🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 176 (from laksa018)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa176.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review","crawl_time":1775733370,"first_indexed_time":1607967043,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,digitalcameraworld!www,\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review s443","src_root_hash":"15629566413893499776","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1 review | Digital Camera World","meta_descriptions":["Is the MacBook Air 13-inch M1 an overpriced luxury or technological breakthrough? We’re not 100% sold, but 99.9% is close"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"There will always be things to complain about – like getting just two USB ports and a headphone socket for connectivity, for example, or the base model’s weird 7-core GPU, but honestly, if you look at the design quality, the performance, the screen and its everyday ergonomic finesse, the MacBook Air M1 is just phenomenal. And for what you get, it’s not even very expensive.\nPros\n+\nFinish, design, weight\n+\nExcellent Retina display\n+\nSilent, fanless design\n+\nPerformance!\nCons\n-\nNo HDMI port or memory card slot\n-\n8-core GPU model costs more\n-\nBarely lighter than MacBook Pro\nWhy you can trust Digital Camera World\nOur expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.\nFind out how we test.\nThe MacBook Air 13-inch M1 is\nApple\n’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Its wedge-shaped design looks super-slim and it feels light to pick up. If you need to carry your laptop around all day (and have the battery last all day) and be able to use it anywhere, the MacBook Air is ideal.\nRelated articles\nIn the past, though, this small size and portability has brought a performance compromise. The Air has always been a bit of a lightweight, and not just physically.\nThis has changed. The Air now has Apple’s revolutionary all-in-one M1 CPU\/GPU chip with its shared memory and promises of spectacular performance. The MacBook Air is a fanless computer, so the M1 chip can’t necessarily be run at the same speeds under the same loads as it can in the\nMacBook Pro\n, but this may only prove a factor for heavy duty 3D and video rendering.\nLatest Videos From Digital Camera World\n•\nBest Macbook Air cases\nBest monitors for MacBook Pro\n•\nBest Macbook Air docking stations\nSpecifications (as reviewed)\nProcessor:\nApple M1 8-core\nGraphics:\n7-core GPU\nNeural Engine:\n16-core\nRAM:\n8GB (configurable to 16GB)\nStorage:\n256GB SSD (configurable to 2TB)\nConnectivity:\n2x USB 4\/Thunderbolt, headphone socket, WiFi, Bluetooth\nBattery life:\n15hrs (wireless Internet)\/18hrs (movie playback)\nDimensions:\n304.1 x 212.4 x 161mm\nWeight:\n1.29kg\nKey features\n(Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\nThe base model MacBook Air M1 creeps in just below the $1,000\/£1,000 barrier, which is very impressive for a computer with these specifications, design quality and performance. That price, however, is for a machine with an 8-core CPU but a 7-core GPU (graphics processing unit). If you want an 8-core GPU you have to pay a little more. \nA 7-core CPU? That’s an odd number, surely? The only explanation we’ve seen is that Apple is using slightly less than perfect M1 chips off the production line with, effectively, one core not working, to produce a perfectly effective and functioning – but slightly cheaper – entry model. Unlikely as that sounds, it’s the only answer we have right now.\nThe best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!\nYou can configure your MacBook Air at purchase to have more RAM (up to 16GB) or more storage (up to a 2TB SSD). This is the only chance you’ll get, since MacBook Airs are not user-upgradable. It has to be done at the point of manufacture and sale. \nOther features include a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina display, a revised ‘scissor’ keyboard design, Touch ID and Apple’s latest Big Sur operating system. Because of the new M1 chip architecture, the Air can even run iOS apps.\nThe battery life is an impressive 15hrs for wireless Internet use and 18hrs for video playback, though of course these figures are in ideal conditions; expect the battery life to be shorter than this if you are using lots of disk access and processing power.\nBuild and handling\nThe MacBook Air (nearest the camera) is actually a very similar size and weight to the Pro (behind) – it simply has a wedge-shaped body that it slimmer at the front.\n(Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\nThe MacBook Air does look and feel extra-slim… though all is not as it seems. The case tapers to a thickness of just 41mm at the front, but the subtle ‘wedge’ design means it’s a much thicker 161mm at the back. In fact, while it feels slimmer overall than the MacBook Pro, it is a fraction thicker at the back. The Air is usefully slimmer and lighter than the Pro, but there’s nowhere near as much in it as the name suggests.\nApple got some criticism for its first ‘scissor’ keyboards. We didn’t have issues ourselves, but plenty of people did. The latest design in the MacBook Air feels really good. The keys have a short, light travel but feel very positive – perfect for quiet, unobtrusive typing.\nThe Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. Apple says it has a 25% wider color range than sRGB, but doesn’t mention\nAdobe\nRGB, which leads us to assume it’s somewhere in the middle. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen. It has that ‘Retina’ effect where you just don’t see the dots any more and makes a surprising and subtle difference to the way you view, edit and evaluate digital images.\nThe 16:10 aspect ratio is a little odd. It’s a little taller than regular 16:9, which could be a nuisance for screen grabs and video, say, but it does provide a little extra vertical height for regular browsing, writing and so forth.\nThe two USB 4\/Thunderbolt ports are enough, arguably, but what happened to the HDMI and SD card slots you used to get on Apple laptops? Grrr. It seems you can only connect a single monitor to a USB port, too, which has caused consternation amongst some users, but wouldn’t bother us especially.\nPerformance\nSwipe to scroll horizontally\nHeader Cell - Column 0\nMacBook Air 13-inch M1\nMacBook Pro 13-inch M1\n2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch\nSingle-core CPU score\n1722\n1728\n401\nMulti-core CPU score\n7547\n7590\n1114\nOpenCL GPU score\n15967\n19148\n3162\nMetal GPU score\n17953\n21352\n422\nWe used GeekBench 5 to test the MacBook Air’s multi-core and single-core processing performance, and its GPU performance for OpenCL and Apple’s own Metal graphics processing. We’ve put the figures for the MacBook Pro M1 alongside for comparison and, just to show how far things have come, the results from a 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch.\nThe Apple M1 chip’s performance is pretty spectacular for a laptop, especially at this price point. These are just benchmarking tests and different software applications will bring their own processing and disk access bottlenecks, but this is at least a standardised test for comparing different machines.\nThe CPU performance of the M1 MacBook Air is very close to that of the M1 MacBook Pro, but the Pro's GPU graphics performance is noticeably better. And if you're wondering whether MacBooks really have come on very far, note the figures from our 2013 MacBook Pro – it feels fairly fast in normal use, but its benchmark performance is several times slower than todays' M1 models.\nVerdict\n(Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\nThe MacBook Air 13-in M1 is impressive in three main areas: first, its design, finish and ergonomics; second, its sheer performance for a lightweight laptop; third, its value for money given those other two things.\nThere are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer with a price and performance level you just wouldn’t expect.\nRead more:\n•\nBest photo editing laptops\n•\nBest laptops for video editing\n•\nBest portable hard drives\n•\nBest portable SSDs\n•\nBest monitors for photo editing\n•\nBest portable monitors\n•\nBest laptop stands\nRod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as Group Reviews Editor, Head of Testing for the photography division, Technique Editor on N-Photo,  and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications.\nHe has been writing about digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras.\nRod has his own camera gear blog at\nfotovolo.com\nbut also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at\nlifeafterphotoshop.com\n.