaming sessions.

Conclusion

Hexologic is a fun and addictive puzzle game, set in a beautiful world. Yet, it feels a bit minimalistic when compared to other games in the category. You can complete it in a few hours, but again, that’s probably something that casual gamers will appreciate. After all, most of us don’t have the time to spend countless hours playing games.

Download Hexologic from the Play Store

watchOS 5.1 Update Bricking Some Apple Watches

It appears the watchOS 5.1 update that was released this morning is causing problems for some Apple Watch owners. Multiple MacRumors readers have had issues installing the new software and are reporting that the update has bricked their devices.

Customers who are affected are seeing their Apple Watches stuck at the Apple logo loading screen after initiating the watchOS 5.1 update.

Some customers who contacted Apple were initially told that the update could take a few hours, but multiple people have seen no progress after three or more hours. From MacRumors reader Bazooka-joe:

So my series 4 sssb has been stuck on installing 5.1 For an hour and a half now with nothing showing on the watch except the bright white Apple icon. Spoken to Apple Support who said that they are getting calls from other people experiencing the same issue and they have advised me to leave it for 2 to 3 hours. WTF Why would an update that supposed to take 10 minutes to install take 2 to 3 hours

It appears affected users have the Apple Watch Series 4, which is the newest Apple Watch that was released in September.

Some MacRumors readers have said that Apple is going to be shipping out replacement watches for those who have been affected.

Not all customers who have an Apple Watch Series 4 have had problems installing the watchOS 5.1 update, but as a cautionary measure, it’s worthwhile to hold off downloading and installing the software until Apple pushes a fix. Apple has not pulled the watchOS 5.1 update as of yet.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Apple’s New MacBook Air Uses MacBook-Class 5W Amber Lake Chips

Apple’s newly upgraded MacBook Air is equipped with a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, a chip configuration that does not match any of the 8th-generation chips that Intel has announced to date.

Intel, in fact, lists only a single 1.3GHz dual-core processor in ARK, which does not line up with the chip Apple is using in the MacBook Air.

Instead, Apple appears to be using an unannounced Intel chip that, according to AnandTech, is part of the 5W Y-Series Amber Lake chips. Intel announced these Amber Lake chips, traditionally used in the MacBook, back in August.

And while the company never names the specific processor models they use, the specifications here – 3.6GHz turbo with Intel UHD Graphics 617 – do not match any known Intel chip, even when factoring in various cTDP options. We’ve heard rumors of Intel putting together a Core i5-8210Y, and we’ve reached out to Intel to try to confirm.

Historically, Apple has used 15W U-series chips in its MacBook Air upgrades, but power wise, this will put the new MacBook Air on par with any future MacBook upgrades that also use Intel’s Amber Lake chips.

Though the MacBook Air is now using a lower power Y-series chip, because the previous-generation MacBook Air was still equipped with a Broadwell chip, the new model is still going to see significant performance improvements. Unfortunately, the performance gain isn’t going to be as impressive as it would have been had Apple stuck with U-series chips.

Using a 5W chip has allowed Apple to significantly cut down on power consumption, which explains why the MacBook Air has the longest battery life out of any of Apple’s notebooks.

The new machine offers up to 12 hours of battery life when web browsing and 13 hours when watching iTunes movie playback, which is two hours more battery life for web browsing and one to three hours more when watching movies compared to the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Apple is only offering a single processor for the MacBook Air, and there are no build-to-order options to upgrade it to a faster speed.

Using a MacBook-class chip in the MacBook Air makes some sense if Apple plans to keep the MacBook in its lineup. With the MacBook Air’s slimmer bezels and new Retina display, there’s not a lot separating it from the 12-inch MacBook. If it also used U-series chips, it would outperform future MacBook models, and it would make little sense to purchase a MacBook.

This way, the MacBook Air offers a Retina display, MacBook-class performance, and a slimmer body, while the MacBook retains its position as Apple’s thinnest, lightest machine, presumably with faster Y-series chips once an upgrade is released.

Apple’s revamped MacBook Air can be purchased from the online Apple Store for $1,199, $100 cheaper than the MacBook, but $200 more expensive than the previous-generation MacBook Air.

