New from factory MacBook Air, mid-2013!?

Just custom ordered from apples site but got a mid-2013 model. Best guess is some component (the one used to date the machine) is that old but the rest is new. Worst fear is its some refurbished computer.

Thanks for letting us know. What would you like us to do about it?? Do you have a question?

- Nick

I am curious if anyone has heard of this issue and if its something I should worry about as I paid for a 2014 and got 2013. I am totally happy with the machine just a matter of principle. I did not ask for refurbished, just bought one straight from the apple store online

Basilium said:

I am curious if anyone has heard of this issue and if its something I should worry about as I paid for a 2014 and got 2013. I am totally happy with the machine just a matter of principle. I did not ask for refurbished, just bought one straight from the apple store online

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Thanks for the additional info.

- What makes you think that you got a 2013 MBA rather than a 2014 MBA?
- What are the exact specs of your MBA?
- What was the purchase price of your MBA (not including tax). If you added some upgrades…let us know that too. Just so we can check if you paid the correct price.

* Nick

Basilium said:

I am curious if anyone has heard of this issue and if its something I should worry about as I paid for a 2014 and got 2013. I am totally happy with the machine just a matter of principle. I did not ask for refurbished, just bought one straight from the apple store online

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There's no way Apple would have sent you a 2013 model MacBook Air since they are no longer selling them from their on line store. They're definitely still selling them from their refurbished site if that's where you purchased it from.

And like Nick asked.... why do you think you have a 2013 model? When you click on the Apple menu (upper top left of your screen) and select "About This Mac", what does it say?

I paid exactly $1224

I would be calling them. If it is new and your pictures indicate that, you definitely did not get a new model.

Lisa

Somethings is not right. The picture above that you included is not the same that's showing on the Apple web site on line store for the 11 inch MacBook Air and Standard Configurations.
Also, the price you paid is not the same for the configuration you ordered. Are you sure you ordered your MBA from the US Apple Store on line web site store?

Yes I got it from the US store and thats plus tax but I already talked to apple support both sales and tech both to no avail.

Not to worry, you got a 2014 model Mac!!

According to the serial number in the screen shot, (and not the best thing to include at a world forum BTW). it was: Built between Dec. 1, 2014 and Dec. 7, 20014 in Shanghai, China.

Talk about fresh!!!

Feel better now??

And...

There is absolutely no difference in the hardware between the "mid 2013" and the "early 2014" 11" MBA with the 1.7 Ghz i7 chip - they are exactly the same machine - except, the "early 2014" model is $100 cheaper than when Apple was calling it the "mid 2013" model.

Something is still not right. The serial number shows when it was built, but the firmware says it's a 2013 model and the screen shot he included does not match the "Standard Configurations" display at the Apple site.

It's up to the OP of course, but I would be taking it to the closest Apple Store to try to find out what's going on. If he special ordered it, I'm not sure the 14 day return policy applies?

Awesome guys, thank you so much! Just got same answers from tech support at apple. You guys rock!

Just to add 2 more cents:

- Just checked the US Apple Store…and for a 11" MacBook Air with 128gig of storage (with the 1.7ghz cpu and 8gig ram upgrades)…you paid the correct price for a new unit.

- Like "bobtomay" mentioned. The 2013 and 2014 MacBook Air's are basically the same.

- I checked the serial number on two different sites…and I got an invalid serial number response from both sites.

- As far as I know. The "About This Mac" info should really say "2014"…not "2013".

I'm not exactly sure what the Apple Support folks told you. But if it were me…I would want the "About This Mac" info to say "2014"!

- Nick

I'm not exactly sure what the Apple Support folks told you. But if it were me…I would want the "About This Mac" info to say "2014"!

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I agree with Nick. Like I said above, I'd be paying a visit to my nearest Apple Store and get it settled.

I liken what happened to you.... to buying a new 2014 automobile but the dealer delivers a 2013 model instead. He then tells you, "there haven't been any changes over last year's model". Imagine how that would go over with someone!

chscag said:

I agree with Nick. Like I said above, I'd be paying a visit to my nearest Apple Store and get it settled.

I liken what happened to you.... to buying a new 2014 automobile but the dealer delivers a 2013 model instead. He then tells you, "there haven't been any changes over last year's model". Imagine how that would go over with someone!

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That's true enough and could very well matter if/when you decide to sell it.

I'm looking into it more and I appreciate all the help. I'm contacting someone higher up than the sales reps at support.

Do not worry about it. I purchased an iMac in August 2012, serial check shows manufactured in Shanghai July 2012 and About this Mac refers to it as the Mid 2011 model so I guess it is known as the model, not the year.

Same thing just happened to me. I just received a 13" MB Air as a birthday gift and it said it was a mid-2013 model. I called support and they had no answer. The first thing they asked if it was a refurb! I returned it to the store and ended up buying a 13" MB Pro retina.

For resale purpose I would want the MB Air 2014 model.

The best I can find by all reports, the 1.7 Ghz mid '13 and early '14 are the exact same "identical" hardware.
The early '14 with the 1.4 Ghz chip is the exact same hardware except for the 1.4 CPU vs the 1.3 CPU. There were no other changes...
Other than the price being dropped by $100 on both the above machines.

Without heading to an Apple Store and checking the models on display and with multiple reports...
I can only suggest that the 1.7 Ghz model currently being sold is, in fact, still the mid '13 model and there is no such thing as an early '14 model with the 1.7 as is being reported by both everymac and MacTracker. Apple did not quit making this model on April 29, 2014 and start making a new model as both of those report.

While Apple did update the CPU in the lower end model - discontinuing the 1.3 and beginning the use of the 1.4 Ghz CPU, Apple did not discontinue the mid '13 with the 1.7, but continued making the exact same model with no differences other than a retail price drop. The 1.7 is not a new model for 2014.

I could be wrong and if Apple did update the firmware even though it is the exact same hardware, it would appear that at least one of the assembly lines is still using the older firmware. Personally doubt it, have never seen Apple start calling a particular model by a newer name. The late '12 Mac Mini did not become a '13 or '14 model just because they were still selling it in those years. The Mini was still a late '12 model even if manufactured and sold as new in October of 2014.