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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 197 (from laksa038)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa197.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.tomsguide.com/reviews/macbook-air-2020-m1\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/macbook-air-2020-m1\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2020-m1","crawl_time":1775728582,"first_indexed_time":1605624253,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,tomsguide!www,\/reviews\/macbook-air-2020-m1 s443","src_root_hash":"10739315332286082797","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"MacBook Air with M1 review: Great value | Tom's Guide","meta_descriptions":["The MacBook Air with M1 packs MacBook Pro-like power and amazing battery life"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Tom's Guide Verdict\nThe MacBook Air now has the speed and battery life to beat the best PCs.\nPros\n+\nRemarkably fast performance\n+\nStrong legacy app support\n+\nAmazingly long battery life\n+\nComfy Magic Keyboard\n+\nImproved webcam\nCons\n-\nStill has thick bezels\n-\nLight on ports\nWhy you can trust Tom's Guide\nOur writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you.\nFind out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Specs\nPrice:\n $999 (starting), $899 (education)\nCPU:\n Apple M1\nDisplay:\n13.3‑inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel\nBattery:\n14:41 (tested)\nMemory:\n8GB to 16GB\nStorage:\n256GB to 2TB\nDimensions:\n12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches\nWeight:\n2.8 pounds\nEditor's Note:\nThe latest\nMacBook Air M2\nnow occupies the top of some of our best-of lists. However, the M1 Air is still a great laptop; read the full review that we originally published in 2020 below to see why.\nAs a prospective MacBook shopper myself, I'm happy to say that the new MacBook Air offers serious performance gains over its predecessor, and many more hours of battery life as well. This MacBook Air with M1 review will show why this is one of the\nbest laptops\n, period.\nMost of the apps I've used on the MacBook Air are still the Intel versions, which macOS Big Sur uses Rosetta 2 to translate for working on its ARM-based processor. Once app developers make Universal versions, their apps will run even faster on Apple silicon systems, like this M1-based MacBook Air.\nNot only am I going to pit the new M1 MacBook Air against the best PC laptops in this review, but I'm also comparing it against the Intel-based MacBook Air released last year, to show how much has changed (or hasn't).\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Price and release date\nThe\nMacBook Air with M1 starts at $999\n, though educational customers can get it for $899. It's also frequently discounted to below $800 at vendors like\nAmazon\nand\nBest Buy\n. That model has an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The $1,249 model is a little more stacked, with 512GB of SSD storage — plus an 8-core GPU.\nThe MacBook Air with M1 debuted on November 17, 2020. Its follow-up, the MacBook Air M2 released in June 2022 and costs $1,199 to start.\nWant more Apple news?\nSign up to the Tom's iGuide weekly newsletter with coverage on everything from product launches to software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.\nContact me with news and offers from other Future brands\nReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Performance\nThe MacBook Air's performance — powered by the M1 processor and 16GB of RAM — is phenomenal. When I split its screen between 20\nChrome\n(Intel, not Universal) tabs and a 1080p\nYouTube\nvideo — plus Apple's Mail and Photos app, Pixelmator (again, an Intel app) and 1Password (Intel, again) in the background, I never saw anything close to a hiccup. Oh, and in the background, 20GB of 4K video was being AirDrop transferred, while everything stayed smooth and stable.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nDuring a group call, I even found time to play around with iOS apps, downloading and opening the Overcast podcatcher, HBO Max and the game Among Us. All while a 4K YouTube video of a chef cooking played on my laptop monitor, I played around in each of those apps, so I could start an Adventure Time episode, download a podcast and drag my lil Among Us guy around on screen. Yes, I'm very good at multitasking.\nMost of the time, the MacBook Air with M1 felt — performance-wise — like it was identical (if not faster) than the 2020 Core i5 MacBook Pro I've used to test Big Sur, or the 2017 Core i7 MacBook Pro work computer I relied upon. This includes when I connected an external monitor. Before this, I was a bit skeptical, even with Apple's boasts of 3.5x improved performance vs the Intel MacBook Air released earlier this year, because I've always pushed my MacBooks to the limit, and needed a MacBook Pro, and not an Air, to do my work. This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro.\nAnd let's see how that shakes out in benchmarks — and I'll note that not all of our tests were done with Universal versions of apps, and Intel versions aren't optimized for the M1.\nThe Air scored 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.1 (Intel) multicore test, which was practically in a dead-heat with the 5,925 from the M1 MacBook Pro. The Air soundly beat the 5,084 from the ZenBook 13 and the 5,319 from the XPS 13 (both tested with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM), on the comparable Geekbench 5.2 test. The old Intel MacBook Air Y-series Intel CPU mustered only 2,738.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nThis MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro.\nOn our Handbrake (Universal) video conversion test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p, the MacBook Air finished the test in 9 minutes and 15 seconds and the MacBook Pro took 7:44 (on a Beta version of Handbrake that's optimized for Apple silicon). Those times\nobliterate\nthose from the ZenBook 13 (17:51) and XPS 13 (18:22), as well as the 27:10 time from the Intel MacBook Air from earlier this year.\nApple also promised twice as fast storage speeds, and they delivered. The 1TB SSD in the MacBook Air we tested hit a read speed of 2692 MBps on the Black Magic Disk Speed Test (Intel), literally more than twice the 1,301.9 MBps read rate from the Intel MacBook Air. \nThe MacBook Air scored a 653 on the PugetBench Photoshop (Intel) test, which beats the 588 from the XPS 13, but falls to the 743 from the ZenBook 13 (a rare win for the x86 crowd). The MacBook Pro came pretty close, with a 649.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics\nOur test MacBook Air has the 8-core GPU configuration, which (by the feel of it) could reshape the Mac in the minds of some gamers. I started it off easy, running Bioshock 2 Remastered (at the native 2560 x 1600 resolution) and that game played smoothly, as rippling water flowed through the rooms I navigated, electro shocks hit enemies and all the underwater life outside the hallways I explored moved without a glitch.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nBut since that's an older game, I brought out Rise of the Tomb Raider (also at 2560 x 1600, and set to Medium graphics) which looked great on the MacBook Air — and I never thought I'd see a MacBook Air run a demanding AAA game at all. Whether I was climbing a snowy arctic mountain or exploring the deserts of Syria, Lara Croft moved as she should. Oh, and both of these games are Intel versions running via Rosetta 2, so they're not Universal versions (yet).\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nWhen we benchmarked Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Intel) on the MacBook Air (where 1440 x 900 was the highest resolution supported), it ran at 37 frames per second, walloping the 7 fps score we got from the Intel MacBook Air and coming in slightly under the M1 MacBook Pro's 38 fps time. The ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 (which could run that game at a slightly sharper 1080p) posted rates of 21 and 16 fps, respectively.\nInterestingly, the GFXBench Metal Aztec Ruins graphics benchmark (Universal) gave the Air and Pro practically similar scores: a 54 on High and 60 on Normal (both rounded down).\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Battery Life\nOn the Tom's Guide web browsing battery test, the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes.\nApple declared its M1 chip would enable all-day battery life, and the company has hit that mark. On the Tom's Guide battery test (web browsing at 150 nits), the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes (while the new MacBook Pro hit 16:32) — times that beat both the ZenBook 13 (13:47) and XPS 13 (11:07). The\nOLED XPS 13\n(7:59) put in a much lower time.\nAnd for those who just want to compare against the previous Intel Macs — they're left in the dust. The Intel MacBook Air (9:31) and MacBook Pro (10:21) times have now been beaten by 5 and 6 hours, respectively.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Webcam\nI've wanted Apple to give its MacBooks a higher-resolution camera, but they found another way to improve the MacBook for the Zoom era. The M1 chip features an image signal processor that makes you look better in a couple of ways.\nI put the New MacBook Air's webcam in a head-to-head face-off with the early-2020 Intel-based MacBook Pro, with both joining the same\nGoogle\nMeet call. My boss, looking at two of me at the same time, noted that the video from the M1-based MacBook Air offered better colors, including skin tones, and an overall brighter picture. Other calls I made on the MacBook Air, where we didn't have a live comparison, didn't wow anyone with the video quality, which goes to show that a better webcam would still be welcome.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Design\nThe MacBook Air with M1 looks and feels exactly like the early 2020 MacBook Air I reviewed back in March. And that's arguably the point. This MacBook Air has the same wedge-shaped machined-aluminum chassis (available in gold, silver and space gray) that we're used to, as Apple seems to want to ease users into the Apple Silicon era.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nSo, the 12 x 8.4 x 0.6-inch, 2.8 pound M1 MacBook Air looks exactly like its Intel-based predecessor (11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds). And to be honest, it still has room to shrink. The 2.5-pound\nAsus\nZenBook 13 (11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches) is a bit lighter, while the 2.8-pound\nDell XPS 13\nhas a smaller 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6-inch footprint, thanks in part to its razor-thin InfinityEdge bezels.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nApple sells the MacBook Air in gold, silver and space gray. I prefer gold, so much so that I really wish Apple would offer it for the MacBook Pro (which it does not).\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Ports\nThe M1 MacBook Air has 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports, just like its Intel-based predecessor, plus a headphone jack on the side (which I pray Apple never removes). While its USB-C ports are both on the left side, the XPS 13 splits them between the left and right side, making it easier to connect devices on your right.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nOther laptops simply offer more ports. The XPS 13 also has a microSD reader, which the MacBook Air does not. The ZenBook 13 has a full HDMI-out and a USB-A port, but no headphone jack.\nAnnoyed that the MacBook Air doesn't have the old MagSafe charging? Worry no more, rumor has it that the\nMacBook Air 2021\nwill pack the more convenient charging standard.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nPlus, the ZenBook is also designed for serious durability, having passed multiple MIL-STD 810G certifications (including extreme temperatures and altitudes, drops, shocks, and vibrations).\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Display\nAs I watched Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse on the MacBook Air M1, I noticed how the pinks, yellows and blues of the graffiti popped off the screen, as did the greens of the arachnid that bit into young Miles Morales. As for detail, the MacBook Air's 2,560 x 1600-pixel Retina display provided fine details, with the hairs on that spider, the myriad of Ben-Day dots in the entire film, as well as the grains of the wood floors in Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite. The starting configurations of the ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 both rock 1080p screens, which are not as sharp.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nWe're still waiting on an OLED MacBook, as the\nDell XPS 13 OLED\njust came out to get tons of applause for its gorgeous panel. That said, its improved screen comes at a big downside, as I mentioned in the battery life section.\nAccording to our Klein K10-A colorimeter, the MacBook Air with M1 produces 114.3% of the sRGB spectrum, which is slightly above the scores of the M1 MacBook Pro (110.6%) Asus ZenBook 13 (107.5%) and the\nDell\nXPS 13 (97.9%). The Intel MacBook Air posted a similar 113%, and the OLED XPS 13 hit a hair higher, at 117.3%\nOur colorimeter also rates the new MacBook Air's display as producing up to 365.8 nits of brightness (a bit below the company's 400-nit estimate), which makes it similar to the display of the Intel-based MacBook Air (386 nits) and the ZenBook 13 (370 nits). The M1 MacBook Pro (434.8 nits) and the XPS 13 (469.2 nits) get brighter. That extra brightness could help it prevent colors from darkening a bit when you view the panel 30 degrees to the left and right.\nBe sure to read our guide on\nhow to clean a MacBook screen\nto keep it looking its best.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Keyboard and touchpad\nTesting out the MacBook Air's Magic Keyboard on the 10fastfingers typing test, I clicked my way to 74 words per minute, not far from my 80 wpm average. As was the case with the early 2020 MacBook Air, this keyboard was the upgrade Apple needed, after its too-shallow Butterfly-switch keys proved controversial, with many arguing they were prone to sticking when small detritus or dust got into the keys.