Related Roundup: MacBook AirTag: October 2018 eventBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Air (Buy Now)
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Apple Mac Mini (2018) hands-on review

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Apple Mac mini (2018)

The last time Apple introduced a Mac Mini was 2014, the year Apple debuted the iPhone 6. Yes, it’s really been that long.

We finally have a new model — the Mac Mini (2018) — which was announced at an event in New York City. Apple calls it a “massive increase in performance,” but anything would be after four years in the tech world. A new Mac Mini is well overdue, but we’re thankful it’s here because it looks like it could be a decent companion to your workstation. It’s just a shame Apple jacked up the price by $300.

Space Grey, more connectivity

The internals of the Mac Mini may be completely different from its predecessor, but Apple doesn’t think the design needed a refresh. All that’s new is a Space Grey finish, which certainly looks sleeker than the old silver color. It’s the exact same size and weight. We do wish Apple tried something different here with design, just for variety.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Some people won’t mind the static design, but there’s no such thing as standing still in tech. The world of compact PCs has evolved pretty drastically in the past four years. You can attach one to the back of your monitor — or even hang one from your keychain. That makes the “mini”-ness of the Mac mini less impressive than it used to be.

Over on the back is an impressive array of ports including four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, which means you can connect it to 4K or 5K Thunderbolt displays, as well as an external GPU. That is a ton of Thunderbolt 3 ports. In fact, it might even be too many, if that’s even possible. It’s the same amount that grace the iMac Pro, and it most certainly has increased the already hefty price tag of this PC.

The Mac Mini’s Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU won’t be pushing out high framerates in Fortnite anytime soon.

Along with USB-C, there are also two USB-A 3 ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. An Ethernet port is also available, and it’s configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet for super-fast connections. Overall, we’re happy Apple beefed up port selection rather than cut back.

The only other significant change to the new Mac Mini is in materials. Like the new Macbook Air, Apple said the Mac Mini enclosure is made of 100-percent recycled aluminum. There’s hardly no difference in texture or feel compared to the previous Mac Mini, and Apple said it maintains the same strength and durability. It’s nice to see a company maintain its commitment to make eco-friendly products.

Plenty of configurations

The configurations for the new Mac Mini can be confusing. First off, there are two main models with eighth-generation processors — one with a four-core processor, and the other with a six-core processor. The base four-core comes with a 3.6GHz Intel Core i3, whereas the base six-core packs a 3.0GHz Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz. You can find an even more powerful Intel Core i7 model with six cores.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple claims graphics capability has increase by 60 percent, which sounds good on the surface. But again, compared to 2014, anything will make for an impressive jump in performance. The truth is the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 won’t be pushing out high framerates in Fortnite anytime soon. We would have loved to see a configuration option that provides some more graphics capability, such as the Core i5-8305G, which comes with AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics onboard. This would have not only brought some entry-level gaming performance to the Mac mini, but also some raw power for demanding tasks like video editing.

We definitely aren’t happy about the Mac Mini’s pricing situation.

The Mac Mini has new thermal system that doubles the airflow that moves throughout the enclosure, but Apple said it will still remain silent. The space we were in was loud, so we’ll have to take Apple’s word for now. We’ll be particularly interested in how the tiny chassis handles the heat generated from the six-core model.

The Mac Mini starts with 8GB RAM, but that’s also configurable to 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB. There’s plenty of internal storage options as well — they’re all solid-state drives (SSDs), which should deliver even better performance — starting from 128GB and going all the way to 2TB.

One new addition is Apple’s T2 security chip, which debuted in 2017’s iMac Pro and later made its way to the MacBook Pro. With this chip, Apple said everything stored on the SSD is fully encrypted, and you get secure boot as well. What’s neat is HEVC video transcoding also takes place here, and it’s reportedly 30 times faster, which sounds like a boon for pro video editors. The T2 also brings “Hey Siri” functionality with it for quicker access to Apple’s voice assistant.

