The Apple MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.7 11" (Mid-2012/USB 3.0) features a 22-nm "Ivy Bridge" 1.7GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (3317U) with two independent processor "cores" on a single chip, a 3 MB shared level 3 cache, 4GB of onboard 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM, 64GB SSD, and an "integrated" Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares system memory.

This all is packed in a razor thin (0.11-0.68 inch), 2.3 pound, aluminum case with an integrated 720p "FaceTime HD" webcam, a backlit full-size keyboard and an 11.6" widescreen TFT LED backlit active-matrix "glossy" display (1366x768 native resolution).

Connectivity includes 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, analog audio out, a "Thunderbolt" port, and two USB 3.0 ports. It lacks internal Ethernet, although an external Thunderbolt adapter was offered as a US$29 option.

Compared to its predecessor, this model has a very similar external enclosure, although it includes the aforementioned USB 3.0 ports and a new thinner and wider "MagSafe 2" power connector. Internally, however, it has a faster processor, architecture, graphics, RAM, and storage.