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nThe MacBook Air's 4.8 x 3.2 glass Force Touch trackpad offers accurate input recognition and smooth scrolling. Apple continues to substitute haptic feedback for clicks, a decision that seems to have been a success (though I preferred it the old way).\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Audio\nTurning on Rage Against The Machine's \"Bulls on Parade\" I noted how the MacBook Air's stereo speakers get loud enough to fill my pretty-large living room with sweet sound. Synths and guitar riffs sounded accurate, Zach De La Rocha's vocals came out clearly and the speakers have a decently large soundstage, giving a somewhat immersive feel.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nAlso, the MacBook Air supports\nDolby Atmos\n, so when I watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse on the Air, I felt like I heard the movie's booming score more than I have on previous laptops. Whether that was Post Malone and Swae Lee's \"Sunflower\" or the timbre of Nicolas Cage's voice for the Spider-Noir character, the movie just sounded better.\nWhen you’re making video calls, the trio of built-in microphones means that\nSiri\ncan hear you (correctly) even when you're speaking away from the laptop.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Heat\nWhen I used the MacBook Air in my lap while writing this review, watching video and syncing my personal and professional email in Mail.app, I noticed the Air got a little warm. Not to an unpleasant degree, though. That’s good news since the new Air doesn’t have a fan.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nAfter we streamed 15 minutes of full HD video on the MacBook Air, our heat gun picked up low readings on its touchpad (78 degrees Fahrenheit), keyboard (80.5 degrees) and underside (83 degrees), which all fall under our 95-degree comfort threshold.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Software and iOS apps\nAs you've doubtlessly noticed, multiple applications we used to test and benchmark the MacBook Air were applications made for Intel processors. The Apple M1 chip, and all upcoming Apple silicon, will not natively run these applications. Fortunately, Rosetta 2 — Apple's tool for translating applications to run smoothly — is here and it performs that action up upon installation, so those applications can run unhindered. Hopefully, developers will create Universal versions of these apps sooner, rather than later, so the M1 Macs can run to their potential.\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\nApple silicon chips like the M1 will also allow you to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac. They'll be distributed in the Mac App Store, but look for the text \"Not verified for macOS\" — if you see that, the developer hasn't confirmed that their app runs smoothly on the Mac. Apps will default to arrive on the Mac App Store, but developers can opt-out, so don't expect everything. I've tried out some of my favorites, including Overcast, and it's nice to get the HBO Max app on the Mac, so you can save movies for watching offline. Playing Among Us without a touch screen had a bit of a learning curve. That said, you can also check out some of the\nbest Mac apps\nfor your MacBook Air.\nFinally,\nmacOS Big Sur\nis at the heart of the new MacBook Air, and I've enjoyed it as I spent the summer playing around with it in betas. Its bright interface uses transparency and translucency a lot, which might require some adjustments based on your personal preferences. The biggest update to Big Sur is how Safari is getting competitive with Chrome, by gaining a customizable home screen and new tab previews.\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Verdict\nThis MacBook Air with M1 review has shown why its amazing endurance and shockingly good speed combine to take the MacBook Air to new heights. If only it packed a couple more ports and slimmed down its bezels, the new MacBook Air might be 5-star perfect.\nThe Dell XPS 13 has much smaller bezels, but it trails behind the MacBook Air in performance and battery life. You could save $650 with a similarly configured $999 Asus ZenBook 13, and get a few ports too, but you'd be sacrificing performance and around an hour of endurance. For those who live and work in the Apple ecosystem, though, the MacBook Air is one of the easiest buying decisions you've had in ages. But if you want the latest, the MacBook Air M2 is now available.\nTOPICS\nApple\nM1\nHenry T. Casey\nHenry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.","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.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2020-m1#main)\n\n![Background](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/th8vadgeih1767790499.png)\n\nWelcome   to Tom's Guide Club \\!\n\nHi ,\n\nYour membership journey starts here.\n\nKeep exploring and earning more as a member.\n\n[MY ACCOUNT](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/my-account)\n***\n![Badge picture](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/7qzq6a1m0i1768319327.svg)\n\nEarn your first badge\n\nComplete 1 quiz to unlock your first badge.\n\nKeep earning badges\n\nExplore ways to get more involved as a member.\n\n![Latest Phone Reviews](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/2p7qcina9m1767790815.svg)\n\nLatest Phone Reviews\n\nExpert picks to help you choose.\n\n[Read Now](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/phones\/reviews)\n\n![Best Laptop\/ PC Guides](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/qllf54xfnm1767790831.svg)\n\nBest Laptop\/ PC Guides\n\nTop tips to upgrade your setup.\n\n[Read Now](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/computing\/reviews)\n***\nSee what you’ve unlocked.\n\nExplore your membership benefits.\n\n[Explore](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/membership)\n\nMember Exclusives\n\n![Member Rewards](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/hufyszapt61768323318.svg)\n\nMember Rewards\n\nUnlock and manage exclusive Tom’s Guide member rewards.\n\n[See rewards](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/my-account\/rewards)\n***\n[Sign Out]()\n\nOpen menu\n\n[![Tom's Guide](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/1cxesh0bdm1769612817.svg) Tom's Guide](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk)\n\nUK Edition ![flag of GB](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/tomsguide\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/GB.svg)\n\n[![US Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/tomsguide\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/US.svg)US](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2020-m1)\n\n[![CA Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/tomsguide\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/CA.svg)Canada](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2020-m1)\n\n[![AU Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/tomsguide\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/AU.svg)Australia](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2020-m1)\n\n[![UK Edition](https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/tomsguide\/media\/shared\/img\/flags\/nosize\/GB.svg)UK](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2020-m1)\n\n[Newsletters Newsletter](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/newsletter)\n\n[RSS](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/feeds.xml)\n\nSign in\n\n- View Profile\n- Sign out\n\nSearch\n\n- [Phones](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/phones)\n  - 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[Computing](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/computing)\n2. [Laptops](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/computing\/laptops)\n3. [MacBooks](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/computing\/laptops\/macbooks)\n\n# MacBook Air with M1 review: Great value\n## The MacBook Air with M1 packs MacBook Pro-like power and amazing battery life\n[Reviews](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/reviews)\n\nBy [Henry T. Casey](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/author\/henry-t-casey)\n\nlast updated\n\n8 February 2024\n\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reference\/about-us#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure).\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bY3YssKRe8E4Zn2NGkFtkL.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/owNpigUzz2nnBA5ncJ8KyJ-200-100.png)\n\nEditor's Choice\n\n(Image credit: © Tom's Guide)\n\n### Tom's Guide Verdict\nThe MacBook Air now has the speed and battery life to beat the best PCs.\n\n#### Pros\n- \\+\n  Remarkably fast performance\n- \\+\n  Strong legacy app support\n- \\+\n  Amazingly long battery life\n- \\+\n  Comfy Magic Keyboard\n- \\+\n  Improved webcam\n\n#### Cons\n- \\-\n  Still has thick bezels\n- \\-\n  Light on ports\n\nBest picks for you\n\n- [Which MacBook should you buy in 2026? I ranked the 5 best Apple laptops for every need](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-macbook)\n- [I test laptops year-round and these are the best laptops you can buy in 2026](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/computing\/laptops\/best-laptops)\n- [I test laptops for a living — and these are the 7 best for students right now](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-laptops-for-college-students)\n\nWhy you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. [Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reference\/how-we-test)\n\nToday's best Apple Macbook Air (M1 2020) deals\n\n[3 Amazon customer reviews](https:\/\/target.georiot.com\/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8428&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Freviews%2FB08N5NMHM3%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dtomsguide-gb-1307219078731162818-21)\n\n☆☆☆☆☆\n\n[![Apple MacBook Air 13.3 Inch...](https:\/\/images.fie.futurecdn.net\/products\/cf929d796ba6a5d18ca283298a649f6a211f8789-100-80.jpg.webp)](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730)\n\n[![Laptops Direct](https:\/\/images.fie.futurecdn.net\/tph87b097kgscaqc-17696862826221-100-80.jpg.webp)](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730)\n\n[£612.49](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730)\n\n[£519.97](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730)\n\n[View](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730)\n\n[![apple macbook air (m1 2020)](https:\/\/images.fie.futurecdn.net\/hh3xtiyvqrmx3xkj-16681794209212.jpg)](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd)\n\n[![very.co.uk](https:\/\/images.fie.futurecdn.net\/a3alicko96xynfl6-17593999292432-100-80.jpg.webp)](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd)\n\n[£889](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd)\n\n[View](https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd)\n\nWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices\n\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Specs\n\n**Price:** \\$999 (starting), \\$899 (education)  \n **CPU:** Apple M1  \n **Display:** 13\\.3‑inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel  \n **Battery:** 14:41 (tested)  \n **Memory:** 8GB to 16GB  \n **Storage:** 256GB to 2TB  \n **Dimensions:** 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches  \n **Weight:** 2.8 pounds\n\n***Editor's Note:*** *The latest* [*MacBook Air M2*](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2022-m2) *now occupies the top of some of our best-of lists. However, the M1 Air is still a great laptop; read the full review that we originally published in 2020 below to see why.*\n\nThe Apple MacBook Air with M1 takes your idea of what a MacBook Air is and throws it in the recycling bin. Yes, it's still got the same iconic wedge aesthetic, but Apple Silicon makes it far more powerful and capable than ever before — [destroying Intel's CPUs](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/news\/macbook-pro-m1-benchmarks-are-in-and-they-destroy-intel) and making it one of the [best 13-inch laptops](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-13-inch-laptops) on the market. Thus, a new era kicked off for the MacBook Air — one with Pro-grade power that challenges [Intel](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/intel)\\-based Windows PCs — and often beats them.\n\nAs a prospective MacBook shopper myself, I'm happy to say that the new MacBook Air offers serious performance gains over its predecessor, and many more hours of battery life as well. This MacBook Air with M1 review will show why this is one of the [best laptops](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/computing\/laptops\/best-laptops), period.\n\nMost of the apps I've used on the MacBook Air are still the Intel versions, which macOS Big Sur uses Rosetta 2 to translate for working on its ARM-based processor. Once app developers make Universal versions, their apps will run even faster on Apple silicon systems, like this M1-based MacBook Air.\n\nNot only am I going to pit the new M1 MacBook Air against the best PC laptops in this review, but I'm also comparing it against the Intel-based MacBook Air released last year, to show how much has changed (or hasn't).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Price and release date\nThe [MacBook Air with M1 starts at \\$999](https:\/\/apple.sjv.io\/c\/221109\/435031\/7613?subId1=tomsguide-gb-1301843030983164152&sharedId=tomsguide-gb&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air), though educational customers can get it for \\$899. It's also frequently discounted to below \\$800 at vendors like [Amazon](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/amazon) and [Best Buy](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/best-buy). That model has an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The \\$1,249 model is a little more stacked, with 512GB of SSD storage — plus an 8-core GPU.