Apple Mac mini (2018) Compared To

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK

Intel ‘Hades Canyon’ NUC

Intel NUC Core i7

Alienware X51

Falcon Northwest FragBox

Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150

Asus EeeBox EB1501

Acer AspireRevo

HP Firebird 802

Maingear Dash

HP Pavilion s3020n Slimline

Apple Mac mini Dual Core 1.66GHz

Enpower Media Center Xpress EN-MX1

FIC Condor

Gateway FMC-901X

Price and availability

The Mac Mini (2018) starts at $800 for the four-core model, and $1,100 for the six-core version. If you max out all the features with the highest performing model, you’re looking at a price tag of $4,200. We definitely aren’t happy about that pricing situation.

The previous Mac Mini sold for just $500 by comparison at its base price. As of now, the upgrade doesn’t feel quite worthy of the jump in price. The move to a four-core (or six-core) processor is fairly commonplace in 2018, as is super-fast SSD storage and Thunderbolt 3 ports. We’ll save our final opinion once we’ve fully tested the system, but the pricing alone has left us a little cold.

The new Mac mini is available for pre-order now, and official sales start November 7.

iPad Pro 2018: 5 features we love, 5 features we don’t

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple’s new iPad Pro is finally here. Following months of rumors and leaks, the company officially announced the new device at its hardware event in New York on October 30. The new iPad Pro comes in two different sizes — the 11-inch model and the 12.9-inch model –and brings along Face ID, a new A12X Bionic chip, support for USB-C, and more, all packed into its slimmest design yet.

While Apple’s new device offers plenty of additions to be excited about, there are also things we aren’t too keen on. Here are five features we love about the iPad Pro, and five that we don’t.

Features we love:

Face ID

Following the release of the iPhone X, Apple made it clear that it’s slowly phasing out its Touch ID technology on its devices and replacing it with Face ID. Thanks to the addition of a TrueDepth camera, facial-recognition technology is now on the iPad Pro, too. Rather than using your fingerprint, you’ll now be able to unlock your iPad Pro and use Apple Pay by simply looking at the display. The 7-megapixel 3D-face scanner is also redesigned to work in any direction — whether you’re holding it in portrait mode or landscape mode — so there’s no wrong way to unlock it.

The removal of Touch ID also means there is a new way to navigate the device. First introduced in iOS 12, you use the same gestures you would on the iPhone X. You have to swipe down to the left of the device to access the notification page and on the right side for the Control Center. You can access the dock by swiping up from the bottom, and continue to swipe up to access the App Switcher. To continue to use your most recently used apps, simply swipe along the bottom edge. There is also the ability to use split view by dragging and dropping apps, along with the slide over feature which allows you to quickly use an app and swipe it away once you’re done.

Large Liquid Retina display

While the new iPad Pros have even larger displays, Apple made sure that didn’t mean the dimensions of the devices were also bigger. This year, both models are 5.9mm thin — the thinnest the iPad has ever been — which should make it much easier to carry and travel with.

As mentioned before, the iPad Pro comes in two sizes: An 11-inch model and 12.9-inch model. Both feature an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with rounded corners, that’s also found in the iPhone XR, packed into a smaller frame with slimmer bezels. The 11-inch iPad Pro has the same footprint as the 10.5-inch model — but it boasts a bigger display and more pixels while still weighing only a pound. As for the 12.9-inch display, it has a 25 percent reduction in volume in comparison to last year’s iPad Pro model.

Equipped with a USB-C port

As with Apple’s latest lineup of MacBooks, the iPad Pro now has a USB-C port, replacing the Lightning connector found on its predecessors. In addition to using it to charge the device (the iPad Pro will ship with an 18-watt USB-C power adapter), you will be able to connect your iPad to external displays and docks along with instruments and cameras. Using a USB-C to Lightning cable, you also have the ability to use the iPad to charge your iPhone.

Brings the A12X Bionic chip

For the very first time, the iPad Pro packs Apple’s A12X Bionic chip. Apple says single-core performance is up by 35 percent, while multi-core workloads are 90 percent faster. There is also a seven-core GPU that delivers graphics that are up to 1,000 times faster, allowing for a richer and more immersive experience, especially when it comes to gaming. In terms of battery life, the company claims it can last up 10 hours but of course that’s all dependent on use.

