Apple will sell a shed-load of its 2012 MacBook Air models, despite the fact that the notebook is essentially a cutting-edge 2012 configuration dressed up in 2010's smartest clothing. That's not to say that the MacBook Air's design is looking outdated or tired - far from it. In a market place that is becoming ever more congested with slimline Ultrabooks, Apple is still leading the way in the cool stakes.

But, unlike this time last year, there are serious rivals to Apple's slimline stunner - from the likes of Asus, Samsung and Dell - so, although the MacBook Air continues to impress, there is a slight tinge of disappointment that Apple hasn't unearthed another game-changing design for its lightweight notebook this time around.

We liked

We already loved the 2011 MacBook Air, so using this latest version, running all the new Intel bells and whistles, along with faster RAM and updated connection ports, was always going to be a great experience.

It's similar to Apple's iPhone and iPad upgrades - you don't realise how much room for improvement there is until you use a new Apple toy. Our advice if you're rocking a 2011 MacBook Air and you haven't got the funds to update is don't have a play on the new machines. Just ignore them whenever you walk past an Apple Store. Because, if you don't use one, you'll never know the difference; and if you do, you'll be blown away by the performance improvements.

Although rapid start and instant-on are features that are becoming ubiquitous across the laptop genre, thanks to the increasing popularity of Ultrabooks, the MacBook Air seems to carry these features off better than any of its competitors.

We disliked

We love the MacBook Air design. We loved it in 2010 and we still love it now.

Ultimately though, it's an ageing chassis build and we would have liked to have seen more dramatic exterior changes than a newly shaped power adaptor and an upgrade from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 for its dual connectivity ports.

With the Ultrabook revolution in full swing, we're praying that Apple sets new standards with the next-generation MacBook Air models, with the sort of innovation that has blown us away in the past.

Final verdict

While Apple doesn't own the exclusive rights to the super-skinny notebook guest list any longer, it is still the market leader. But while the latest MacBook Air impressed us greatly, the wow-factor has worn off slightly, due to this being the third iteration of the current design.

In a market becoming densely populated with slim-line laptops from a massive range of manufacturers, Apple still holds the trump card with the MacBook Air - but only just. And as such, we fully expect a design overhaul from the Cupertino-based tech giant in 2013.

It's easy for us to recommend the newest MacBook Air, because it's a fantastic machine. But, unlike this time last year, there are other impressive lightweight options out there. So be sure to check out our Best Ultrabook feature and reviews to see if the MacBook Air is the right ultra-portable notebook for you.