Tim also noticed that the MacBook Air 2012 / 2011 model lasted one hour more than the last year’s MacBook Air model. What most people don’t know, is that the MacBook Air processors are firebrands that can speed up to 2.9GHz and match the performance of the processors in the 2010 MacBook Pro 15 inch and 17 inch models, and even match the current 2011 / 2012 MacBook Pro 13 inch model. The Core 2 Duo processors in the late-2010 MacBook Air are in fact rated for roughly the same peak power usage as the Intel i5 and i7 processors in the 2011 / 2012 MacBook Air - around 17 watts. Under a light workload, the ultra low voltage Intel Core i5 or i7 processor in a MacBook Air, runs at just 1.6 to 1.8GHz, and consumes little power. The Intel processors in the current MacBook Air lineup are in fact very, very special.