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p\/?c1=2&c2=10055482&cv=4.4.0&cj=1)\n\n[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#main)\n\nOpen menu\n\nClose main menu\n\n[![Digital Camera World](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/media\/img\/digitalcameraworld_logo.svg) Digital Camera World THE HOME OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/)\n\nUS Edition ![flag of US](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/digitalcameraworld\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/US.svg)\n\n[![US Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/digitalcameraworld\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/US.svg)US](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review)\n\n[![CA Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/digitalcameraworld\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/CA.svg)Canada](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review)\n\n[![UK Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/digitalcameraworld\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/GB.svg)UK](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review)\n\n[![AU Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/digitalcameraworld\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/AU.svg)Australia](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review)\n\nSubscribe\n\nSign in\n\n- View Profile\n- Sign out\n\nSearch\n\n- [Cameras](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/cameras)\n- [Accessories](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/cameras\/camera-accessories)\n- [Tech](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech)\n- [How To](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tutorials)\n- [Reviews](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews)\n- [Buying Guides](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides)\n- Magazines\n  - 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[Tech](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech)\n2. [Laptops](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/laptops)\n\n# Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1 review\n## Is the MacBook Air 13-inch M1 an overpriced luxury or technological breakthrough? We’re not 100% sold, but 99.9% is close\n[Reviews](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews)\n\nBy [Rod Lawton](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/author\/rod-lawton)\n\nlast updated\n\nNovember 8, 2022\n\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/news\/about-us#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure).\n\n![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pThN6Fe8a6T5Bxe8VjfZxQ.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HTmmoQLNQmmNNHK9TTvZid-200-100.png)\n\n(Image credit: © Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\n\n### Digital Camera World Verdict\nThere will always be things to complain about – like getting just two USB ports and a headphone socket for connectivity, for example, or the base model’s weird 7-core GPU, but honestly, if you look at the design quality, the performance, the screen and its everyday ergonomic finesse, the MacBook Air M1 is just phenomenal. And for what you get, it’s not even very expensive.\n\n[\\$360 at Back Market (US)](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-9351306025537693553&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275)\n\n[\\$589.99 at StackSocial](https:\/\/stacksocial.sjv.io\/c\/221109\/2806488\/14766?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-5856296533312833154&prodsku=328018&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stacksocial.com%2Fsales%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-16gb-ram-256gb-ssd-space-gray-refurbished&intsrc=CATF_22147)\n\n[\\$648.99 at Amazon](https:\/\/target.georiot.com\/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20)\n\n[\\$799.99 at QVC - US](https:\/\/qvc.uikc.net\/c\/221109\/600918\/9368?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-8526856780904740574&prodsku=E320451&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qvc.com%2Fqvc.product.E320451.html&intsrc=CATF_4578)\n\n#### Pros\n- \\+\n  Finish, design, weight\n- \\+\n  Excellent Retina display\n- \\+\n  Silent, fanless design\n- \\+\n  Performance\\!\n\n#### Cons\n- \\-\n  No HDMI port or memory card slot\n- \\-\n  8-core GPU model costs more\n- \\-\n  Barely lighter than MacBook Pro\n\nBest picks for you\n\n- [The best laptops for video editing in 2026: edit your footage easily, wherever you are](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing)\n- [The best MacBooks for photo editing in 2026: options to suit every budget](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-macbooks-for-photo-editing)\n- [The best photo-editing laptops for photographers in 2026](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-laptops-for-photographers)\n\nWhy you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. [Find out how we test.](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/features\/how-we-test)\n\nJump to:\n\n- [Specifications](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-specifications-as-reviewed)\n- [Key features](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-key-features)\n- [Build and handling](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-build-and-handling)\n- [Performance](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-performance)\n- [Verdict](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/reviews\/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-verdict)\n\n**The MacBook Air 13-inch M1 is [Apple](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tag\/apple)’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Its wedge-shaped design looks super-slim and it feels light to pick up. If you need to carry your laptop around all day (and have the battery last all day) and be able to use it anywhere, the MacBook Air is ideal.**\n\nRelated articles\n\n• [Best photo editing laptops](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-laptops-for-photographers)  \n • [Best laptops for video editing](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing)  \n • [Best portable hard drive](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers)  \n • [Best portable SSDs](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers)  \n • [Best monitors for photo editing](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-monitors-for-photographers)  \n • [Best Mac printer](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-photo-printer)\n\nIn the past, though, this small size and portability has brought a performance compromise. The Air has always been a bit of a lightweight, and not just physically.\n\n- [Apple Macbook Air (M1 2020) (256GB 8GB RAM) at Amazon for \\$648.99](https:\/\/target.georiot.com\/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20)\n\nThis has changed. The Air now has Apple’s revolutionary all-in-one M1 CPU\/GPU chip with its shared memory and promises of spectacular performance. The MacBook Air is a fanless computer, so the M1 chip can’t necessarily be run at the same speeds under the same loads as it can in the [MacBook Pro](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tag\/apple-macbook-pro), but this may only prove a factor for heavy duty 3D and video rendering.\n\nLatest Videos From Digital Camera World\n\n• [**Best Macbook Air cases**](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-macbooks-for-photo-editing)[**Best monitors for MacBook Pro**](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-monitors-for-photographers) **•** [**Best Macbook Air docking stations**](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-macbook-chargers)\n\n### Specifications (as reviewed)\n**Processor:** Apple M1 8-core  \n **Graphics:** 7-core GPU  \n **Neural Engine:** 16-core  \n **RAM:** 8GB (configurable to 16GB)  \n **Storage:** 256GB SSD (configurable to 2TB)  \n **Connectivity:** 2x USB 4\/Thunderbolt, headphone socket, WiFi, Bluetooth  \n **Battery life:** 15hrs (wireless Internet)\/18hrs (movie playback)  \n **Dimensions:** 304.1 x 212.4 x 161mm  \n **Weight:** 1.29kg\n\n### Key features\n[![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZuTHF4ierHZXkKcr3bZbkT.jpg)]()\n\n(Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\n\nThe base model MacBook Air M1 creeps in just below the \\$1,000\/£1,000 barrier, which is very impressive for a computer with these specifications, design quality and performance. That price, however, is for a machine with an 8-core CPU but a 7-core GPU (graphics processing unit). If you want an 8-core GPU you have to pay a little more.\n\nA 7-core CPU? That’s an odd number, surely? The only explanation we’ve seen is that Apple is using slightly less than perfect M1 chips off the production line with, effectively, one core not working, to produce a perfectly effective and functioning – but slightly cheaper – entry model. Unlikely as that sounds, it’s the only answer we have right now.\n\nGet the Digital Camera World Newsletter\n\nThe best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox\\!\n\nBy signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/terms-conditions\\\/)  and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/privacy-policy\\\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.\n\nYou can configure your MacBook Air at purchase to have more RAM (up to 16GB) or more storage (up to a 2TB SSD). This is the only chance you’ll get, since MacBook Airs are not user-upgradable. It has to be done at the point of manufacture and sale.\n\nOther features include a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina display, a revised ‘scissor’ keyboard design, Touch ID and Apple’s latest Big Sur operating system. Because of the new M1 chip architecture, the Air can even run iOS apps.\n\nThe battery life is an impressive 15hrs for wireless Internet use and 18hrs for video playback, though of course these figures are in ideal conditions; expect the battery life to be shorter than this if you are using lots of disk access and processing power.\n\n### Build and handling\n![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qLydXbp4yrni3hNpNAMmBT.jpg)\n\nThe MacBook Air (nearest the camera) is actually a very similar size and weight to the Pro (behind) – it simply has a wedge-shaped body that it slimmer at the front. (Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\n\nThe MacBook Air does look and feel extra-slim… though all is not as it seems. The case tapers to a thickness of just 41mm at the front, but the subtle ‘wedge’ design means it’s a much thicker 161mm at the back. In fact, while it feels slimmer overall than the MacBook Pro, it is a fraction thicker at the back. The Air is usefully slimmer and lighter than the Pro, but there’s nowhere near as much in it as the name suggests.