\n\nThe MacBook Air with M1 debuted on November 17, 2020. Its follow-up, the MacBook Air M2 released in June 2022 and costs \\$1,199 to start.\n\nWant more Apple news?\n\nSign up to the Tom's iGuide weekly newsletter with coverage on everything from product launches to software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.\n\nBy submitting your information you agree to the [Terms & Conditions](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/) and are aged 16 or over.\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance\nThe MacBook Air's performance — powered by the M1 processor and 16GB of RAM — is phenomenal. When I split its screen between 20 [Chrome](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/chrome) (Intel, not Universal) tabs and a 1080p [YouTube](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/youtube) video — plus Apple's Mail and Photos app, Pixelmator (again, an Intel app) and 1Password (Intel, again) in the background, I never saw anything close to a hiccup. Oh, and in the background, 20GB of 4K video was being AirDrop transferred, while everything stayed smooth and stable.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/t5SWUYqwxKAjLgqiGc4i5S.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nDuring a group call, I even found time to play around with iOS apps, downloading and opening the Overcast podcatcher, HBO Max and the game Among Us. All while a 4K YouTube video of a chef cooking played on my laptop monitor, I played around in each of those apps, so I could start an Adventure Time episode, download a podcast and drag my lil Among Us guy around on screen. Yes, I'm very good at multitasking.\n\nMost of the time, the MacBook Air with M1 felt — performance-wise — like it was identical (if not faster) than the 2020 Core i5 MacBook Pro I've used to test Big Sur, or the 2017 Core i7 MacBook Pro work computer I relied upon. This includes when I connected an external monitor. Before this, I was a bit skeptical, even with Apple's boasts of 3.5x improved performance vs the Intel MacBook Air released earlier this year, because I've always pushed my MacBooks to the limit, and needed a MacBook Pro, and not an Air, to do my work. This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro.\n\nAnd let's see how that shakes out in benchmarks — and I'll note that not all of our tests were done with Universal versions of apps, and Intel versions aren't optimized for the M1.\n\nThe Air scored 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.1 (Intel) multicore test, which was practically in a dead-heat with the 5,925 from the M1 MacBook Pro. The Air soundly beat the 5,084 from the ZenBook 13 and the 5,319 from the XPS 13 (both tested with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM), on the comparable Geekbench 5.2 test. The old Intel MacBook Air Y-series Intel CPU mustered only 2,738.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Display](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YNKY4bexKTBAd43eEEoEuM.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\n> This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro.\n\nOn our Handbrake (Universal) video conversion test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p, the MacBook Air finished the test in 9 minutes and 15 seconds and the MacBook Pro took 7:44 (on a Beta version of Handbrake that's optimized for Apple silicon). Those times *obliterate* those from the ZenBook 13 (17:51) and XPS 13 (18:22), as well as the 27:10 time from the Intel MacBook Air from earlier this year.\n\nApple also promised twice as fast storage speeds, and they delivered. The 1TB SSD in the MacBook Air we tested hit a read speed of 2692 MBps on the Black Magic Disk Speed Test (Intel), literally more than twice the 1,301.9 MBps read rate from the Intel MacBook Air.\n\nThe MacBook Air scored a 653 on the PugetBench Photoshop (Intel) test, which beats the 588 from the XPS 13, but falls to the 743 from the ZenBook 13 (a rare win for the x86 crowd). The MacBook Pro came pretty close, with a 649.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics\nOur test MacBook Air has the 8-core GPU configuration, which (by the feel of it) could reshape the Mac in the minds of some gamers. I started it off easy, running Bioshock 2 Remastered (at the native 2560 x 1600 resolution) and that game played smoothly, as rippling water flowed through the rooms I navigated, electro shocks hit enemies and all the underwater life outside the hallways I explored moved without a glitch.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/C3B3avxZEqqeDTz86xozCL.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nBut since that's an older game, I brought out Rise of the Tomb Raider (also at 2560 x 1600, and set to Medium graphics) which looked great on the MacBook Air — and I never thought I'd see a MacBook Air run a demanding AAA game at all. Whether I was climbing a snowy arctic mountain or exploring the deserts of Syria, Lara Croft moved as she should. Oh, and both of these games are Intel versions running via Rosetta 2, so they're not Universal versions (yet).\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Gaming](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tj3enzckMM2bEnZRQwjWfK.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nWhen we benchmarked Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Intel) on the MacBook Air (where 1440 x 900 was the highest resolution supported), it ran at 37 frames per second, walloping the 7 fps score we got from the Intel MacBook Air and coming in slightly under the M1 MacBook Pro's 38 fps time. The ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 (which could run that game at a slightly sharper 1080p) posted rates of 21 and 16 fps, respectively.\n\nInterestingly, the GFXBench Metal Aztec Ruins graphics benchmark (Universal) gave the Air and Pro practically similar scores: a 54 on High and 60 on Normal (both rounded down).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Battery Life\n> On the Tom's Guide web browsing battery test, the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes.\n\nApple declared its M1 chip would enable all-day battery life, and the company has hit that mark. On the Tom's Guide battery test (web browsing at 150 nits), the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes (while the new MacBook Pro hit 16:32) — times that beat both the ZenBook 13 (13:47) and XPS 13 (11:07). The [OLED XPS 13](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/dell-xps-13-oled-review) (7:59) put in a much lower time.\n\nAnd for those who just want to compare against the previous Intel Macs — they're left in the dust. The Intel MacBook Air (9:31) and MacBook Pro (10:21) times have now been beaten by 5 and 6 hours, respectively.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Webcam\nI've wanted Apple to give its MacBooks a higher-resolution camera, but they found another way to improve the MacBook for the Zoom era. The M1 chip features an image signal processor that makes you look better in a couple of ways.\n\nI put the New MacBook Air's webcam in a head-to-head face-off with the early-2020 Intel-based MacBook Pro, with both joining the same [Google](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/google) Meet call. My boss, looking at two of me at the same time, noted that the video from the M1-based MacBook Air offered better colors, including skin tones, and an overall brighter picture. Other calls I made on the MacBook Air, where we didn't have a live comparison, didn't wow anyone with the video quality, which goes to show that a better webcam would still be welcome.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Design\nThe MacBook Air with M1 looks and feels exactly like the early 2020 MacBook Air I reviewed back in March. And that's arguably the point. This MacBook Air has the same wedge-shaped machined-aluminum chassis (available in gold, silver and space gray) that we're used to, as Apple seems to want to ease users into the Apple Silicon era.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Design](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YTeenxBvujGLBqsRv82PGV.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nSo, the 12 x 8.4 x 0.6-inch, 2.8 pound M1 MacBook Air looks exactly like its Intel-based predecessor (11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds). And to be honest, it still has room to shrink. The 2.5-pound [Asus](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/asus) ZenBook 13 (11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches) is a bit lighter, while the 2.8-pound [Dell XPS 13](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/dell-xps-13-11th-gen) has a smaller 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6-inch footprint, thanks in part to its razor-thin InfinityEdge bezels.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: closing time](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/H6Jkm4EE5rZzmVXaeCNyuQ.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nApple sells the MacBook Air in gold, silver and space gray. I prefer gold, so much so that I really wish Apple would offer it for the MacBook Pro (which it does not).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Ports\nThe M1 MacBook Air has 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports, just like its Intel-based predecessor, plus a headphone jack on the side (which I pray Apple never removes). While its USB-C ports are both on the left side, the XPS 13 splits them between the left and right side, making it easier to connect devices on your right.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: ports](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jhVahp4CVxo3frpHESfWhT.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nOther laptops simply offer more ports. The XPS 13 also has a microSD reader, which the MacBook Air does not. The ZenBook 13 has a full HDMI-out and a USB-A port, but no headphone jack.\n\nAnnoyed that the MacBook Air doesn't have the old MagSafe charging? Worry no more, rumor has it that the [MacBook Air 2021](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2022-m2) will pack the more convenient charging standard.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: headphone jack](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6Xzev8dh4MozvqD6RYYPDU.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nPlus, the ZenBook is also designed for serious durability, having passed multiple MIL-STD 810G certifications (including extreme temperatures and altitudes, drops, shocks, and vibrations).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Display\nAs I watched Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse on the MacBook Air M1, I noticed how the pinks, yellows and blues of the graffiti popped off the screen, as did the greens of the arachnid that bit into young Miles Morales. As for detail, the MacBook Air's 2,560 x 1600-pixel Retina display provided fine details, with the hairs on that spider, the myriad of Ben-Day dots in the entire film, as well as the grains of the wood floors in Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite. The starting configurations of the ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 both rock 1080p screens, which are not as sharp.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Video](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yqAgRukAtQYjzQjoJDNYVR.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nWe're still waiting on an OLED MacBook, as the [Dell XPS 13 OLED](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/dell-xps-13-oled-review) just came out to get tons of applause for its gorgeous panel. That said, its improved screen comes at a big downside, as I mentioned in the battery life section.\n\nAccording to our Klein K10-A colorimeter, the MacBook Air with M1 produces 114.3% of the sRGB spectrum, which is slightly above the scores of the M1 MacBook Pro (110.6%) Asus ZenBook 13 (107.5%) and the [Dell](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/dell) XPS 13 (97.9%). The Intel MacBook Air posted a similar 113%, and the OLED XPS 13 hit a hair higher, at 117.3%\n\nOur colorimeter also rates the new MacBook Air's display as producing up to 365.8 nits of brightness (a bit below the company's 400-nit estimate), which makes it similar to the display of the Intel-based MacBook Air (386 nits) and the ZenBook 13 (370 nits). The M1 MacBook Pro (434.8 nits) and the XPS 13 (469.2 nits) get brighter. That extra brightness could help it prevent colors from darkening a bit when you view the panel 30 degrees to the left and right.\n\nBe sure to read our guide on [how to clean a MacBook screen](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/how-to\/how-to-clean-a-macbook-screen) to keep it looking its best.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Keyboard and touchpad\nTesting out the MacBook Air's Magic Keyboard on the 10fastfingers typing test, I clicked my way to 74 words per minute, not far from my 80 wpm average. As was the case with the early 2020 MacBook Air, this keyboard was the upgrade Apple needed, after its too-shallow Butterfly-switch keys proved controversial, with many arguing they were prone to sticking when small detritus or dust got into the keys.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: keyboard](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQfD74RzgWwKtZHPiMA9CT.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nThe MacBook Air's 4.8 x 3.2 glass Force Touch trackpad offers accurate input recognition and smooth scrolling. Apple continues to substitute haptic feedback for clicks, a decision that seems to have been a success (though I preferred it the old way).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Audio\nTurning on Rage Against The Machine's \"Bulls on Parade\" I noted how the MacBook Air's stereo speakers get loud enough to fill my pretty-large living room with sweet sound. Synths and guitar riffs sounded accurate, Zach De La Rocha's vocals came out clearly and the speakers have a decently large soundstage, giving a somewhat immersive feel.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: speakers](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbLDQnwRVXMQGdWsYTdPbS.