Apple Pencil connects magnetically, charges wirelessly

Tired of misplacing your Apple Pencil? With the new iPad Pro, that most likely won’t be a problem anymore; the Apple Pencil now attaches magnetically to the device. But it doesn’t stop there, the Pencil will automatically pair and wirelessly charge as soon as you connect it to the iPad. Once connected, the display will indicate the Pencil is charging and will also showcase the battery percentage it’s currently at.

With the Apple Pencil, you can also now switch between different modes with a double tap and you can automatically launch the Notes app as soon as you tap on the display.

Features we don’t love:

High price tag

Pricing for the iPad Pro is still a bit high (and slightly more expensive than the 2017 iPad Pro models), starting at $800 and going all the way up to almost $2,000 — depending on the model and configuration you purchase. If you want Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, an extra $150 will be added to the original cost of the device. While it does come with a few new capabilities along with a much sleeker and thinner design, you’ll have to be willing to put down more if you’re looking to get a device packed with plenty of storage and cellular connectivity.

No 128GB storage option

The iPad Pro comes in a few different configurations — 64GB, 256Gb, and 512GB. For those who need even more space than 512GB, there’s also a 1TB option available. We wish Apple would have omitted the 64GB model completely, in exchange for a 128GB iPad Pro as the base model. Especially since the 64GB configuration isn’t cheap — the 11-inch model starts at $800 while the 12.9-inch model starts at $1,000, and that is without cellular connectivity on either one which costs extra. It’s tough to justify shelling out that much money on an iPad with such a small amount of storage that will fill up quickly.

Say goodbye to the headphone jack

Not only is Apple doing away with the Lightning connector, but the company has also removed the 3.5mm-headphone jack from the new iPad Pro. While it’s unclear whether or not it will ship with a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle, you’ll need one either way if you still want to use your headphones with the device. Otherwise, you will probably want to consider switching over to wireless headphones.

The camera bump

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

As with its latest lineup of iPhones, Apple still included the same camera bump on the back of its iPad Pro. While the front of the iPad Pro looks sleek and streamlined, the camera bump looks out of place and unnecessary. Unless you have a case on it, the bump also keeps the device from laying flat on the table causing it to rock back and forth instead.

Needs more console-like games

With its A12X Bionic chip and seven-core GPU, Apple says the new iPad Pro delivers up to twice the graphics performance that provides console-quality graphics — apparently making it as powerful as the Xbox One S. But while there are a number of games like Civilization VI and PUBG Mobile for the iPad Pro, we do wish there were more console-like games out there for us to play on the device in order to take full advantage of its ramped-up performance. At its event, Apple announced that NBA 2K will soon be available for the new iPad Pro so hopefully, this means there’s even more games to come in the near future.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL: 5 features we love, 5 features we don’t
• The new iPad Pro is here, and it adds the best of the iPhone to the tablet
• The 5 best features in MacOS Mojave
• WatchOS 5: All our favorite new features
• It’s hip to be square: New iPad Pro may take design cues from iPhone 5

The best and worst features of the new MacBook Air

Apple has launched a new MacBook Air, and we’re a little torn about it. There are some really great features that we’ve been waiting years for. On the other hand, there are a couple of big missed opportunities on a laptop like this.

Here’s our rundown of the features that made us happy, as well as the ones that left us disappointed.

The best features

Retina display

The headline feature is undoubtedly the display. People have been waiting years for it to come to the MacBook Air, which formerly only had a screen resolution of 1,440 x 900. In 2018, that’s just about the worst screen you can buy on a 13.3-inch laptop.

Apple has now brought the “Retina display” feature to the Air, upgrading it to 2,560 x 1,600. That’s a much more acceptable 227 pixels per inch in 2018. In fact, it’s the exact same panel found on the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

New keyboard and trackpad

Along with the display, Apple has ported over both the third-gen, butterfly switch keyboard and the larger Force Touch trackpad. The spacious new trackpad, in particular, is a big upgrade over the previous MacBook Air. The keyboard, on the other hand, is a bit more divisive. While some people don’t mind the low-travel key presses, there will undoubtedly be some who will miss the old Air’s more conventional keyboard.

In should be noted that this is the newer keyboard that appeared in the 2018 MacBook Pro update. These switches feature a new membrane under the keycap that prevent dust from tampering with the mechanism. While Apple hasn’t promised this will fix its reliability issues, it should at least mitigate the issue a bit.