\n\nApple got some criticism for its first ‘scissor’ keyboards. We didn’t have issues ourselves, but plenty of people did. The latest design in the MacBook Air feels really good. The keys have a short, light travel but feel very positive – perfect for quiet, unobtrusive typing.\n\nThe Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. Apple says it has a 25% wider color range than sRGB, but doesn’t mention [Adobe](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tag\/adobe) RGB, which leads us to assume it’s somewhere in the middle. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen. It has that ‘Retina’ effect where you just don’t see the dots any more and makes a surprising and subtle difference to the way you view, edit and evaluate digital images.\n\nThe 16:10 aspect ratio is a little odd. It’s a little taller than regular 16:9, which could be a nuisance for screen grabs and video, say, but it does provide a little extra vertical height for regular browsing, writing and so forth.\n\nThe two USB 4\/Thunderbolt ports are enough, arguably, but what happened to the HDMI and SD card slots you used to get on Apple laptops? Grrr. It seems you can only connect a single monitor to a USB port, too, which has caused consternation amongst some users, but wouldn’t bother us especially.\n\n### Performance\nSwipe to scroll horizontally\n\n| Header Cell - Column 0 | MacBook Air 13-inch M1 | MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 | 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| Single-core CPU score | 1722 | 1728 | 401 |\n| Multi-core CPU score | 7547 | 7590 | 1114 |\n| OpenCL GPU score | 15967 | 19148 | 3162 |\n| Metal GPU score | 17953 | 21352 | 422 |\n\nWe used GeekBench 5 to test the MacBook Air’s multi-core and single-core processing performance, and its GPU performance for OpenCL and Apple’s own Metal graphics processing. We’ve put the figures for the MacBook Pro M1 alongside for comparison and, just to show how far things have come, the results from a 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch.\n\nThe Apple M1 chip’s performance is pretty spectacular for a laptop, especially at this price point. These are just benchmarking tests and different software applications will bring their own processing and disk access bottlenecks, but this is at least a standardised test for comparing different machines.\n\nThe CPU performance of the M1 MacBook Air is very close to that of the M1 MacBook Pro, but the Pro's GPU graphics performance is noticeably better. And if you're wondering whether MacBooks really have come on very far, note the figures from our 2013 MacBook Pro – it feels fairly fast in normal use, but its benchmark performance is several times slower than todays' M1 models.\n\n### Verdict\n![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/merUu5UphgWQXr5DuV8bdS.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\n\nThe MacBook Air 13-in M1 is impressive in three main areas: first, its design, finish and ergonomics; second, its sheer performance for a lightweight laptop; third, its value for money given those other two things.\n\nThere are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer with a price and performance level you just wouldn’t expect.\n\n**Read more:**\n\n• [Best photo editing laptops](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-laptops-for-photographers)  \n • [Best laptops for video editing](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing)  \n • [Best portable hard drives](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers)  \n • [Best portable SSDs](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers)  \n • [Best monitors for photo editing](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-monitors-for-photographers)  \n • [Best portable monitors](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-monitors-for-photographers)  \n • [Best laptop stands](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-macbook-chargers)\n\nApple Macbook Air (M1 2020): Price Comparison\n\n[227 Amazon customer reviews](https:\/\/target.georiot.com\/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8428&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Freviews%2FB08T4R9D7M%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-1440106551431060535-20)\n\n☆☆☆☆☆\n\n[![MacBook Air (2020) 13-inch -...](https:\/\/images.fie.futurecdn.net\/products\/66c9723107cf75b96382d0c9f91d4f37159c62a3-100-80.jpg.webp)](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-4218842697538456592&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275)\n\n[![Back Market 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over 250 million products every day for the best prices\n\npowered by\n\n![Digital Camera World](https:\/\/search-api.fie.futurecdn.net\/img\/sites\/svg\/digitalcameraworld.svg)\n\nTOPICS\n\n[Macbook Air](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tag\/macbook-air)\n\n![Rod Lawton](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ris3o8Ex4Ns42FsHssSe4f.jpg)\n\n[Rod Lawton](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/author\/rod-lawton)\n\nSocial Links Navigation\n\nContributor\n\nRod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as Group Reviews Editor, Head of Testing for the photography division, Technique Editor on N-Photo, and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications.\n\nHe has been writing about digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras.\n\nRod has his own camera gear blog at [fotovolo.com](https:\/\/fotovolo.com\/) but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at [lifeafterphotoshop.com](https:\/\/www.lifeafterphotoshop.com\/).\n\nRead more\n\n[![Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) on a white table in front of a black wall](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hHCjpiPAcNpDLdUMbou84.jpg) Laptops Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/laptops\/apple-macbook-pro-14-m5-max-review \"Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you\")\n\n[![Apple MacBook Neo laptop in yellow on a desk](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9EdmTudXtJQnBtwnNu7sAQ.jpg) Cameras Apple MacBook Neo review: can Apple's cheapest laptop be a good buy for photographers?](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/cameras\/apple-macbook-neo-review-can-apples-cheapest-laptop-be-a-good-buy-for-photographers \"Apple MacBook Neo review: can Apple's cheapest laptop be a good buy for photographers?\")\n\n[![Apple iPad Air M4](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LKVnzNRzSLZsTR2XdEvdF8.jpg) Tablets Apple iPad Air M4 launches with 30% more grunt for image editing than on the iPad Air M3](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/tablets\/apple-ipad-air-m4-launches-with-30-percent-more-grunt-for-image-editing-than-on-the-ipad-air-m3 \"Apple iPad Air M4 launches with 30% more grunt for image editing than on the iPad Air M3\")\n\n[![MacBook Pro M5 Max](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YDbx63PrZAkk5bqzWop4N7.gif) Laptops MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max: after the wait, Apple grants serious portable power to creators, and a few more treats too, but...](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/computers\/macbook-pro-m5-pro-and-max-after-the-wait-apple-grants-serious-portable-power-to-creators-and-a-few-more-treats-too-but \"MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max: after the wait, Apple grants serious portable power to creators, and a few more treats too, but...\")\n\n[![Student using a yellow Apple MacBook Neo laptop in a classroom while a teacher assists nearby.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mcxN4cf6aKwfTHhNeF4yiK.jpg) Laptops Apple has unveiled its most affordable MacBook ever – this is the MacBook Neo](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/computers\/apple-has-unveiled-its-most-affordable-macbook-ever-this-is-the-macbook-neo \"Apple has unveiled its most affordable MacBook ever – this is the MacBook Neo\")\n\n[![ESR product images iPad Air M4 accessories](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hMXWxorK57tzk98crCTcEQ.jpg) Tablets Can’t decide between the Apple MacBook Neo and iPad Air M4? 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With ESR accessories, you can have your cake and eat it \")\n\nLatest in Laptops\n\n[![Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) on a white table in front of a black wall](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hHCjpiPAcNpDLdUMbou84.jpg) Laptops Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/laptops\/apple-macbook-pro-14-m5-max-review \"Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you\")\n\n[![Student using a yellow Apple MacBook Neo laptop in a classroom while a teacher assists nearby.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mcxN4cf6aKwfTHhNeF4yiK.jpg) Laptops Apple has unveiled its most affordable MacBook ever – this is the MacBook Neo](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/computers\/apple-has-unveiled-its-most-affordable-macbook-ever-this-is-the-macbook-neo \"Apple has unveiled its most affordable MacBook ever – this is the MacBook Neo\")\n\n[![MacBook Pro M5 Max](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YDbx63PrZAkk5bqzWop4N7.gif) Laptops MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max: after the wait, Apple grants serious portable power to creators, and a few more treats too, but...](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/computers\/macbook-pro-m5-pro-and-max-after-the-wait-apple-grants-serious-portable-power-to-creators-and-a-few-more-treats-too-but \"MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max: after the wait, Apple grants serious portable power to creators, and a few more treats too, but...