The renewal of the new MacBook Air it's been so deep that it doesn't even keep the same keyboard as the previous Intel chipset-based model. Nothing reminiscent of the previous MacBook Air. Just the name and the price.
Now the first row of function keys have three keys dedicated to specific tasks, such as dictation, Spotlight and do not disturb. All new. Even the keyboard. A declaration of intentions. This is Apple silicon.
Of course the renewal of the MacBook Air has been total. New processor, new motherboard, new battery, new silent passive cooling, and even new keyboard. Some keys in the first row have been modified by new features direct.
There are three keys in the first row that have changed their function when you press them. Now the new MacBook Air from the Apple Silicon era features new keyboard keys. Spotlight, dictation y do not bother.
They replace the keyboard and launchpad brightness controls in the function key row. Instead, you now have to trust the new Control Center at Big Sur macOS to adjust the brightness of the keyboard backlight. The removal of the Launchpad key is unlikely to affect many users, but the change in keyboard brightness is going to be noticed by more than one user.
Another change in the keyboard of the new MacBook Air that is seen with the naked eye is the appearance of a icon the globe on the function enable key at the bottom left. The rest of the keys have not undergone changes.
The new MacBook Pro Apple Silicon also introduced today does not have these new function keys because it includes a Touch Bar in place of the row of function keys. However, this new MacBook Pro does add the aforementioned globe icon like the MacBook Air.