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nAlso, the MacBook Air supports [Dolby Atmos](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/dolby-atmos), so when I watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse on the Air, I felt like I heard the movie's booming score more than I have on previous laptops. Whether that was Post Malone and Swae Lee's \"Sunflower\" or the timbre of Nicolas Cage's voice for the Spider-Noir character, the movie just sounded better.\n\nWhen you’re making video calls, the trio of built-in microphones means that [Siri](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/siri) can hear you (correctly) even when you're speaking away from the laptop.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Heat\nWhen I used the MacBook Air in my lap while writing this review, watching video and syncing my personal and professional email in Mail.app, I noticed the Air got a little warm. Not to an unpleasant degree, though. That’s good news since the new Air doesn’t have a fan.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: lid](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ec9VnxJYwSTx8eecJztUiU.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nAfter we streamed 15 minutes of full HD video on the MacBook Air, our heat gun picked up low readings on its touchpad (78 degrees Fahrenheit), keyboard (80.5 degrees) and underside (83 degrees), which all fall under our 95-degree comfort threshold.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Software and iOS apps\nAs you've doubtlessly noticed, multiple applications we used to test and benchmark the MacBook Air were applications made for Intel processors. The Apple M1 chip, and all upcoming Apple silicon, will not natively run these applications. Fortunately, Rosetta 2 — Apple's tool for translating applications to run smoothly — is here and it performs that action up upon installation, so those applications can run unhindered. Hopefully, developers will create Universal versions of these apps sooner, rather than later, so the M1 Macs can run to their potential.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: apps](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2ZmRjj8zRkTqazThy3VFLQ.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nApple silicon chips like the M1 will also allow you to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac. They'll be distributed in the Mac App Store, but look for the text \"Not verified for macOS\" — if you see that, the developer hasn't confirmed that their app runs smoothly on the Mac. Apps will default to arrive on the Mac App Store, but developers can opt-out, so don't expect everything. I've tried out some of my favorites, including Overcast, and it's nice to get the HBO Max app on the Mac, so you can save movies for watching offline. Playing Among Us without a touch screen had a bit of a learning curve. That said, you can also check out some of the [best Mac apps](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-mac-apps) for your MacBook Air.\n\nFinally, [macOS Big Sur](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macos-big-sur) is at the heart of the new MacBook Air, and I've enjoyed it as I spent the summer playing around with it in betas. Its bright interface uses transparency and translucency a lot, which might require some adjustments based on your personal preferences. The biggest update to Big Sur is how Safari is getting competitive with Chrome, by gaining a customizable home screen and new tab previews.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Verdict\nThis MacBook Air with M1 review has shown why its amazing endurance and shockingly good speed combine to take the MacBook Air to new heights. If only it packed a couple more ports and slimmed down its bezels, the new MacBook Air might be 5-star perfect.\n\nThe Dell XPS 13 has much smaller bezels, but it trails behind the MacBook Air in performance and battery life. You could save \\$650 with a similarly configured \\$999 Asus ZenBook 13, and get a few ports too, but you'd be sacrificing performance and around an hour of endurance. For those who live and work in the Apple ecosystem, though, the MacBook Air is one of the easiest buying decisions you've had in ages. But if you want the latest, the MacBook Air M2 is now available.\n\nTOPICS\n\n[Apple](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/apple)   [M1](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/m1)\n\n![Henry T. Casey](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7GgHtdQYhXZUdB9bHngfxa.jpg)\n\n[Henry T. Casey](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/author\/henry-t-casey)\n\nSocial Links Navigation\n\nHenry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.\n\nRead more\n\n[![MacBook Air 15-inch M5 on a desk](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/E7uSABSyBBWTGXMzRoXmn3.jpg) MacBooks I just tested the MacBook Air M5 and it’s almost perfect — but there's one catch](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/computing\/macbooks\/macbook-air-m5-review \"I just tested the MacBook Air M5 and it’s almost perfect — but there's one catch\")\n\n[![MacBook Air 15-inch M5 on a desk](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T9AaHufp6EawHLeav5tnbG.jpg) MacBooks Which MacBook should you buy in 2026? I ranked the 5 best Apple laptops for every need](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-macbook \"Which MacBook should you buy in 2026? 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All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.\n\nClose\n\nPlease login or signup to comment\n\nPlease wait...\n\nLogin\n\nSign Up","attrs_readable_markdown":"### Tom's Guide Verdict\nThe MacBook Air now has the speed and battery life to beat the best PCs.\n\n#### Pros\n- \\+\n  Remarkably fast performance\n- \\+\n  Strong legacy app support\n- \\+\n  Amazingly long battery life\n- \\+\n  Comfy Magic Keyboard\n- \\+\n  Improved webcam\n\n#### Cons\n- \\-\n  Still has thick bezels\n- \\-\n  Light on ports\n\nWhy you can trust Tom's Guide   Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. [Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reference\/how-we-test)\n\nMacBook Air with M1 review: Specs\n\n**Price:** \\$999 (starting), \\$899 (education)  \n **CPU:** Apple M1  \n **Display:** 13\\.3‑inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel  \n **Battery:** 14:41 (tested)  \n **Memory:** 8GB to 16GB  \n **Storage:** 256GB to 2TB  \n **Dimensions:** 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches  \n **Weight:** 2.8 pounds\n\n***Editor's Note:*** *The latest* [*MacBook Air M2*](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2022-m2) *now occupies the top of some of our best-of lists. However, the M1 Air is still a great laptop; read the full review that we originally published in 2020 below to see why.*\n\nAs a prospective MacBook shopper myself, I'm happy to say that the new MacBook Air offers serious performance gains over its predecessor, and many more hours of battery life as well. This MacBook Air with M1 review will show why this is one of the [best laptops](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/computing\/laptops\/best-laptops), period.\n\nMost of the apps I've used on the MacBook Air are still the Intel versions, which macOS Big Sur uses Rosetta 2 to translate for working on its ARM-based processor. Once app developers make Universal versions, their apps will run even faster on Apple silicon systems, like this M1-based MacBook Air.\n\nNot only am I going to pit the new M1 MacBook Air against the best PC laptops in this review, but I'm also comparing it against the Intel-based MacBook Air released last year, to show how much has changed (or hasn't).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Price and release date\nThe [MacBook Air with M1 starts at \\$999](https:\/\/apple.sjv.io\/c\/221109\/435031\/7613?subId1=tomsguide-gb-1301843030983164152&sharedId=tomsguide-gb&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air), though educational customers can get it for \\$899. It's also frequently discounted to below \\$800 at vendors like [Amazon](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/amazon) and [Best Buy](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/best-buy). That model has an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The \\$1,249 model is a little more stacked, with 512GB of SSD storage — plus an 8-core GPU.\n\nThe MacBook Air with M1 debuted on November 17, 2020. Its follow-up, the MacBook Air M2 released in June 2022 and costs \\$1,199 to start.\n\nWant more Apple news?\n\nSign up to the Tom's iGuide weekly newsletter with coverage on everything from product launches to software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance\nThe MacBook Air's performance — powered by the M1 processor and 16GB of RAM — is phenomenal. When I split its screen between 20 [Chrome](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/chrome) (Intel, not Universal) tabs and a 1080p [YouTube](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/youtube) video — plus Apple's Mail and Photos app, Pixelmator (again, an Intel app) and 1Password (Intel, again) in the background, I never saw anything close to a hiccup. Oh, and in the background, 20GB of 4K video was being AirDrop transferred, while everything stayed smooth and stable.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/t5SWUYqwxKAjLgqiGc4i5S.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nDuring a group call, I even found time to play around with iOS apps, downloading and opening the Overcast podcatcher, HBO Max and the game Among Us. All while a 4K YouTube video of a chef cooking played on my laptop monitor, I played around in each of those apps, so I could start an Adventure Time episode, download a podcast and drag my lil Among Us guy around on screen. Yes, I'm very good at multitasking.\n\nMost of the time, the MacBook Air with M1 felt — performance-wise — like it was identical (if not faster) than the 2020 Core i5 MacBook Pro I've used to test Big Sur, or the 2017 Core i7 MacBook Pro work computer I relied upon. This includes when I connected an external monitor. Before this, I was a bit skeptical, even with Apple's boasts of 3.5x improved performance vs the Intel MacBook Air released earlier this year, because I've always pushed my MacBooks to the limit, and needed a MacBook Pro, and not an Air, to do my work. This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro.\n\nAnd let's see how that shakes out in benchmarks — and I'll note that not all of our tests were done with Universal versions of apps, and Intel versions aren't optimized for the M1.\n\nThe Air scored 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.1 (Intel) multicore test, which was practically in a dead-heat with the 5,925 from the M1 MacBook Pro. The Air soundly beat the 5,084 from the ZenBook 13 and the 5,319 from the XPS 13 (both tested with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM), on the comparable Geekbench 5.2 test. The old Intel MacBook Air Y-series Intel CPU mustered only 2,738.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Display](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YNKY4bexKTBAd43eEEoEuM.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\n> This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro.\n\nOn our Handbrake (Universal) video conversion test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p, the MacBook Air finished the test in 9 minutes and 15 seconds and the MacBook Pro took 7:44 (on a Beta version of Handbrake that's optimized for Apple silicon). Those times *obliterate* those from the ZenBook 13 (17:51) and XPS 13 (18:22), as well as the 27:10 time from the Intel MacBook Air from earlier this year.\n\nApple also promised twice as fast storage speeds, and they delivered. The 1TB SSD in the MacBook Air we tested hit a read speed of 2692 MBps on the Black Magic Disk Speed Test (Intel), literally more than twice the 1,301.9 MBps read rate from the Intel MacBook Air.\n\nThe MacBook Air scored a 653 on the PugetBench Photoshop (Intel) test, which beats the 588 from the XPS 13, but falls to the 743 from the ZenBook 13 (a rare win for the x86 crowd). The MacBook Pro came pretty close, with a 649.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics\nOur test MacBook Air has the 8-core GPU configuration, which (by the feel of it) could reshape the Mac in the minds of some gamers. I started it off easy, running Bioshock 2 Remastered (at the native 2560 x 1600 resolution) and that game played smoothly, as rippling water flowed through the rooms I navigated, electro shocks hit enemies and all the underwater life outside the hallways I explored moved without a glitch.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/C3B3avxZEqqeDTz86xozCL.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nBut since that's an older game, I brought out Rise of the Tomb Raider (also at 2560 x 1600, and set to Medium graphics) which looked great on the MacBook Air — and I never thought I'd see a MacBook Air run a demanding AAA game at all. Whether I was climbing a snowy arctic mountain or exploring the deserts of Syria, Lara Croft moved as she should. Oh, and both of these games are Intel versions running via Rosetta 2, so they're not Universal versions (yet).\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Gaming](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tj3enzckMM2bEnZRQwjWfK.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nWhen we benchmarked Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Intel) on the MacBook Air (where 1440 x 900 was the highest resolution supported), it ran at 37 frames per second, walloping the 7 fps score we got from the Intel MacBook Air and coming in slightly under the M1 MacBook Pro's 38 fps time. The ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 (which could run that game at a slightly sharper 1080p) posted rates of 21 and 16 fps, respectively.\n\nInterestingly, the GFXBench Metal Aztec Ruins graphics benchmark (Universal) gave the Air and Pro practically similar scores: a 54 on High and 60 on Normal (both rounded down).