\")\n\n[![The Asus ProArt GoPro Edition PX13](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YYpL9oT7FQNQLVYRbZjjZF.jpg) Laptops Camera-themed laptops are a thing now. 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Asus is teasing a ProArt x GoPro collab coming next month\")\n\n[![Black Friday 2025 Mac deals](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TqnRtGtqpeaJXVPvzRJ7s.jpg) Laptops These Black Friday deals on a MacBook Pro or Mac mini are too good to miss\\!](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tech\/laptops\/these-black-friday-deals-on-a-macbook-pro-or-mac-mini-are-too-good-to-miss \"These Black Friday deals on a MacBook Pro or Mac mini are too good to miss!\")\n\nLatest in Reviews\n\n[![Apple MacBook Neo laptop in yellow on a desk](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9EdmTudXtJQnBtwnNu7sAQ.jpg) Cameras Apple MacBook Neo review: can Apple's cheapest laptop be a good buy for photographers?](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/cameras\/apple-macbook-neo-review-can-apples-cheapest-laptop-be-a-good-buy-for-photographers \"Apple MacBook Neo review: can Apple's cheapest laptop be a good buy for photographers?\")\n\n[![Manfrotto ONE Photo tripod product shot](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/c72JrbhKaJp4oanKuLQ8W4.jpg) Tripods Manfrotto ONE Photo tripod review: a Chesney Hawkes kind of tripod that aims to be the ‘one and only’ for all your photo needs](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/cameras\/tripods\/manfrotto-one-photo-tripod-review \"Manfrotto ONE Photo tripod review: a Chesney Hawkes kind of tripod that aims to be the ‘one and only’ for all your photo needs\")\n\n[![Shot of a model snapping a selfie from an iPhone’s rear cameras (so she can’t see its screen). 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[Visit our corporate site](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/).\n\n[![Add as a preferred source on Google](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/mednnv697g1760357120.png) Add as a preferred source on Google](https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=digitalcameraworld.com)\n\n- [Terms and conditions](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/)\n- [Contact Future's experts](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/contact\/)\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Cookies policy](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/cookies-policy\/)\n- [Advertise with us](https:\/\/go.future-advertising.com\/Digital-Camera-World-Media-Kit.html)\n- [About us](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/news\/about-us)\n- [Accessibility Statement](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/accessibility-statement\/)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/careers\/)\n- [Do not sell or share my personal information](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/privacy-portal)\n\n© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.\n\nClose\n\nPlease login or signup to comment\n\nPlease wait...\n\nLogin\n\nSign Up","attrs_readable_markdown":"There will always be things to complain about – like getting just two USB ports and a headphone socket for connectivity, for example, or the base model’s weird 7-core GPU, but honestly, if you look at the design quality, the performance, the screen and its everyday ergonomic finesse, the MacBook Air M1 is just phenomenal. And for what you get, it’s not even very expensive.\n\n#### Pros\n- \\+\n  Finish, design, weight\n- \\+\n  Excellent Retina display\n- \\+\n  Silent, fanless design\n- \\+\n  Performance\\!\n\n#### Cons\n- \\-\n  No HDMI port or memory card slot\n- \\-\n  8-core GPU model costs more\n- \\-\n  Barely lighter than MacBook Pro\n\nWhy you can trust Digital Camera World   Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. [Find out how we test.](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/features\/how-we-test)\n\n**The MacBook Air 13-inch M1 is [Apple](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tag\/apple)’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Its wedge-shaped design looks super-slim and it feels light to pick up. If you need to carry your laptop around all day (and have the battery last all day) and be able to use it anywhere, the MacBook Air is ideal.**\n\nRelated articles\n\nIn the past, though, this small size and portability has brought a performance compromise. The Air has always been a bit of a lightweight, and not just physically.\n\nThis has changed. The Air now has Apple’s revolutionary all-in-one M1 CPU\/GPU chip with its shared memory and promises of spectacular performance. The MacBook Air is a fanless computer, so the M1 chip can’t necessarily be run at the same speeds under the same loads as it can in the [MacBook Pro](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tag\/apple-macbook-pro), but this may only prove a factor for heavy duty 3D and video rendering.\n\nLatest Videos From Digital Camera World\n\n• [**Best Macbook Air cases**](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-macbooks-for-photo-editing)[**Best monitors for MacBook Pro**](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-monitors-for-photographers) **•** [**Best Macbook Air docking stations**](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-macbook-chargers)\n\n### Specifications (as reviewed)\n**Processor:** Apple M1 8-core  \n **Graphics:** 7-core GPU  \n **Neural Engine:** 16-core  \n **RAM:** 8GB (configurable to 16GB)  \n **Storage:** 256GB SSD (configurable to 2TB)  \n **Connectivity:** 2x USB 4\/Thunderbolt, headphone socket, WiFi, Bluetooth  \n **Battery life:** 15hrs (wireless Internet)\/18hrs (movie playback)  \n **Dimensions:** 304.1 x 212.4 x 161mm  \n **Weight:** 1.29kg\n\n### Key features\n[![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZuTHF4ierHZXkKcr3bZbkT.jpg)]()\n\n(Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\n\nThe base model MacBook Air M1 creeps in just below the \\$1,000\/£1,000 barrier, which is very impressive for a computer with these specifications, design quality and performance. That price, however, is for a machine with an 8-core CPU but a 7-core GPU (graphics processing unit). If you want an 8-core GPU you have to pay a little more.\n\nA 7-core CPU? That’s an odd number, surely? The only explanation we’ve seen is that Apple is using slightly less than perfect M1 chips off the production line with, effectively, one core not working, to produce a perfectly effective and functioning – but slightly cheaper – entry model. Unlikely as that sounds, it’s the only answer we have right now.\n\nThe best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox\\!\n\nYou can configure your MacBook Air at purchase to have more RAM (up to 16GB) or more storage (up to a 2TB SSD). This is the only chance you’ll get, since MacBook Airs are not user-upgradable. It has to be done at the point of manufacture and sale.\n\nOther features include a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina display, a revised ‘scissor’ keyboard design, Touch ID and Apple’s latest Big Sur operating system. Because of the new M1 chip architecture, the Air can even run iOS apps.\n\nThe battery life is an impressive 15hrs for wireless Internet use and 18hrs for video playback, though of course these figures are in ideal conditions; expect the battery life to be shorter than this if you are using lots of disk access and processing power.\n\n### Build and handling\n![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qLydXbp4yrni3hNpNAMmBT.jpg)\n\nThe MacBook Air (nearest the camera) is actually a very similar size and weight to the Pro (behind) – it simply has a wedge-shaped body that it slimmer at the front. (Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\n\nThe MacBook Air does look and feel extra-slim… though all is not as it seems. The case tapers to a thickness of just 41mm at the front, but the subtle ‘wedge’ design means it’s a much thicker 161mm at the back. In fact, while it feels slimmer overall than the MacBook Pro, it is a fraction thicker at the back. The Air is usefully slimmer and lighter than the Pro, but there’s nowhere near as much in it as the name suggests.\n\nApple got some criticism for its first ‘scissor’ keyboards. We didn’t have issues ourselves, but plenty of people did. The latest design in the MacBook Air feels really good. The keys have a short, light travel but feel very positive – perfect for quiet, unobtrusive typing.\n\nThe Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. Apple says it has a 25% wider color range than sRGB, but doesn’t mention [Adobe](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/tag\/adobe) RGB, which leads us to assume it’s somewhere in the middle. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen. It has that ‘Retina’ effect where you just don’t see the dots any more and makes a surprising and subtle difference to the way you view, edit and evaluate digital images.\n\nThe 16:10 aspect ratio is a little odd. It’s a little taller than regular 16:9, which could be a nuisance for screen grabs and video, say, but it does provide a little extra vertical height for regular browsing, writing and so forth.\n\nThe two USB 4\/Thunderbolt ports are enough, arguably, but what happened to the HDMI and SD card slots you used to get on Apple laptops? Grrr. It seems you can only connect a single monitor to a USB port, too, which has caused consternation amongst some users, but wouldn’t bother us especially.