Apple sourced a special version of the processor, and it’s a bit faster than the Y-series you’ll find in other similarly configured notebooks, but it’s not going to keep up with full-powered offerings. It’s a Y-series, which is still dual-core and runs at lower power. The MacBook Air does have an Intel 10th-generation CPU packed inside, but that’s a bit deceiving. They’re both well-made, but Microsoft’s tablet is a better fit in today’s notebook market. You can also get the Surface Pro 6 in a sleek black color, and we find it to offer a superior and more modern design than the MacBook Air. Of course, the display is also nicely touch-enabled.
And the $100 Surface Pen offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and the fastest response times among all Windows 10 tablets. The Type Cover is a $130 extra, but the keyboard add-on offers a precise mechanism and consistent backlighting, a superior (albeit small) Microsoft Precision touchpad with support for all Windows 10 gestures, and it magnetically attaches to the slate and props at a comfortable typing angle.
In terms of input, the Surface Pro 6 is well-stocked. You won’t find USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 here. Its connectivity is even more limited than the Air’s, with only one USB-A 3.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort, and a Surface Connect port. The Surface Pro 6 is a solid chunk of metal and glass, and in its 6th generation, it’s become the most elegant and modern Windows tablet with the smoothest and most flexible kickstand. The Surface Pro 6, on the other hand, continues to showcase Microsoft’s now-iconic Surface design aesthetic and build, with silver-gray magnesium formed into a sliver of a tablet that’s thin (0.33 inches), light (1.73 pounds), and very robust. Gone are the USB-A, HDMI, and microSD connections, and you’re left with just two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3. Connectivity is another area where the Air “caught up” with its siblings. The touchpad is the same very large Force Touch version as well, and that’s much better and arguably the best around. If you don’t like the keyboard elsewhere, you won’t like it here. The Air inherits the same third-generation butterfly keyboard as the other MacBooks, with all of its strengths and weaknesses. It’s also just as robust and well-built as the rest of Apple’s lineup and comes in three color options - gold, silver, and space gray. It’s still the same sort of wedge shape that kicked off the thin-and-light notebook market, but it’s now even thinner at between 0.16 and 0.63 inches, and it weighs in at 2.8 pounds. The MacBook Air’s chassis underwent some significant changes this year. Does the revamped MacBook Air have what it takes to take on the best 2-in-1 on the market? Design Dan Baker/Digital Trends The notebook industry hasn’t stood still since the MacBook Air was last updated, though, and Microsoft’s detachable tablet Surface Pro 6 is one of the best examples of just how far along its come.
The Surface Pro 6 got the better update.