Touch ID and port selection

If ever there was a laptop where removing ports was a good idea, it’d be this one. It’s a portable laptop that’s meant to be taken on the go, and the lack of a USB-A or HDMI port allow the chassis to be that much thinner. It has one more USB-C port than the 12-inch MacBook and one less than the base model MacBook Pro, but it’s a good balance.

The inclusion of Touch ID is also an important feature that’s been brought over from the MacBook Pro. Fortunately, it’s no longer been integrated into the Touch Bar, which is something we’re glad Apple left off on the Air. Touch ID, though, brings biometric login to the Air, as well as integration with Apple Pay.

The worst features

The price

Price isn’t exactly a feature, but it was always the most important thing about the old MacBook Air. At $1,000, the somewhat affordable price tag made it a lot of people’s first laptop and an easy introduction into the Mac ecosystem. Th new price of $1,200 puts it a bit too far out of that range, even for Apple.

The pricing also makes choosing a laptop from the current MacBook lineup that much more confusing. With three options all within a hundred bucks of each other, it’s hard to imagine someone could walk into an Apple Store and just pick one out off the shelf. Attempting to explain the difference between the 12-inch MacBook, the 13-inch MacBook Air, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro (without Touch Bar) won’t be easy.

The processor

We don’t know a lot about the processor Apple has chosen for the new MacBook Air. It’s never been used in a laptop we’ve seen, and it doesn’t even appear on Intel’s website. However, we do know it’s a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, with a Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz. That’s certainly an upgrade over the old MacBook Air with a fifth-generation Intel Core i5, especially in Turbo boost speed.

However, it’s certainly not the fastest processor on the market, even in thin-and-light notebooks. Laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or Huawei MateBook X Pro are just as thin as the new MacBook Air, but use a much faster quad-core processor. It makes the high price that much harder to justify.

Editors’ Recommendations

• MacBook Air (2018) hands-on review
• It’s finally here. Apple’s new MacBook Air has Touch ID and Retina for $1,199
• Apple MacBook Air (2018) vs. Apple MacBook
• The best MacBook deals for October 2018
• Apple MacBook Air buying guide

MacBook Air (2018) hands-on review

Apple is finally bringing a much-needed overhaul to its MacBook Air, its most affordable MacBook. Sure, there have been internal upgrades — such as the 2017 MacBook Air which saw a miniscule processor update — but it didn’t stop the MacBook Air from looking like a laptop from, well, 2015.

The MacBook Air (2018) is an improvement in every way, bringing long-requested features such as a Retina display and Touch ID. There’s also a stunning gold finish that will draw eyes from across the cafe.

Finally, a Retina display

Approach the gold MacBook Air and you won’t want to stop touching it. It feels incredibly high-end, despite the use of 100-percent recycled aluminum. There are two subtler colorways available — Space Gray and Silver — but we think the gold is the one you’ll want to get. It’s stunning.

There’s a nice lip at the center bottom half of the MacBook Air that makes the laptop incredibly easy to open with one finger, and the rubberized pads on the bottom make sure it stays still.

More from Apple

The Apple AirPods 2 needed to come out today. Here are four reasons why

New Macs, a faster iPad Pro, and higher prices – Here’s what Apple announced

The new Mac mini gets six cores, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a huge price jump

The trimmed down bezels and up-firing speaker grille make this laptop look a lot like the MacBook Pro. But we’re even happier to finally see a Retina display on board. That means there’s a major jump in resolution from 1,400 x 900 (2015 MacBook Air) to 2,560 x 1,600. The screen is positively sharp with vivid colors, making this laptop a more capable option for professionals that don’t want to splurge on the pricier MacBook Pro. We haven’t tested it yet, but this same panel when on the MacBook Pro was one of the best displays we’d ever tested.

The new MacBook Air may have the same screen size as its predecessor, but it has 17-percent less volume than before, thanks to the slimmer bezels around the screen. It’s also just 0.61 inches thin, making it 10 percent thinner than the last Air. It’s also lighter at just 2.75 pounds (versus 2.96 pounds).