\n\n### Performance\nSwipe to scroll horizontally\n\n| Header Cell - Column 0 | MacBook Air 13-inch M1 | MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 | 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| Single-core CPU score | 1722 | 1728 | 401 |\n| Multi-core CPU score | 7547 | 7590 | 1114 |\n| OpenCL GPU score | 15967 | 19148 | 3162 |\n| Metal GPU score | 17953 | 21352 | 422 |\n\nWe used GeekBench 5 to test the MacBook Air’s multi-core and single-core processing performance, and its GPU performance for OpenCL and Apple’s own Metal graphics processing. We’ve put the figures for the MacBook Pro M1 alongside for comparison and, just to show how far things have come, the results from a 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch.\n\nThe Apple M1 chip’s performance is pretty spectacular for a laptop, especially at this price point. These are just benchmarking tests and different software applications will bring their own processing and disk access bottlenecks, but this is at least a standardised test for comparing different machines.\n\nThe CPU performance of the M1 MacBook Air is very close to that of the M1 MacBook Pro, but the Pro's GPU graphics performance is noticeably better. And if you're wondering whether MacBooks really have come on very far, note the figures from our 2013 MacBook Pro – it feels fairly fast in normal use, but its benchmark performance is several times slower than todays' M1 models.\n\n### Verdict\n![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/merUu5UphgWQXr5DuV8bdS.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Rod Lawton\/Digital Camera World)\n\nThe MacBook Air 13-in M1 is impressive in three main areas: first, its design, finish and ergonomics; second, its sheer performance for a lightweight laptop; third, its value for money given those other two things.\n\nThere are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer with a price and performance level you just wouldn’t expect.\n\n**Read more:**\n\n• [Best photo editing laptops](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-laptops-for-photographers)  \n • [Best laptops for video editing](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing)  \n • [Best portable hard drives](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers)  \n • [Best portable SSDs](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers)  \n • [Best monitors for photo editing](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-monitors-for-photographers)  \n • [Best portable monitors](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-monitors-for-photographers)  \n • [Best laptop stands](https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/buying-guides\/best-macbook-chargers)\n\nRod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as Group Reviews Editor, Head of Testing for the photography division, Technique Editor on N-Photo, and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications.\n\nHe has been writing about digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras.\n\nRod has his own camera gear blog at [fotovolo.com](https:\/\/fotovolo.com\/) but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at [lifeafterphotoshop.com](https:\/\/www.lifeafterphotoshop.com\/).","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	There will always be things to complain about – like getting just two USB ports and a headphone socket for connectivity, for example, or the base model’s weird 7-core GPU, but honestly, if you look at the design quality, the performance, the screen and its everyday ergonomic finesse, the MacBook Air M1 is just phenomenal. And for what you get, it’s not even very expensive. Pros + Finish, design, weight + Excellent Retina display + Silent, fanless design + Performance! Cons - No HDMI port or memory card slot - 8-core GPU model costs more - Barely lighter than MacBook Pro Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test. The MacBook Air 13-inch M1 is Apple ’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Its wedge-shaped design looks super-slim and it feels light to pick up. If you need to carry your laptop around all day (and have the battery last all day) and be able to use it anywhere, the MacBook Air is ideal. Related articles In the past, though, this small size and portability has brought a performance compromise. The Air has always been a bit of a lightweight, and not just physically. This has changed. The Air now has Apple’s revolutionary all-in-one M1 CPU/GPU chip with its shared memory and promises of spectacular performance. The MacBook Air is a fanless computer, so the M1 chip can’t necessarily be run at the same speeds under the same loads as it can in the MacBook Pro , but this may only prove a factor for heavy duty 3D and video rendering. Latest Videos From Digital Camera World • Best Macbook Air cases Best monitors for MacBook Pro • Best Macbook Air docking stations Specifications (as reviewed) Processor: Apple M1 8-core Graphics: 7-core GPU Neural Engine: 16-core RAM: 8GB (configurable to 16GB) Storage: 256GB SSD (configurable to 2TB) Connectivity: 2x USB 4/Thunderbolt, headphone socket, WiFi, Bluetooth Battery life: 15hrs (wireless Internet)/18hrs (movie playback) Dimensions: 304.1 x 212.4 x 161mm Weight: 1.29kg Key features (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The base model MacBook Air M1 creeps in just below the $1,000/£1,000 barrier, which is very impressive for a computer with these specifications, design quality and performance. That price, however, is for a machine with an 8-core CPU but a 7-core GPU (graphics processing unit). If you want an 8-core GPU you have to pay a little more. A 7-core CPU? That’s an odd number, surely? The only explanation we’ve seen is that Apple is using slightly less than perfect M1 chips off the production line with, effectively, one core not working, to produce a perfectly effective and functioning – but slightly cheaper – entry model. Unlikely as that sounds, it’s the only answer we have right now. The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox! You can configure your MacBook Air at purchase to have more RAM (up to 16GB) or more storage (up to a 2TB SSD). This is the only chance you’ll get, since MacBook Airs are not user-upgradable. It has to be done at the point of manufacture and sale. Other features include a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina display, a revised ‘scissor’ keyboard design, Touch ID and Apple’s latest Big Sur operating system. Because of the new M1 chip architecture, the Air can even run iOS apps. The battery life is an impressive 15hrs for wireless Internet use and 18hrs for video playback, though of course these figures are in ideal conditions; expect the battery life to be shorter than this if you are using lots of disk access and processing power. Build and handling The MacBook Air (nearest the camera) is actually a very similar size and weight to the Pro (behind) – it simply has a wedge-shaped body that it slimmer at the front. (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The MacBook Air does look and feel extra-slim… though all is not as it seems. The case tapers to a thickness of just 41mm at the front, but the subtle ‘wedge’ design means it’s a much thicker 161mm at the back. In fact, while it feels slimmer overall than the MacBook Pro, it is a fraction thicker at the back. The Air is usefully slimmer and lighter than the Pro, but there’s nowhere near as much in it as the name suggests. Apple got some criticism for its first ‘scissor’ keyboards. We didn’t have issues ourselves, but plenty of people did. The latest design in the MacBook Air feels really good. The keys have a short, light travel but feel very positive – perfect for quiet, unobtrusive typing. The Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. Apple says it has a 25% wider color range than sRGB, but doesn’t mention Adobe RGB, which leads us to assume it’s somewhere in the middle. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen. It has that ‘Retina’ effect where you just don’t see the dots any more and makes a surprising and subtle difference to the way you view, edit and evaluate digital images. The 16:10 aspect ratio is a little odd. It’s a little taller than regular 16:9, which could be a nuisance for screen grabs and video, say, but it does provide a little extra vertical height for regular browsing, writing and so forth. The two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports are enough, arguably, but what happened to the HDMI and SD card slots you used to get on Apple laptops? Grrr. It seems you can only connect a single monitor to a USB port, too, which has caused consternation amongst some users, but wouldn’t bother us especially. Performance Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0 MacBook Air 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch Single-core CPU score 1722 1728 401 Multi-core CPU score 7547 7590 1114 OpenCL GPU score 15967 19148 3162 Metal GPU score 17953 21352 422 We used GeekBench 5 to test the MacBook Air’s multi-core and single-core processing performance, and its GPU performance for OpenCL and Apple’s own Metal graphics processing. We’ve put the figures for the MacBook Pro M1 alongside for comparison and, just to show how far things have come, the results from a 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch. The Apple M1 chip’s performance is pretty spectacular for a laptop, especially at this price point. These are just benchmarking tests and different software applications will bring their own processing and disk access bottlenecks, but this is at least a standardised test for comparing different machines. The CPU performance of the M1 MacBook Air is very close to that of the M1 MacBook Pro, but the Pro's GPU graphics performance is noticeably better. And if you're wondering whether MacBooks really have come on very far, note the figures from our 2013 MacBook Pro – it feels fairly fast in normal use, but its benchmark performance is several times slower than todays' M1 models. Verdict (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The MacBook Air 13-in M1 is impressive in three main areas: first, its design, finish and ergonomics; second, its sheer performance for a lightweight laptop; third, its value for money given those other two things. There are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer with a price and performance level you just wouldn’t expect. Read more: • Best photo editing laptops • Best laptops for video editing • Best portable hard drives • Best portable SSDs • Best monitors for photo editing • Best portable monitors • Best laptop stands Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as Group Reviews Editor, Head of Testing for the photography division, Technique Editor on N-Photo, and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com .