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Battery Life\n> On the Tom's Guide web browsing battery test, the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes.\n\nApple declared its M1 chip would enable all-day battery life, and the company has hit that mark. On the Tom's Guide battery test (web browsing at 150 nits), the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes (while the new MacBook Pro hit 16:32) — times that beat both the ZenBook 13 (13:47) and XPS 13 (11:07). The [OLED XPS 13](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/dell-xps-13-oled-review) (7:59) put in a much lower time.\n\nAnd for those who just want to compare against the previous Intel Macs — they're left in the dust. The Intel MacBook Air (9:31) and MacBook Pro (10:21) times have now been beaten by 5 and 6 hours, respectively.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Webcam\nI've wanted Apple to give its MacBooks a higher-resolution camera, but they found another way to improve the MacBook for the Zoom era. The M1 chip features an image signal processor that makes you look better in a couple of ways.\n\nI put the New MacBook Air's webcam in a head-to-head face-off with the early-2020 Intel-based MacBook Pro, with both joining the same [Google](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/google) Meet call. My boss, looking at two of me at the same time, noted that the video from the M1-based MacBook Air offered better colors, including skin tones, and an overall brighter picture. Other calls I made on the MacBook Air, where we didn't have a live comparison, didn't wow anyone with the video quality, which goes to show that a better webcam would still be welcome.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Design\nThe MacBook Air with M1 looks and feels exactly like the early 2020 MacBook Air I reviewed back in March. And that's arguably the point. This MacBook Air has the same wedge-shaped machined-aluminum chassis (available in gold, silver and space gray) that we're used to, as Apple seems to want to ease users into the Apple Silicon era.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Design](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YTeenxBvujGLBqsRv82PGV.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nSo, the 12 x 8.4 x 0.6-inch, 2.8 pound M1 MacBook Air looks exactly like its Intel-based predecessor (11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds). And to be honest, it still has room to shrink. The 2.5-pound [Asus](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/asus) ZenBook 13 (11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches) is a bit lighter, while the 2.8-pound [Dell XPS 13](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/dell-xps-13-11th-gen) has a smaller 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6-inch footprint, thanks in part to its razor-thin InfinityEdge bezels.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: closing time](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/H6Jkm4EE5rZzmVXaeCNyuQ.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nApple sells the MacBook Air in gold, silver and space gray. I prefer gold, so much so that I really wish Apple would offer it for the MacBook Pro (which it does not).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Ports\nThe M1 MacBook Air has 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports, just like its Intel-based predecessor, plus a headphone jack on the side (which I pray Apple never removes). While its USB-C ports are both on the left side, the XPS 13 splits them between the left and right side, making it easier to connect devices on your right.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: ports](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jhVahp4CVxo3frpHESfWhT.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nOther laptops simply offer more ports. The XPS 13 also has a microSD reader, which the MacBook Air does not. The ZenBook 13 has a full HDMI-out and a USB-A port, but no headphone jack.\n\nAnnoyed that the MacBook Air doesn't have the old MagSafe charging? Worry no more, rumor has it that the [MacBook Air 2021](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macbook-air-2022-m2) will pack the more convenient charging standard.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: headphone jack](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6Xzev8dh4MozvqD6RYYPDU.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nPlus, the ZenBook is also designed for serious durability, having passed multiple MIL-STD 810G certifications (including extreme temperatures and altitudes, drops, shocks, and vibrations).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Display\nAs I watched Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse on the MacBook Air M1, I noticed how the pinks, yellows and blues of the graffiti popped off the screen, as did the greens of the arachnid that bit into young Miles Morales. As for detail, the MacBook Air's 2,560 x 1600-pixel Retina display provided fine details, with the hairs on that spider, the myriad of Ben-Day dots in the entire film, as well as the grains of the wood floors in Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite. The starting configurations of the ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 both rock 1080p screens, which are not as sharp.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: Video](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yqAgRukAtQYjzQjoJDNYVR.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nWe're still waiting on an OLED MacBook, as the [Dell XPS 13 OLED](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/dell-xps-13-oled-review) just came out to get tons of applause for its gorgeous panel. That said, its improved screen comes at a big downside, as I mentioned in the battery life section.\n\nAccording to our Klein K10-A colorimeter, the MacBook Air with M1 produces 114.3% of the sRGB spectrum, which is slightly above the scores of the M1 MacBook Pro (110.6%) Asus ZenBook 13 (107.5%) and the [Dell](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/dell) XPS 13 (97.9%). The Intel MacBook Air posted a similar 113%, and the OLED XPS 13 hit a hair higher, at 117.3%\n\nOur colorimeter also rates the new MacBook Air's display as producing up to 365.8 nits of brightness (a bit below the company's 400-nit estimate), which makes it similar to the display of the Intel-based MacBook Air (386 nits) and the ZenBook 13 (370 nits). The M1 MacBook Pro (434.8 nits) and the XPS 13 (469.2 nits) get brighter. That extra brightness could help it prevent colors from darkening a bit when you view the panel 30 degrees to the left and right.\n\nBe sure to read our guide on [how to clean a MacBook screen](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/how-to\/how-to-clean-a-macbook-screen) to keep it looking its best.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Keyboard and touchpad\nTesting out the MacBook Air's Magic Keyboard on the 10fastfingers typing test, I clicked my way to 74 words per minute, not far from my 80 wpm average. As was the case with the early 2020 MacBook Air, this keyboard was the upgrade Apple needed, after its too-shallow Butterfly-switch keys proved controversial, with many arguing they were prone to sticking when small detritus or dust got into the keys.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: keyboard](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vQfD74RzgWwKtZHPiMA9CT.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nThe MacBook Air's 4.8 x 3.2 glass Force Touch trackpad offers accurate input recognition and smooth scrolling. Apple continues to substitute haptic feedback for clicks, a decision that seems to have been a success (though I preferred it the old way).\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Audio\nTurning on Rage Against The Machine's \"Bulls on Parade\" I noted how the MacBook Air's stereo speakers get loud enough to fill my pretty-large living room with sweet sound. Synths and guitar riffs sounded accurate, Zach De La Rocha's vocals came out clearly and the speakers have a decently large soundstage, giving a somewhat immersive feel.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: speakers](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbLDQnwRVXMQGdWsYTdPbS.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nAlso, the MacBook Air supports [Dolby Atmos](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/dolby-atmos), so when I watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse on the Air, I felt like I heard the movie's booming score more than I have on previous laptops. Whether that was Post Malone and Swae Lee's \"Sunflower\" or the timbre of Nicolas Cage's voice for the Spider-Noir character, the movie just sounded better.\n\nWhen you’re making video calls, the trio of built-in microphones means that [Siri](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/siri) can hear you (correctly) even when you're speaking away from the laptop.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Heat\nWhen I used the MacBook Air in my lap while writing this review, watching video and syncing my personal and professional email in Mail.app, I noticed the Air got a little warm. Not to an unpleasant degree, though. That’s good news since the new Air doesn’t have a fan.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: lid](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ec9VnxJYwSTx8eecJztUiU.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nAfter we streamed 15 minutes of full HD video on the MacBook Air, our heat gun picked up low readings on its touchpad (78 degrees Fahrenheit), keyboard (80.5 degrees) and underside (83 degrees), which all fall under our 95-degree comfort threshold.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Software and iOS apps\nAs you've doubtlessly noticed, multiple applications we used to test and benchmark the MacBook Air were applications made for Intel processors. The Apple M1 chip, and all upcoming Apple silicon, will not natively run these applications. Fortunately, Rosetta 2 — Apple's tool for translating applications to run smoothly — is here and it performs that action up upon installation, so those applications can run unhindered. Hopefully, developers will create Universal versions of these apps sooner, rather than later, so the M1 Macs can run to their potential.\n\n![MacBook Air with M1 review: apps](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2ZmRjj8zRkTqazThy3VFLQ.jpg)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Guide)\n\nApple silicon chips like the M1 will also allow you to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac. They'll be distributed in the Mac App Store, but look for the text \"Not verified for macOS\" — if you see that, the developer hasn't confirmed that their app runs smoothly on the Mac. Apps will default to arrive on the Mac App Store, but developers can opt-out, so don't expect everything. I've tried out some of my favorites, including Overcast, and it's nice to get the HBO Max app on the Mac, so you can save movies for watching offline. Playing Among Us without a touch screen had a bit of a learning curve. That said, you can also check out some of the [best Mac apps](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-mac-apps) for your MacBook Air.\n\nFinally, [macOS Big Sur](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/macos-big-sur) is at the heart of the new MacBook Air, and I've enjoyed it as I spent the summer playing around with it in betas. Its bright interface uses transparency and translucency a lot, which might require some adjustments based on your personal preferences. The biggest update to Big Sur is how Safari is getting competitive with Chrome, by gaining a customizable home screen and new tab previews.\n\n## MacBook Air with M1 review: Verdict\nThis MacBook Air with M1 review has shown why its amazing endurance and shockingly good speed combine to take the MacBook Air to new heights. If only it packed a couple more ports and slimmed down its bezels, the new MacBook Air might be 5-star perfect.\n\nThe Dell XPS 13 has much smaller bezels, but it trails behind the MacBook Air in performance and battery life. You could save \\$650 with a similarly configured \\$999 Asus ZenBook 13, and get a few ports too, but you'd be sacrificing performance and around an hour of endurance. For those who live and work in the Apple ecosystem, though, the MacBook Air is one of the easiest buying decisions you've had in ages. But if you want the latest, the MacBook Air M2 is now available.\n\nTOPICS\n\n[Apple](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/apple)   [M1](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/tag\/m1)\n\n![Henry T. Casey](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7GgHtdQYhXZUdB9bHngfxa.jpg)\n\n[Henry T. Casey](https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/uk\/author\/henry-t-casey)\n\nHenry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	MacBook Air with M1 review: Great value \| Tom's Guide