How does that compare to Apple’s more premium MacBooks? The new MacBook Air is lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but heavier than the standard 12-inch MacBook. Size-wise, its chunkiest parts are thicker than the MacBook Pro and MacBook. Is this the best MacBook to travel with? No. While it certainly is slim and lightweight, it shouldn’t be your go-to MacBook anymore for portability. The “Air” moniker doesn’t hold as much meaning as it once did.

That doesn’t mean it has poor portability — not at all. It’s just not the smallest MacBook you can get (in every sense). It still feels lightweight, and it’s slim enough to slide into any reasonably-small backpack. The display size is plenty big to get work done, though perhaps Apple could have benefitted from a smaller screen option to truly capitalize on the Air branding and set it apart from other MacBooks.

Touch ID, Force Touch trackpad, butterfly keyboard

Apple first introduced Touch ID on the MacBook Pro in 2016, and despite its disappearance on the latest iPhones and the new iPad Pro, it’s making a return on the new MacBook Air. It’s situated at the top right corner of the keyboard, and you can use it to log into websites securely, or make payments with Apple Pay. It’s easy to access, but we can’t comment on reliability since we weren’t able to test it out. The T2 security chip is also onboard to keep your Touch ID data safe, while also providing secure boot and “Hey Siri” support.

Approach the gold MacBook Air, and you won’t want to stop touching it.

The keyboard is the same backlit butterfly keyboard you’ll find on the latest MacBook Pro. It’s comfortable to type on in our brief tests, but we’d have liked for it to be a tad clickier. We’re not sure if it’s as quiet as Apple makes it out to be, but we’ll be able to verify when we can use the laptop in a quieter environment. This new keyboard supposedly mitigates the reliability issues with the initial butterfly keyboards using a plastic membrane beneath the keycap. We love the new Force Touch trackpad, which is 20 percent larger and delivers a realistic haptic feedback when you press it. Again, this is a feature ported over from the MacBook Pro.

Apple also said the stereo speakers are 25 percent louder than the old MacBook Air with more bass, but we didn’t have a chance to listen to it. There’s a three-microphone array, which should deliver better quality and more reliable Siri activation.

Ports and power

Prepare to buy some dongles, because the new MacBook Air only has three ports in total, one of which is (thankfully) a headphone jack. The other two are Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports. We’re happy to see USB-C here, as it makes the MacBook Air more versatile. You can use a USB-C to Lightning cable to charge up your iPhone, connect to high-resolution external monitors, or even power up an external GPU.

The MacBook Air is powered by an eight-generation Intel Core i5 processor, along with 8GB of RAM. You can upgrade to 16GB if you need more, though it’d most likely be a waste since this is a dual-core processor. There’s 128GB of storage onboard by default and it’s a solid state drive (SSD), though there are plenty of other options to choose ranging from 256GB to 1.5TB.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The exact processor being used is currently a bit of a mystery. It’s never appeared in another laptop we’ve seen, and it’s not even listed on Intel’s website. But given that we’re dealing with an 8th-gen dual-core processor, we’re guessing this is some kind of new Y-series processor. We’ll know more once we run the laptop through our suite of benchmarks, but that means you shouldn’t expect the kind of multitasking capabilities you’d find in a quad-core laptop like the XPS 13 or the MacBook Pro.

Apple said you can expect up to 13 hours of iTunes movie playboard with the 50.3 watt-hour battery. That’s an improvement over the current MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook, though we’ll be testing to see if that claim holds up. With claims of up to twenty hours by laptops like the HP Spectre x360, we would have liked the MacBook Air to have made some more ambitious battery life improvements.

Price and availability

The new MacBook Air isn’t as affordable as its predecessor, starting at $1,200. Perhaps that’s why Apple is still selling the dated-looking 2017 MacBook Air, but surprisingly for the same $1,000.

If it had been left at a $1,000 price point, this might have been the perfect entry-level MacBook. But despite that, in our brief time with the laptop, the new MacBook Air seems fit to be the entry-level MacBook most people should buy. We’ll be testing the MacBook Air over the next few weeks and will bring you a final verdict soon.

The MacBook Air is available for pre-order now, with sales starting November 7.