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[Tech](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tech) 2. [Laptops](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tech/laptops) # Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1 review ## Is the MacBook Air 13-inch M1 an overpriced luxury or technological breakthrough? We’re not 100% sold, but 99.9% is close [Reviews](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews) By [Rod Lawton](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/author/rod-lawton) last updated November 8, 2022 When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/about-us#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure). ![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pThN6Fe8a6T5Bxe8VjfZxQ.jpg) ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HTmmoQLNQmmNNHK9TTvZid-200-100.png) (Image credit: © Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) ### Digital Camera World Verdict There will always be things to complain about – like getting just two USB ports and a headphone socket for connectivity, for example, or the base model’s weird 7-core GPU, but honestly, if you look at the design quality, the performance, the screen and its everyday ergonomic finesse, the MacBook Air M1 is just phenomenal. And for what you get, it’s not even very expensive. [\$360 at Back Market (US)](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-9351306025537693553&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275) [\$589.99 at StackSocial](https://stacksocial.sjv.io/c/221109/2806488/14766?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-5856296533312833154&prodsku=328018&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stacksocial.com%2Fsales%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-16gb-ram-256gb-ssd-space-gray-refurbished&intsrc=CATF_22147) [\$648.99 at Amazon](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20) [\$799.99 at QVC - US](https://qvc.uikc.net/c/221109/600918/9368?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-8526856780904740574&prodsku=E320451&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qvc.com%2Fqvc.product.E320451.html&intsrc=CATF_4578) #### Pros - \+ Finish, design, weight - \+ Excellent Retina display - \+ Silent, fanless design - \+ Performance\! #### Cons - \- No HDMI port or memory card slot - \- 8-core GPU model costs more - \- Barely lighter than MacBook Pro Best picks for you - [The best laptops for video editing in 2026: edit your footage easily, wherever you are](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing) - [The best MacBooks for photo editing in 2026: options to suit every budget](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-macbooks-for-photo-editing) - [The best photo-editing laptops for photographers in 2026](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-laptops-for-photographers) Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. [Find out how we test.](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/features/how-we-test) Jump to: - [Specifications](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-specifications-as-reviewed) - [Key features](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-key-features) - [Build and handling](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-build-and-handling) - [Performance](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-performance) - [Verdict](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-m1-review#section-verdict) The MacBook Air 13-inch M1 is [Apple](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/apple)’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Its wedge-shaped design looks super-slim and it feels light to pick up. If you need to carry your laptop around all day (and have the battery last all day) and be able to use it anywhere, the MacBook Air is ideal. Related articles • [Best photo editing laptops](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-laptops-for-photographers) • [Best laptops for video editing](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing) • [Best portable hard drive](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers) • [Best portable SSDs](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers) • [Best monitors for photo editing](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photographers) • [Best Mac printer](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-photo-printer) In the past, though, this small size and portability has brought a performance compromise. The Air has always been a bit of a lightweight, and not just physically. - [Apple Macbook Air (M1 2020) (256GB 8GB RAM) at Amazon for \$648.99](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20) This has changed. The Air now has Apple’s revolutionary all-in-one M1 CPU/GPU chip with its shared memory and promises of spectacular performance. The MacBook Air is a fanless computer, so the M1 chip can’t necessarily be run at the same speeds under the same loads as it can in the [MacBook Pro](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/apple-macbook-pro), but this may only prove a factor for heavy duty 3D and video rendering. Latest Videos From Digital Camera World • [Best Macbook Air cases](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-macbooks-for-photo-editing)[Best monitors for MacBook Pro](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photographers) • [Best Macbook Air docking stations](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-macbook-chargers) ### Specifications (as reviewed) Processor: Apple M1 8-core Graphics: 7-core GPU Neural Engine: 16-core RAM: 8GB (configurable to 16GB) Storage: 256GB SSD (configurable to 2TB) Connectivity: 2x USB 4/Thunderbolt, headphone socket, WiFi, Bluetooth Battery life: 15hrs (wireless Internet)/18hrs (movie playback) Dimensions: 304.1 x 212.4 x 161mm Weight: 1.29kg ### Key features [![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZuTHF4ierHZXkKcr3bZbkT.jpg)]() (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The base model MacBook Air M1 creeps in just below the \$1,000/£1,000 barrier, which is very impressive for a computer with these specifications, design quality and performance. That price, however, is for a machine with an 8-core CPU but a 7-core GPU (graphics processing unit). If you want an 8-core GPU you have to pay a little more. A 7-core CPU? That’s an odd number, surely? The only explanation we’ve seen is that Apple is using slightly less than perfect M1 chips off the production line with, effectively, one core not working, to produce a perfectly effective and functioning – but slightly cheaper – entry model. Unlikely as that sounds, it’s the only answer we have right now. Get the Digital Camera World Newsletter The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox\! By signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. You can configure your MacBook Air at purchase to have more RAM (up to 16GB) or more storage (up to a 2TB SSD). This is the only chance you’ll get, since MacBook Airs are not user-upgradable. It has to be done at the point of manufacture and sale. Other features include a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina display, a revised ‘scissor’ keyboard design, Touch ID and Apple’s latest Big Sur operating system. Because of the new M1 chip architecture, the Air can even run iOS apps. The battery life is an impressive 15hrs for wireless Internet use and 18hrs for video playback, though of course these figures are in ideal conditions; expect the battery life to be shorter than this if you are using lots of disk access and processing power. ### Build and handling ![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qLydXbp4yrni3hNpNAMmBT.jpg) The MacBook Air (nearest the camera) is actually a very similar size and weight to the Pro (behind) – it simply has a wedge-shaped body that it slimmer at the front. (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The MacBook Air does look and feel extra-slim… though all is not as it seems. The case tapers to a thickness of just 41mm at the front, but the subtle ‘wedge’ design means it’s a much thicker 161mm at the back. In fact, while it feels slimmer overall than the MacBook Pro, it is a fraction thicker at the back. The Air is usefully slimmer and lighter than the Pro, but there’s nowhere near as much in it as the name suggests. Apple got some criticism for its first ‘scissor’ keyboards. We didn’t have issues ourselves, but plenty of people did. The latest design in the MacBook Air feels really good. The keys have a short, light travel but feel very positive – perfect for quiet, unobtrusive typing. The Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. Apple says it has a 25% wider color range than sRGB, but doesn’t mention [Adobe](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/adobe) RGB, which leads us to assume it’s somewhere in the middle. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen. It has that ‘Retina’ effect where you just don’t see the dots any more and makes a surprising and subtle difference to the way you view, edit and evaluate digital images. The 16:10 aspect ratio is a little odd. It’s a little taller than regular 16:9, which could be a nuisance for screen grabs and video, say, but it does provide a little extra vertical height for regular browsing, writing and so forth. The two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports are enough, arguably, but what happened to the HDMI and SD card slots you used to get on Apple laptops? Grrr. It seems you can only connect a single monitor to a USB port, too, which has caused consternation amongst some users, but wouldn’t bother us especially. ### Performance Swipe to scroll horizontally \| Header Cell - Column 0 \| MacBook Air 13-inch M1 \| MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 \| 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| Single-core CPU score \| 1722 \| 1728 \| 401 \| \| Multi-core CPU score \| 7547 \| 7590 \| 1114 \| \| OpenCL GPU score \| 15967 \| 19148 \| 3162 \| \| Metal GPU score \| 17953 \| 21352 \| 422 \| We used GeekBench 5 to test the MacBook Air’s multi-core and single-core processing performance, and its GPU performance for OpenCL and Apple’s own Metal graphics processing. We’ve put the figures for the MacBook Pro M1 alongside for comparison and, just to show how far things have come, the results from a 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch. The Apple M1 chip’s performance is pretty spectacular for a laptop, especially at this price point. These are just benchmarking tests and different software applications will bring their own processing and disk access bottlenecks, but this is at least a standardised test for comparing different machines. The CPU performance of the M1 MacBook Air is very close to that of the M1 MacBook Pro, but the Pro's GPU graphics performance is noticeably better. And if you're wondering whether MacBooks really have come on very far, note the figures from our 2013 MacBook Pro – it feels fairly fast in normal use, but its benchmark performance is several times slower than todays' M1 models. ### Verdict ![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/merUu5UphgWQXr5DuV8bdS.jpg) (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The MacBook Air 13-in M1 is impressive in three main areas: first, its design, finish and ergonomics; second, its sheer performance for a lightweight laptop; third, its value for money given those other two things. There are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer with a price and performance level you just wouldn’t expect. Read more: • [Best photo editing laptops](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-laptops-for-photographers) • [Best laptops for video editing](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing) • [Best portable hard drives](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers) • [Best portable SSDs](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers) • [Best monitors for photo editing](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photographers) • [Best portable monitors](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photographers) • [Best laptop stands](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-macbook-chargers) Apple Macbook Air (M1 2020): Price Comparison [227 Amazon customer reviews](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8428&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Freviews%2FB08T4R9D7M%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-1440106551431060535-20) ☆☆☆☆☆ [![MacBook Air (2020) 13-inch -...](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/products/66c9723107cf75b96382d0c9f91d4f37159c62a3-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-4218842697538456592&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275) [![Back Market (US)](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/rgdker6hsayzugrm-17211272801503-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-4218842697538456592&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275) [\$999](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-4218842697538456592&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275) [\$360](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-4218842697538456592&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275) [View](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=dcw-us-4218842697538456592&p=40168773873&a=103504&m=18275) [![Apple Macbook Air (2020) 13"...](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/products/485d52fa7a4187cc34a867eae0cef04b835bf829-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://stacksocial.sjv.io/c/221109/2806488/14766?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-6008857388712695128&prodsku=328018&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stacksocial.com%2Fsales%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-16gb-ram-256gb-ssd-space-gray-refurbished&intsrc=CATF_22147) [![StackSocial](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/1mp4hxkrtxamufj7-17018825107662-100-80.png.webp)](https://stacksocial.sjv.io/c/221109/2806488/14766?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-6008857388712695128&prodsku=328018&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stacksocial.com%2Fsales%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-16gb-ram-256gb-ssd-space-gray-refurbished&intsrc=CATF_22147) [\$589.99](https://stacksocial.sjv.io/c/221109/2806488/14766?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-6008857388712695128&prodsku=328018&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stacksocial.com%2Fsales%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-16gb-ram-256gb-ssd-space-gray-refurbished&intsrc=CATF_22147) [View](https://stacksocial.sjv.io/c/221109/2806488/14766?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-6008857388712695128&prodsku=328018&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stacksocial.com%2Fsales%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-16gb-ram-256gb-ssd-space-gray-refurbished&intsrc=CATF_22147) [![2020 Apple MacBook Air...](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/products/6c5161322614bcc5afb2a51f0f4ad216dec98901-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20) [![Amazon](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/logos/merchants/amazon-us-15006529670367-100-80.png.webp)](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20) [![Prime](https://search-api.fie.futurecdn.net/img/misc/prime.png)](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Ftryprimefree%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20) [\$999](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20) [\$648.99](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20) [View](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8430&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08N5M7S6K%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26ascsubtag%3Ddcw-us-6093019320478919996-20) [![Apple Refurbished 2020...](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/products/594c8fd985a929accc5f713017fbce27f1fcd98e-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://qvc.uikc.net/c/221109/600918/9368?sharedId=dcw-us&subId1=dcw-us-1416480533520135639&prodsku=E320451&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qvc.com%2Fqvc.product.E320451.html&intsrc=CATF_4578) [![QVC - 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He has been writing about digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras. Rod has his own camera gear blog at [fotovolo.com](https://fotovolo.com/) but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at [lifeafterphotoshop.com](https://www.lifeafterphotoshop.com/). Read more [![Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) on a white table in front of a black wall](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hHCjpiPAcNpDLdUMbou84.jpg) Laptops Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tech/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-14-m5-max-review "Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you") [![Apple MacBook Neo laptop in yellow on a desk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9EdmTudXtJQnBtwnNu7sAQ.jpg) Cameras Apple MacBook Neo review: can Apple's cheapest laptop be a good buy for photographers?](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/apple-macbook-neo-review-can-apples-cheapest-laptop-be-a-good-buy-for-photographers "Apple MacBook Neo review: can Apple's cheapest laptop be a good buy for photographers?") 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With ESR accessories, you can have your cake and eat it ") Latest in Laptops [![Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) on a white table in front of a black wall](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hHCjpiPAcNpDLdUMbou84.jpg) Laptops Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tech/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-14-m5-max-review "Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) review: exceptional performance you can carry with you") [![Student using a yellow Apple MacBook Neo laptop in a classroom while a teacher assists nearby.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mcxN4cf6aKwfTHhNeF4yiK.jpg) Laptops Apple has unveiled its most affordable MacBook ever – this is the MacBook Neo](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tech/computers/apple-has-unveiled-its-most-affordable-macbook-ever-this-is-the-macbook-neo "Apple has unveiled its most affordable MacBook ever – this is the MacBook Neo") [![MacBook Pro M5 Max](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YDbx63PrZAkk5bqzWop4N7.gif) Laptops MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max: after the wait, Apple grants serious portable power to creators, and a few more treats too, but...](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tech/computers/macbook-pro-m5-pro-and-max-after-the-wait-apple-grants-serious-portable-power-to-creators-and-a-few-more-treats-too-but "MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max: after the wait, Apple grants serious portable power to creators, and a few more treats too, but...") 