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Boilerpipe Text	Tom's Guide Verdict The MacBook Air now has the speed and battery life to beat the best PCs. Pros + Remarkably fast performance + Strong legacy app support + Amazingly long battery life + Comfy Magic Keyboard + Improved webcam Cons - Still has thick bezels - Light on ports Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. MacBook Air with M1 review: Specs Price: $999 (starting), $899 (education) CPU: Apple M1 Display: 13.3‑inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel Battery: 14:41 (tested) Memory: 8GB to 16GB Storage: 256GB to 2TB Dimensions: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches Weight: 2.8 pounds Editor's Note: The latest MacBook Air M2 now occupies the top of some of our best-of lists. However, the M1 Air is still a great laptop; read the full review that we originally published in 2020 below to see why. As a prospective MacBook shopper myself, I'm happy to say that the new MacBook Air offers serious performance gains over its predecessor, and many more hours of battery life as well. This MacBook Air with M1 review will show why this is one of the best laptops , period. Most of the apps I've used on the MacBook Air are still the Intel versions, which macOS Big Sur uses Rosetta 2 to translate for working on its ARM-based processor. Once app developers make Universal versions, their apps will run even faster on Apple silicon systems, like this M1-based MacBook Air. Not only am I going to pit the new M1 MacBook Air against the best PC laptops in this review, but I'm also comparing it against the Intel-based MacBook Air released last year, to show how much has changed (or hasn't). MacBook Air with M1 review: Price and release date The MacBook Air with M1 starts at $999 , though educational customers can get it for $899. It's also frequently discounted to below $800 at vendors like Amazon and Best Buy . That model has an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The $1,249 model is a little more stacked, with 512GB of SSD storage — plus an 8-core GPU. The MacBook Air with M1 debuted on November 17, 2020. Its follow-up, the MacBook Air M2 released in June 2022 and costs $1,199 to start. Want more Apple news? Sign up to the Tom's iGuide weekly newsletter with coverage on everything from product launches to software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance The MacBook Air's performance — powered by the M1 processor and 16GB of RAM — is phenomenal. When I split its screen between 20 Chrome (Intel, not Universal) tabs and a 1080p YouTube video — plus Apple's Mail and Photos app, Pixelmator (again, an Intel app) and 1Password (Intel, again) in the background, I never saw anything close to a hiccup. Oh, and in the background, 20GB of 4K video was being AirDrop transferred, while everything stayed smooth and stable. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) During a group call, I even found time to play around with iOS apps, downloading and opening the Overcast podcatcher, HBO Max and the game Among Us. All while a 4K YouTube video of a chef cooking played on my laptop monitor, I played around in each of those apps, so I could start an Adventure Time episode, download a podcast and drag my lil Among Us guy around on screen. Yes, I'm very good at multitasking. Most of the time, the MacBook Air with M1 felt — performance-wise — like it was identical (if not faster) than the 2020 Core i5 MacBook Pro I've used to test Big Sur, or the 2017 Core i7 MacBook Pro work computer I relied upon. This includes when I connected an external monitor. Before this, I was a bit skeptical, even with Apple's boasts of 3.5x improved performance vs the Intel MacBook Air released earlier this year, because I've always pushed my MacBooks to the limit, and needed a MacBook Pro, and not an Air, to do my work. This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro. And let's see how that shakes out in benchmarks — and I'll note that not all of our tests were done with Universal versions of apps, and Intel versions aren't optimized for the M1. The Air scored 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.1 (Intel) multicore test, which was practically in a dead-heat with the 5,925 from the M1 MacBook Pro. The Air soundly beat the 5,084 from the ZenBook 13 and the 5,319 from the XPS 13 (both tested with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM), on the comparable Geekbench 5.2 test. The old Intel MacBook Air Y-series Intel CPU mustered only 2,738. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro. On our Handbrake (Universal) video conversion test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p, the MacBook Air finished the test in 9 minutes and 15 seconds and the MacBook Pro took 7:44 (on a Beta version of Handbrake that's optimized for Apple silicon). Those times obliterate those from the ZenBook 13 (17:51) and XPS 13 (18:22), as well as the 27:10 time from the Intel MacBook Air from earlier this year. Apple also promised twice as fast storage speeds, and they delivered. The 1TB SSD in the MacBook Air we tested hit a read speed of 2692 MBps on the Black Magic Disk Speed Test (Intel), literally more than twice the 1,301.9 MBps read rate from the Intel MacBook Air. The MacBook Air scored a 653 on the PugetBench Photoshop (Intel) test, which beats the 588 from the XPS 13, but falls to the 743 from the ZenBook 13 (a rare win for the x86 crowd). The MacBook Pro came pretty close, with a 649. MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics Our test MacBook Air has the 8-core GPU configuration, which (by the feel of it) could reshape the Mac in the minds of some gamers. I started it off easy, running Bioshock 2 Remastered (at the native 2560 x 1600 resolution) and that game played smoothly, as rippling water flowed through the rooms I navigated, electro shocks hit enemies and all the underwater life outside the hallways I explored moved without a glitch. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) But since that's an older game, I brought out Rise of the Tomb Raider (also at 2560 x 1600, and set to Medium graphics) which looked great on the MacBook Air — and I never thought I'd see a MacBook Air run a demanding AAA game at all. Whether I was climbing a snowy arctic mountain or exploring the deserts of Syria, Lara Croft moved as she should. Oh, and both of these games are Intel versions running via Rosetta 2, so they're not Universal versions (yet). (Image credit: Tom's Guide) When we benchmarked Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Intel) on the MacBook Air (where 1440 x 900 was the highest resolution supported), it ran at 37 frames per second, walloping the 7 fps score we got from the Intel MacBook Air and coming in slightly under the M1 MacBook Pro's 38 fps time. The ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 (which could run that game at a slightly sharper 1080p) posted rates of 21 and 16 fps, respectively. Interestingly, the GFXBench Metal Aztec Ruins graphics benchmark (Universal) gave the Air and Pro practically similar scores: a 54 on High and 60 on Normal (both rounded down). MacBook Air with M1 review: Battery Life On the Tom's Guide web browsing battery test, the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes. Apple declared its M1 chip would enable all-day battery life, and the company has hit that mark. On the Tom's Guide battery test (web browsing at 150 nits), the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes (while the new MacBook Pro hit 16:32) — times that beat both the ZenBook 13 (13:47) and XPS 13 (11:07). The OLED XPS 13 (7:59) put in a much lower time. And for those who just want to compare against the previous Intel Macs — they're left in the dust. The Intel MacBook Air (9:31) and MacBook Pro (10:21) times have now been beaten by 5 and 6 hours, respectively. MacBook Air with M1 review: Webcam I've wanted Apple to give its MacBooks a higher-resolution camera, but they found another way to improve the MacBook for the Zoom era. The M1 chip features an image signal processor that makes you look better in a couple of ways. I put the New MacBook Air's webcam in a head-to-head face-off with the early-2020 Intel-based MacBook Pro, with both joining the same Google Meet call. My boss, looking at two of me at the same time, noted that the video from the M1-based MacBook Air offered better colors, including skin tones, and an overall brighter picture. Other calls I made on the MacBook Air, where we didn't have a live comparison, didn't wow anyone with the video quality, which goes to show that a better webcam would still be welcome. MacBook Air with M1 review: Design The MacBook Air with M1 looks and feels exactly like the early 2020 MacBook Air I reviewed back in March. And that's arguably the point. This MacBook Air has the same wedge-shaped machined-aluminum chassis (available in gold, silver and space gray) that we're used to, as Apple seems to want to ease users into the Apple Silicon era. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) So, the 12 x 8.4 x 0.6-inch, 2.8 pound M1 MacBook Air looks exactly like its Intel-based predecessor (11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds). And to be honest, it still has room to shrink. The 2.5-pound Asus ZenBook 13 (11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches) is a bit lighter, while the 2.8-pound Dell XPS 13 has a smaller 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6-inch footprint, thanks in part to its razor-thin InfinityEdge bezels. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Apple sells the MacBook Air in gold, silver and space gray. I prefer gold, so much so that I really wish Apple would offer it for the MacBook Pro (which it does not). MacBook Air with M1 review: Ports The M1 MacBook Air has 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports, just like its Intel-based predecessor, plus a headphone jack on the side (which I pray Apple never removes). While its USB-C ports are both on the left side, the XPS 13 splits them between the left and right side, making it easier to connect devices on your right. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Other laptops simply offer more ports. The XPS 13 also has a microSD reader, which the MacBook Air does not. The ZenBook 13 has a full HDMI-out and a USB-A port, but no headphone jack. Annoyed that the MacBook Air doesn't have the old MagSafe charging? Worry no more, rumor has it that the MacBook Air 2021 will pack the more convenient charging standard. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Plus, the ZenBook is also designed for serious durability, having passed multiple MIL-STD 810G certifications (including extreme temperatures and altitudes, drops, shocks, and vibrations). MacBook Air with M1 review: Display As I watched Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse on the MacBook Air M1, I noticed how the pinks, yellows and blues of the graffiti popped off the screen, as did the greens of the arachnid that bit into young Miles Morales. As for detail, the MacBook Air's 2,560 x 1600-pixel Retina display provided fine details, with the hairs on that spider, the myriad of Ben-Day dots in the entire film, as well as the grains of the wood floors in Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite. The starting configurations of the ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 both rock 1080p screens, which are not as sharp. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) We're still waiting on an OLED MacBook, as the Dell XPS 13 OLED just came out to get tons of applause for its gorgeous panel. That said, its improved screen comes at a big downside, as I mentioned in the battery life section. According to our Klein K10-A colorimeter, the MacBook Air with M1 produces 114.3% of the sRGB spectrum, which is slightly above the scores of the M1 MacBook Pro (110.6%) Asus ZenBook 13 (107.5%) and the Dell XPS 13 (97.9%). The Intel MacBook Air posted a similar 113%, and the OLED XPS 13 hit a hair higher, at 117.3% Our colorimeter also rates the new MacBook Air's display as producing up to 365.8 nits of brightness (a bit below the company's 400-nit estimate), which makes it similar to the display of the Intel-based MacBook Air (386 nits) and the ZenBook 13 (370 nits). The M1 MacBook Pro (434.8 nits) and the XPS 13 (469.2 nits) get brighter. That extra brightness could help it prevent colors from darkening a bit when you view the panel 30 degrees to the left and right. Be sure to read our guide on how to clean a MacBook screen to keep it looking its best. MacBook Air with M1 review: Keyboard and touchpad Testing out the MacBook Air's Magic Keyboard on the 10fastfingers typing test, I clicked my way to 74 words per minute, not far from my 80 wpm average. As was the case with the early 2020 MacBook Air, this keyboard was the upgrade Apple needed, after its too-shallow Butterfly-switch keys proved controversial, with many arguing they were prone to sticking when small detritus or dust got into the keys. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The MacBook Air's 4.8 x 3.2 glass Force Touch trackpad offers accurate input recognition and smooth scrolling. Apple continues to substitute haptic feedback for clicks, a decision that seems to have been a success (though I preferred it the old way). MacBook Air with M1 review: Audio Turning on Rage Against The Machine's "Bulls on Parade" I noted how the MacBook Air's stereo speakers get loud enough to fill my pretty-large living room with sweet sound. Synths and guitar riffs sounded accurate, Zach De La Rocha's vocals came out clearly and the speakers have a decently large soundstage, giving a somewhat immersive feel. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Also, the MacBook Air supports Dolby Atmos , so when I watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse on the Air, I felt like I heard the movie's booming score more than I have on previous laptops. Whether that was Post Malone and Swae Lee's "Sunflower" or the timbre of Nicolas Cage's voice for the Spider-Noir character, the movie just sounded better. When you’re making video calls, the trio of built-in microphones means that Siri can hear you (correctly) even when you're speaking away from the laptop. MacBook Air with M1 review: Heat When I used the MacBook Air in my lap while writing this review, watching video and syncing my personal and professional email in Mail.app, I noticed the Air got a little warm. Not to an unpleasant degree, though. That’s good news since the new Air doesn’t have a fan. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) After we streamed 15 minutes of full HD video on the MacBook Air, our heat gun picked up low readings on its touchpad (78 degrees Fahrenheit), keyboard (80.5 degrees) and underside (83 degrees), which all fall under our 95-degree comfort threshold. MacBook Air with M1 review: Software and iOS apps As you've doubtlessly noticed, multiple applications we used to test and benchmark the MacBook Air were applications made for Intel processors. The Apple M1 chip, and all upcoming Apple silicon, will not natively run these applications. Fortunately, Rosetta 2 — Apple's tool for translating applications to run smoothly — is here and it performs that action up upon installation, so those applications can run unhindered. Hopefully, developers will create Universal versions of these apps sooner, rather than later, so the M1 Macs can run to their potential. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Apple silicon chips like the M1 will also allow you to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac. They'll be distributed in the Mac App Store, but look for the text "Not verified for macOS" — if you see that, the developer hasn't confirmed that their app runs smoothly on the Mac. Apps will default to arrive on the Mac App Store, but developers can opt-out, so don't expect everything. I've tried out some of my favorites, including Overcast, and it's nice to get the HBO Max app on the Mac, so you can save movies for watching offline. Playing Among Us without a touch screen had a bit of a learning curve. That said, you can also check out some of the best Mac apps for your MacBook Air. Finally, macOS Big Sur is at the heart of the new MacBook Air, and I've enjoyed it as I spent the summer playing around with it in betas. Its bright interface uses transparency and translucency a lot, which might require some adjustments based on your personal preferences. The biggest update to Big Sur is how Safari is getting competitive with Chrome, by gaining a customizable home screen and new tab previews. MacBook Air with M1 review: Verdict This MacBook Air with M1 review has shown why its amazing endurance and shockingly good speed combine to take the MacBook Air to new heights. If only it packed a couple more ports and slimmed down its bezels, the new MacBook Air might be 5-star perfect. The Dell XPS 13 has much smaller bezels, but it trails behind the MacBook Air in performance and battery life. You could save $650 with a similarly configured $999 Asus ZenBook 13, and get a few ports too, but you'd be sacrificing performance and around an hour of endurance. For those who live and work in the Apple ecosystem, though, the MacBook Air is one of the easiest buying decisions you've had in ages. But if you want the latest, the MacBook Air M2 is now available. TOPICS Apple M1 Henry T. Casey Henry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.