Apple MacBook Air (2018) Compared To

HP Envy x2 (2018)

Lenovo Yoga Book C930

Lenovo Yoga C930

Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UA

Lenovo Thinkpad T480s

Lenovo Yoga 720 15-inch

Razer Blade Stealth (2017)

Dell XPS 15 Touch

Dell XPS 13 (2014)

HP EliteBook 820 G1

Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5

Dell Inspiron 14z

Sony Vaio S Series

Asus UL30A

Sony VAIO C1MW PictureBook

Apple MacBook Air (2018) vs. Dell XPS 13

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Dell made big-screened laptops in compact packages fashionable with the XPS 13, and now Apple is joining the trend with its redesigned MacBook Air this year. Apple slimmed down the 2018 MacBook Air’s bezels, giving it a more compact footprint to compete against the XPS, while also improving on the notebook’s performance with an upgraded 8th-gen Intel processors.

Both laptops feature similar wedge-shaped designs and compact footprints that promise to take up less room in your travel bag. Should you go with the Windows 10-powered XPS 13 or buy one of Apple’s most beloved Macs? We’ll weigh the features of both the XPS 13 and the MacOS Mojave-equipped Air to help you weigh your decision.

Design

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Both laptops boast 13.3-inch displays and similarly compact designs this year. Apple continues to use a unibody aluminum construction on the Air this year, while the XPS 13 differentiates with an aluminum lid and carbon fiber palm rest. The Air’s 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61-inch dimensions is within range of the XPS 13’s 11.98 x 7.88 x 0.6-inch measurements, but at 2.7 pounds, the XPS is slightly lighter than the 2.75-pound Air. The XPS 13 comes in silver or rose gold finishes, while the Air is available in gold, silver, or space gray.

Despite sharing the same screen size, there are notable differences between Apple’s and Dell’s edge-to-edge glass displays. The MacBook Air ships with a non-touch Retina display with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, while the XPS 13 starts with a 1080p display that can be configured with touchscreen or upgraded to a QHD+ 3,200 x 1,600 resolution. Additionally, the XPS 13’s 16:9 aspect ratio makes it more suited for videos, though professionals may prefer the slightly taller 16:10 aspect ratio on the Air.

If you’re looking at a laptop for productivity, the XPS 13’s keyboard gives it a big benefit. With the 2018 MacBook Air, Apple also redesigned the keyboard with its third-generation design with butterfly key switches. The result is you’ll find more shallow key travel on the Air compared to the XPS 13 and most other keyboards on the market.

To maintain its minimalist silhouette, Apple limited connectivity on the Air to just two Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C ports for power, data transfer, connecting peripherals, and handling display output, along with a single headphone jack. The XPS 13 offers a similar selection, though only one of its USB-C ports features Thunderbolt 3. Meanwhile, the XPS 13 also throws an SD cart slot for good measure.

Performance

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Although both laptops ship with Intel’s 8th-gen processors and share the same 1.6GHz base clock speed, the chips are quite different. The XPS 13 starts with a quad-core Kaby Lake-R CPU, while the Air uses a dual-core Intel processor. While we haven’t tested it yet, we expect to see greater multitasking performance in the XPS 13.

Apple’s MacBook Air can be configured with either 8GB or 16GB of memory, and storage ranges from a 128GB solid-state drive up to 1.5TB. Dell offers similar RAM configurations, but SSD capacities top out at just 512GB. Neither laptop comes with discrete graphics, as both the XPS and MacBook Air relies on Intel’s integrated GPU, but users can add an eGPU if they want more graphics performance. The XPS 13 comes with Intel’s UHD Graphics 620, while the Air comes with Intel’s slightly weaker UHD Graphics 617.

Both laptops can be used for 720p HD video calls, though FaceTime remains an exclusive experience to Apple hardware. To give the XPS 13 its bezel-free design, Dell moved the webcam to the bottom of the display, which can make for some awkward video angles. On the other hand, even though the top placement of the webcam makes the MacBook Air less svelte, you’ll at least look more flattering on video.

To handle audio, the XPS 13 and Air both feature stereo speakers. The speakers are located on the sides of the XPS 13, whereas Apple uses a top-firing design with speakers placed on either side of the keyboard.