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Readable Markdown	There will always be things to complain about – like getting just two USB ports and a headphone socket for connectivity, for example, or the base model’s weird 7-core GPU, but honestly, if you look at the design quality, the performance, the screen and its everyday ergonomic finesse, the MacBook Air M1 is just phenomenal. And for what you get, it’s not even very expensive. #### Pros - \+ Finish, design, weight - \+ Excellent Retina display - \+ Silent, fanless design - \+ Performance\! #### Cons - \- No HDMI port or memory card slot - \- 8-core GPU model costs more - \- Barely lighter than MacBook Pro Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. [Find out how we test.](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/features/how-we-test) The MacBook Air 13-inch M1 is [Apple](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/apple)’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Its wedge-shaped design looks super-slim and it feels light to pick up. If you need to carry your laptop around all day (and have the battery last all day) and be able to use it anywhere, the MacBook Air is ideal. Related articles In the past, though, this small size and portability has brought a performance compromise. The Air has always been a bit of a lightweight, and not just physically. This has changed. The Air now has Apple’s revolutionary all-in-one M1 CPU/GPU chip with its shared memory and promises of spectacular performance. The MacBook Air is a fanless computer, so the M1 chip can’t necessarily be run at the same speeds under the same loads as it can in the [MacBook Pro](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/apple-macbook-pro), but this may only prove a factor for heavy duty 3D and video rendering. Latest Videos From Digital Camera World • [Best Macbook Air cases](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-macbooks-for-photo-editing)[Best monitors for MacBook Pro](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photographers) • [Best Macbook Air docking stations](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-macbook-chargers) ### Specifications (as reviewed) Processor: Apple M1 8-core Graphics: 7-core GPU Neural Engine: 16-core RAM: 8GB (configurable to 16GB) Storage: 256GB SSD (configurable to 2TB) Connectivity: 2x USB 4/Thunderbolt, headphone socket, WiFi, Bluetooth Battery life: 15hrs (wireless Internet)/18hrs (movie playback) Dimensions: 304.1 x 212.4 x 161mm Weight: 1.29kg ### Key features [![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZuTHF4ierHZXkKcr3bZbkT.jpg)]() (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The base model MacBook Air M1 creeps in just below the \$1,000/£1,000 barrier, which is very impressive for a computer with these specifications, design quality and performance. That price, however, is for a machine with an 8-core CPU but a 7-core GPU (graphics processing unit). If you want an 8-core GPU you have to pay a little more. A 7-core CPU? That’s an odd number, surely? The only explanation we’ve seen is that Apple is using slightly less than perfect M1 chips off the production line with, effectively, one core not working, to produce a perfectly effective and functioning – but slightly cheaper – entry model. Unlikely as that sounds, it’s the only answer we have right now. The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox\! You can configure your MacBook Air at purchase to have more RAM (up to 16GB) or more storage (up to a 2TB SSD). This is the only chance you’ll get, since MacBook Airs are not user-upgradable. It has to be done at the point of manufacture and sale. Other features include a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina display, a revised ‘scissor’ keyboard design, Touch ID and Apple’s latest Big Sur operating system. Because of the new M1 chip architecture, the Air can even run iOS apps. The battery life is an impressive 15hrs for wireless Internet use and 18hrs for video playback, though of course these figures are in ideal conditions; expect the battery life to be shorter than this if you are using lots of disk access and processing power. ### Build and handling ![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qLydXbp4yrni3hNpNAMmBT.jpg) The MacBook Air (nearest the camera) is actually a very similar size and weight to the Pro (behind) – it simply has a wedge-shaped body that it slimmer at the front. (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The MacBook Air does look and feel extra-slim… though all is not as it seems. The case tapers to a thickness of just 41mm at the front, but the subtle ‘wedge’ design means it’s a much thicker 161mm at the back. In fact, while it feels slimmer overall than the MacBook Pro, it is a fraction thicker at the back. The Air is usefully slimmer and lighter than the Pro, but there’s nowhere near as much in it as the name suggests. Apple got some criticism for its first ‘scissor’ keyboards. We didn’t have issues ourselves, but plenty of people did. The latest design in the MacBook Air feels really good. The keys have a short, light travel but feel very positive – perfect for quiet, unobtrusive typing. The Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. Apple says it has a 25% wider color range than sRGB, but doesn’t mention [Adobe](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/adobe) RGB, which leads us to assume it’s somewhere in the middle. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen. It has that ‘Retina’ effect where you just don’t see the dots any more and makes a surprising and subtle difference to the way you view, edit and evaluate digital images. The 16:10 aspect ratio is a little odd. It’s a little taller than regular 16:9, which could be a nuisance for screen grabs and video, say, but it does provide a little extra vertical height for regular browsing, writing and so forth. The two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports are enough, arguably, but what happened to the HDMI and SD card slots you used to get on Apple laptops? Grrr. It seems you can only connect a single monitor to a USB port, too, which has caused consternation amongst some users, but wouldn’t bother us especially. ### Performance Swipe to scroll horizontally \| Header Cell - Column 0 \| MacBook Air 13-inch M1 \| MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 \| 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| Single-core CPU score \| 1722 \| 1728 \| 401 \| \| Multi-core CPU score \| 7547 \| 7590 \| 1114 \| \| OpenCL GPU score \| 15967 \| 19148 \| 3162 \| \| Metal GPU score \| 17953 \| 21352 \| 422 \| We used GeekBench 5 to test the MacBook Air’s multi-core and single-core processing performance, and its GPU performance for OpenCL and Apple’s own Metal graphics processing. We’ve put the figures for the MacBook Pro M1 alongside for comparison and, just to show how far things have come, the results from a 2013 MacBook Pro 13-inch. The Apple M1 chip’s performance is pretty spectacular for a laptop, especially at this price point. These are just benchmarking tests and different software applications will bring their own processing and disk access bottlenecks, but this is at least a standardised test for comparing different machines. The CPU performance of the M1 MacBook Air is very close to that of the M1 MacBook Pro, but the Pro's GPU graphics performance is noticeably better. And if you're wondering whether MacBooks really have come on very far, note the figures from our 2013 MacBook Pro – it feels fairly fast in normal use, but its benchmark performance is several times slower than todays' M1 models. ### Verdict ![Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/merUu5UphgWQXr5DuV8bdS.jpg) (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World) The MacBook Air 13-in M1 is impressive in three main areas: first, its design, finish and ergonomics; second, its sheer performance for a lightweight laptop; third, its value for money given those other two things. There are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer with a price and performance level you just wouldn’t expect. Read more: • [Best photo editing laptops](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-laptops-for-photographers) • [Best laptops for video editing](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-best-laptop-for-video-editing) • [Best portable hard drives](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers) • [Best portable SSDs](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-portable-hard-drives-for-photographers) • [Best monitors for photo editing](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photographers) • [Best portable monitors](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photographers) • [Best laptop stands](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-macbook-chargers) Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as Group Reviews Editor, Head of Testing for the photography division, Technique Editor on N-Photo, and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras. Rod has his own camera gear blog at [fotovolo.com](https://fotovolo.com/) but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at [lifeafterphotoshop.com](https://www.lifeafterphotoshop.com/).
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