Portability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple’s MacBook Air has long set the standard when it comes to all-day performance, and this year’s Air can be used for up to 12 hours of wireless web browsing or up to 13 hours of iTunes movie playback. Dell claims up to 13 hours when streaming Netflix videos or wireless web browsing, and up to 22 hours of productivity tasks on the FHD model of the XPS 13.

Though neither laptops come with a native HDMI or DisplayPort connector, road warriors will likely appreciate the XPS 13’s more plentiful array of ports. If you need to connect to a projector, be ready to live the dongle life regardless of which model you choose.

To protect your data, both laptops rely on biometric security. Fingerprint-based Touch ID is standard on all MacBook Air configurations, while a Windows Hello fingerprint scanner is an optional feature on select XPS 13 configurations. Both laptops support enhanced workflow when paired with a smartphone. iPhone users will benefit from better hand-off and integration with MacOS on the Air, while the XPS 13’s downloadable Dell Mobile Connect app will give similar benefits to Windows 10 users who also carry an iOS or Android smartphone.

The XPS 13 is the better entry-level option

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Ultimately, the decision to go with an XPS 13 or a MacBook Air boils down to your investment in either the Windows 10 or MacOS ecosystem. If you’re an existing MacOS or iPhone user, upgrading to the MacBook Air may be a natural decision — you won’t need to re-purchase your Mac apps and Apple’s Continuity feature allows a seamless workflow between the Air and your iOS smartphone.

But on the surface, the XPS 13 provides much more value. There’s no apples-to-apples comparisons in terms of configurations, but the $1,100 XPS 13 with the quad-core Core i5 model and 8GB of RAM is pretty close. That’s smaller and cheaper than the MacBook Air — and considerably more powerful.

Editors’ Recommendations

• HP Spectre 13 (2017) review
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 vs. Dell XPS 13
• Dell’s XPS 13 just got less expensive thanks to Intel’s 8th-Gen Core i3 processor
• Apple MacBook Air (2018) vs. Apple MacBook
• Surface Laptop 2 vs. MacBook Pro

Second-generation Apple Pencil writes a new chapter for device

The new iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac Mini may have stolen the show at Apple’s Mac hardware event, but they weren’t the only announcements the company made. Alongside the new iPad Pro, Apple also took the wraps off of a new second-generation Apple Pencil to go with it.

The Apple Pencil 2 offers a number of new features, including that it charges wirelessly — meaning you don’t have to plug it in to the Lightning port, which you wouldn’t be able to do now anyway given the fact that the new iPad Pro features a USB-C port instead. To charge the new Apple Pencil, you simply need to attach it magnetically to the side of the new iPad Pro. That’s also how you pair it — snap it to the side of the iPad Pro, and it should pair automatically. When you do, a drop-down bubble will appear on the iPad Pro, showing the battery percentage of the Apple Pencil.

There are a few major things that make the new Apple Pencil different from the original, which launched in 2015. Apart from different charging methods, the new Apple Pencil also has a slightly different design, offering a flat side rather than a totally round build. That flat side, presumably, allows the device to more easily attach to the iPad Pro.

The new Apple Pencil also offers a few tweaks that make it more functional. For example, it now supports gestures like the ability to tap twice to perform certain tasks. In notes, tapping twice will switch the Pencil to the eraser tool — and tapping twice again will switch back to the previous tool.

The price of the new Apple Pencil is different from the old one too. The device comes in at $130, which is $30 more expensive than the previous-generation Apple Pencil. Unfortunately, the new Apple Pencil isn’t compatible with earlier-generation iPad Pros, either. That’s to say, if you order a new iPad Prom you won’t be able to use your old Apple Pencil with it — and if you like the idea of the new Apple Pencil, you won’t be able to use it with your old iPad Pro. That’s a pretty major bummer for Apple Pencil users who still like their old one.

Editors’ Recommendations

• iPad Pro 2018: 5 features we love, 5 features we don’t
• The new iPad Pro is here, and it adds the best of the iPhone to the tablet
• New Macs, a faster iPad Pro, and higher prices – Here’s what Apple announced
• What to expect from Apple’s October 30 event: New MacBooks, iPads
• What to expect from Apple’s September 12 ‘Gather Round’ event