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[Computing](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/computing) 2. [Laptops](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/computing/laptops) 3. [MacBooks](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/computing/laptops/macbooks) # MacBook Air with M1 review: Great value ## The MacBook Air with M1 packs MacBook Pro-like power and amazing battery life [Reviews](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/reviews) By [Henry T. Casey](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/author/henry-t-casey) last updated 8 February 2024 When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/about-us#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure). ![MacBook Air with M1 review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bY3YssKRe8E4Zn2NGkFtkL.jpg) ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/owNpigUzz2nnBA5ncJ8KyJ-200-100.png) Editor's Choice (Image credit: © Tom's Guide) ### Tom's Guide Verdict The MacBook Air now has the speed and battery life to beat the best PCs. #### Pros - \+ Remarkably fast performance - \+ Strong legacy app support - \+ Amazingly long battery life - \+ Comfy Magic Keyboard - \+ Improved webcam #### Cons - \- Still has thick bezels - \- Light on ports Best picks for you - [Which MacBook should you buy in 2026? I ranked the 5 best Apple laptops for every need](https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-macbook) - [I test laptops year-round and these are the best laptops you can buy in 2026](https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/laptops/best-laptops) - [I test laptops for a living — and these are the 7 best for students right now](https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-laptops-for-college-students) Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. [Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.](https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/how-we-test) Today's best Apple Macbook Air (M1 2020) deals [3 Amazon customer reviews](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8428&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Freviews%2FB08N5NMHM3%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dtomsguide-gb-1307219078731162818-21) ☆☆☆☆☆ [![Apple MacBook Air 13.3 Inch...](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/products/cf929d796ba6a5d18ca283298a649f6a211f8789-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730) [![Laptops Direct](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/tph87b097kgscaqc-17696862826221-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730) [£612.49](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730) [£519.97](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730) [View](https://www.awin1.com/pclick.php?clickref=tomsguide-gb-1880575235190686990&p=37169335761&a=103504&m=74730) [![apple macbook air (m1 2020)](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/hh3xtiyvqrmx3xkj-16681794209212.jpg)](https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd) [![very.co.uk](https://images.fie.futurecdn.net/a3alicko96xynfl6-17593999292432-100-80.jpg.webp)](https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd) [£889](https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd) [View](https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=103504&clickref=tomsguide-gb-7706824966893030895&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.very.co.uk%2Fapple-macbook-air-m1-2020-13-inch-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb-storage-with-optionalnbspmicrosoft-365-personalnbsp12-months-or-microsoft-365-family-15-months%2F1600533403.prd) We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices MacBook Air with M1 review: Specs Price: \$999 (starting), \$899 (education) CPU: Apple M1 Display: 13\.3‑inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel Battery: 14:41 (tested) Memory: 8GB to 16GB Storage: 256GB to 2TB Dimensions: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches Weight: 2.8 pounds Editor's Note:** The latest [MacBook Air M2](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/macbook-air-2022-m2) now occupies the top of some of our best-of lists. However, the M1 Air is still a great laptop; read the full review that we originally published in 2020 below to see why. The Apple MacBook Air with M1 takes your idea of what a MacBook Air is and throws it in the recycling bin. Yes, it's still got the same iconic wedge aesthetic, but Apple Silicon makes it far more powerful and capable than ever before — [destroying Intel's CPUs](https://www.tomsguide.com/news/macbook-pro-m1-benchmarks-are-in-and-they-destroy-intel) and making it one of the [best 13-inch laptops](https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-13-inch-laptops) on the market. Thus, a new era kicked off for the MacBook Air — one with Pro-grade power that challenges [Intel](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/intel)\-based Windows PCs — and often beats them. As a prospective MacBook shopper myself, I'm happy to say that the new MacBook Air offers serious performance gains over its predecessor, and many more hours of battery life as well. This MacBook Air with M1 review will show why this is one of the [best laptops](https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/laptops/best-laptops), period. Most of the apps I've used on the MacBook Air are still the Intel versions, which macOS Big Sur uses Rosetta 2 to translate for working on its ARM-based processor. Once app developers make Universal versions, their apps will run even faster on Apple silicon systems, like this M1-based MacBook Air. Not only am I going to pit the new M1 MacBook Air against the best PC laptops in this review, but I'm also comparing it against the Intel-based MacBook Air released last year, to show how much has changed (or hasn't). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Price and release date The [MacBook Air with M1 starts at \$999](https://apple.sjv.io/c/221109/435031/7613?subId1=tomsguide-gb-1301843030983164152&sharedId=tomsguide-gb&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air), though educational customers can get it for \$899. It's also frequently discounted to below \$800 at vendors like [Amazon](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/amazon) and [Best Buy](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/best-buy). That model has an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The \$1,249 model is a little more stacked, with 512GB of SSD storage — plus an 8-core GPU. The MacBook Air with M1 debuted on November 17, 2020. Its follow-up, the MacBook Air M2 released in June 2022 and costs \$1,199 to start. Want more Apple news? Sign up to the Tom's iGuide weekly newsletter with coverage on everything from product launches to software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content. By submitting your information you agree to the [Terms & Conditions](https://futureplc.com/terms-conditions/) and [Privacy Policy](https://futureplc.com/privacy-policy/) and are aged 16 or over. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance The MacBook Air's performance — powered by the M1 processor and 16GB of RAM — is phenomenal. When I split its screen between 20 [Chrome](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/chrome) (Intel, not Universal) tabs and a 1080p [YouTube](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/youtube) video — plus Apple's Mail and Photos app, Pixelmator (again, an Intel app) and 1Password (Intel, again) in the background, I never saw anything close to a hiccup. Oh, and in the background, 20GB of 4K video was being AirDrop transferred, while everything stayed smooth and stable. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t5SWUYqwxKAjLgqiGc4i5S.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) During a group call, I even found time to play around with iOS apps, downloading and opening the Overcast podcatcher, HBO Max and the game Among Us. All while a 4K YouTube video of a chef cooking played on my laptop monitor, I played around in each of those apps, so I could start an Adventure Time episode, download a podcast and drag my lil Among Us guy around on screen. Yes, I'm very good at multitasking. Most of the time, the MacBook Air with M1 felt — performance-wise — like it was identical (if not faster) than the 2020 Core i5 MacBook Pro I've used to test Big Sur, or the 2017 Core i7 MacBook Pro work computer I relied upon. This includes when I connected an external monitor. Before this, I was a bit skeptical, even with Apple's boasts of 3.5x improved performance vs the Intel MacBook Air released earlier this year, because I've always pushed my MacBooks to the limit, and needed a MacBook Pro, and not an Air, to do my work. This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro. And let's see how that shakes out in benchmarks — and I'll note that not all of our tests were done with Universal versions of apps, and Intel versions aren't optimized for the M1. The Air scored 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.1 (Intel) multicore test, which was practically in a dead-heat with the 5,925 from the M1 MacBook Pro. The Air soundly beat the 5,084 from the ZenBook 13 and the 5,319 from the XPS 13 (both tested with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM), on the comparable Geekbench 5.2 test. The old Intel MacBook Air Y-series Intel CPU mustered only 2,738. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Display](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YNKY4bexKTBAd43eEEoEuM.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) > This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro. On our Handbrake (Universal) video conversion test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p, the MacBook Air finished the test in 9 minutes and 15 seconds and the MacBook Pro took 7:44 (on a Beta version of Handbrake that's optimized for Apple silicon). Those times obliterate those from the ZenBook 13 (17:51) and XPS 13 (18:22), as well as the 27:10 time from the Intel MacBook Air from earlier this year. Apple also promised twice as fast storage speeds, and they delivered. The 1TB SSD in the MacBook Air we tested hit a read speed of 2692 MBps on the Black Magic Disk Speed Test (Intel), literally more than twice the 1,301.9 MBps read rate from the Intel MacBook Air. The MacBook Air scored a 653 on the PugetBench Photoshop (Intel) test, which beats the 588 from the XPS 13, but falls to the 743 from the ZenBook 13 (a rare win for the x86 crowd). The MacBook Pro came pretty close, with a 649. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics Our test MacBook Air has the 8-core GPU configuration, which (by the feel of it) could reshape the Mac in the minds of some gamers. I started it off easy, running Bioshock 2 Remastered (at the native 2560 x 1600 resolution) and that game played smoothly, as rippling water flowed through the rooms I navigated, electro shocks hit enemies and all the underwater life outside the hallways I explored moved without a glitch. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C3B3avxZEqqeDTz86xozCL.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) But since that's an older game, I brought out Rise of the Tomb Raider (also at 2560 x 1600, and set to Medium graphics) which looked great on the MacBook Air — and I never thought I'd see a MacBook Air run a demanding AAA game at all. Whether I was climbing a snowy arctic mountain or exploring the deserts of Syria, Lara Croft moved as she should. Oh, and both of these games are Intel versions running via Rosetta 2, so they're not Universal versions (yet). ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Gaming](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tj3enzckMM2bEnZRQwjWfK.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) When we benchmarked Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Intel) on the MacBook Air (where 1440 x 900 was the highest resolution supported), it ran at 37 frames per second, walloping the 7 fps score we got from the Intel MacBook Air and coming in slightly under the M1 MacBook Pro's 38 fps time. The ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 (which could run that game at a slightly sharper 1080p) posted rates of 21 and 16 fps, respectively. Interestingly, the GFXBench Metal Aztec Ruins graphics benchmark (Universal) gave the Air and Pro practically similar scores: a 54 on High and 60 on Normal (both rounded down). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Battery Life > On the Tom's Guide web browsing battery test, the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes. Apple declared its M1 chip would enable all-day battery life, and the company has hit that mark. On the Tom's Guide battery test (web browsing at 150 nits), the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes (while the new MacBook Pro hit 16:32) — times that beat both the ZenBook 13 (13:47) and XPS 13 (11:07). The [OLED XPS 13](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/dell-xps-13-oled-review) (7:59) put in a much lower time. And for those who just want to compare against the previous Intel Macs — they're left in the dust. The Intel MacBook Air (9:31) and MacBook Pro (10:21) times have now been beaten by 5 and 6 hours, respectively. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Webcam I've wanted Apple to give its MacBooks a higher-resolution camera, but they found another way to improve the MacBook for the Zoom era. The M1 chip features an image signal processor that makes you look better in a couple of ways. I put the New MacBook Air's webcam in a head-to-head face-off with the early-2020 Intel-based MacBook Pro, with both joining the same [Google](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/google) Meet call. My boss, looking at two of me at the same time, noted that the video from the M1-based MacBook Air offered better colors, including skin tones, and an overall brighter picture. Other calls I made on the MacBook Air, where we didn't have a live comparison, didn't wow anyone with the video quality, which goes to show that a better webcam would still be welcome. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Design The MacBook Air with M1 looks and feels exactly like the early 2020 MacBook Air I reviewed back in March. And that's arguably the point. This MacBook Air has the same wedge-shaped machined-aluminum chassis (available in gold, silver and space gray) that we're used to, as Apple seems to want to ease users into the Apple Silicon era. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Design](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YTeenxBvujGLBqsRv82PGV.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) So, the 12 x 8.4 x 0.6-inch, 2.8 pound M1 MacBook Air looks exactly like its Intel-based predecessor (11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds). And to be honest, it still has room to shrink. The 2.5-pound [Asus](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/asus) ZenBook 13 (11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches) is a bit lighter, while the 2.8-pound [Dell XPS 13](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/dell-xps-13-11th-gen) has a smaller 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6-inch footprint, thanks in part to its razor-thin InfinityEdge bezels. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: closing time](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6Jkm4EE5rZzmVXaeCNyuQ.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Apple sells the MacBook Air in gold, silver and space gray. I prefer gold, so much so that I really wish Apple would offer it for the MacBook Pro (which it does not). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Ports The M1 MacBook Air has 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports, just like its Intel-based predecessor, plus a headphone jack on the side (which I pray Apple never removes). While its USB-C ports are both on the left side, the XPS 13 splits them between the left and right side, making it easier to connect devices on your right. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: ports](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVahp4CVxo3frpHESfWhT.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Other laptops simply offer more ports. The XPS 13 also has a microSD reader, which the MacBook Air does not. The ZenBook 13 has a full HDMI-out and a USB-A port, but no headphone jack. Annoyed that the MacBook Air doesn't have the old MagSafe charging? Worry no more, rumor has it that the [MacBook Air 2021](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/macbook-air-2022-m2) will pack the more convenient charging standard. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: headphone jack](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6Xzev8dh4MozvqD6RYYPDU.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Plus, the ZenBook is also designed for serious durability, having passed multiple MIL-STD 810G certifications (including extreme temperatures and altitudes, drops, shocks, and vibrations). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Display As I watched Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse on the MacBook Air M1, I noticed how the pinks, yellows and blues of the graffiti popped off the screen, as did the greens of the arachnid that bit into young Miles Morales. As for detail, the MacBook Air's 2,560 x 1600-pixel Retina display provided fine details, with the hairs on that spider, the myriad of Ben-Day dots in the entire film, as well as the grains of the wood floors in Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite. The starting configurations of the ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 both rock 1080p screens, which are not as sharp. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Video](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yqAgRukAtQYjzQjoJDNYVR.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) We're still waiting on an OLED MacBook, as the [Dell XPS 13 OLED](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/dell-xps-13-oled-review) just came out to get tons of applause for its gorgeous panel. That said, its improved screen comes at a big downside, as I mentioned in the battery life section. According to our Klein K10-A colorimeter, the MacBook Air with M1 produces 114.3% of the sRGB spectrum, which is slightly above the scores of the M1 MacBook Pro (110.6%) Asus ZenBook 13 (107.5%) and the [Dell](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/dell) XPS 13 (97.9%). The Intel MacBook Air posted a similar 113%, and the OLED XPS 13 hit a hair higher, at 117.3% Our colorimeter also rates the new MacBook Air's display as producing up to 365.8 nits of brightness (a bit below the company's 400-nit estimate), which makes it similar to the display of the Intel-based MacBook Air (386 nits) and the ZenBook 13 (370 nits). The M1 MacBook Pro (434.8 nits) and the XPS 13 (469.2 nits) get brighter. That extra brightness could help it prevent colors from darkening a bit when you view the panel 30 degrees to the left and right. Be sure to read our guide on [how to clean a MacBook screen](https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-clean-a-macbook-screen) to keep it looking its best. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Keyboard and touchpad Testing out the MacBook Air's Magic Keyboard on the 10fastfingers typing test, I clicked my way to 74 words per minute, not far from my 80 wpm average. As was the case with the early 2020 MacBook Air, this keyboard was the upgrade Apple needed, after its too-shallow Butterfly-switch keys proved controversial, with many arguing they were prone to sticking when small detritus or dust got into the keys. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: keyboard](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vQfD74RzgWwKtZHPiMA9CT.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The MacBook Air's 4.8 x 3.2 glass Force Touch trackpad offers accurate input recognition and smooth scrolling. Apple continues to substitute haptic feedback for clicks, a decision that seems to have been a success (though I preferred it the old way). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Audio Turning on Rage Against The Machine's "Bulls on Parade" I noted how the MacBook Air's stereo speakers get loud enough to fill my pretty-large living room with sweet sound. Synths and guitar riffs sounded accurate, Zach De La Rocha's vocals came out clearly and the speakers have a decently large soundstage, giving a somewhat immersive feel. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: speakers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YbLDQnwRVXMQGdWsYTdPbS.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Also, the MacBook Air supports [Dolby Atmos](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/dolby-atmos), so when I watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse on the Air, I felt like I heard the movie's booming score more than I have on previous laptops. Whether that was Post Malone and Swae Lee's "Sunflower" or the timbre of Nicolas Cage's voice for the Spider-Noir character, the movie just sounded better. When you’re making video calls, the trio of built-in microphones means that [Siri](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/siri) can hear you (correctly) even when you're speaking away from the laptop. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Heat When I used the MacBook Air in my lap while writing this review, watching video and syncing my personal and professional email in Mail.app, I noticed the Air got a little warm. Not to an unpleasant degree, though. That’s good news since the new Air doesn’t have a fan. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: lid](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ec9VnxJYwSTx8eecJztUiU.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) After we streamed 15 minutes of full HD video on the MacBook Air, our heat gun picked up low readings on its touchpad (78 degrees Fahrenheit), keyboard (80.5 degrees) and underside (83 degrees), which all fall under our 95-degree comfort threshold. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Software and iOS apps As you've doubtlessly noticed, multiple applications we used to test and benchmark the MacBook Air were applications made for Intel processors. The Apple M1 chip, and all upcoming Apple silicon, will not natively run these applications. Fortunately, Rosetta 2 — Apple's tool for translating applications to run smoothly — is here and it performs that action up upon installation, so those applications can run unhindered. Hopefully, developers will create Universal versions of these apps sooner, rather than later, so the M1 Macs can run to their potential. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: apps](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ZmRjj8zRkTqazThy3VFLQ.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Apple silicon chips like the M1 will also allow you to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac. They'll be distributed in the Mac App Store, but look for the text "Not verified for macOS" — if you see that, the developer hasn't confirmed that their app runs smoothly on the Mac. Apps will default to arrive on the Mac App Store, but developers can opt-out, so don't expect everything. I've tried out some of my favorites, including Overcast, and it's nice to get the HBO Max app on the Mac, so you can save movies for watching offline. Playing Among Us without a touch screen had a bit of a learning curve. That said, you can also check out some of the [best Mac apps](https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-mac-apps) for your MacBook Air. Finally, [macOS Big Sur](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/macos-big-sur) is at the heart of the new MacBook Air, and I've enjoyed it as I spent the summer playing around with it in betas. Its bright interface uses transparency and translucency a lot, which might require some adjustments based on your personal preferences. The biggest update to Big Sur is how Safari is getting competitive with Chrome, by gaining a customizable home screen and new tab previews. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Verdict This MacBook Air with M1 review has shown why its amazing endurance and shockingly good speed combine to take the MacBook Air to new heights. If only it packed a couple more ports and slimmed down its bezels, the new MacBook Air might be 5-star perfect. The Dell XPS 13 has much smaller bezels, but it trails behind the MacBook Air in performance and battery life. You could save \$650 with a similarly configured \$999 Asus ZenBook 13, and get a few ports too, but you'd be sacrificing performance and around an hour of endurance. For those who live and work in the Apple ecosystem, though, the MacBook Air is one of the easiest buying decisions you've had in ages. But if you want the latest, the MacBook Air M2 is now available. TOPICS [Apple](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/apple) [M1](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/m1) ![Henry T. Casey](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7GgHtdQYhXZUdB9bHngfxa.jpg) [Henry T. Casey](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/author/henry-t-casey) Social Links Navigation Henry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans. Read more [![MacBook Air 15-inch M5 on a desk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E7uSABSyBBWTGXMzRoXmn3.jpg) MacBooks I just tested the MacBook Air M5 and it’s almost perfect — but there's one catch](https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/macbooks/macbook-air-m5-review "I just tested the MacBook Air M5 and it’s almost perfect — but there's one catch") [![MacBook Air 15-inch M5 on a desk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T9AaHufp6EawHLeav5tnbG.jpg) MacBooks Which MacBook should you buy in 2026? I ranked the 5 best Apple laptops for every need](https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-macbook "Which MacBook should you buy in 2026? 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Readable Markdown	### Tom's Guide Verdict The MacBook Air now has the speed and battery life to beat the best PCs. #### Pros - \+ Remarkably fast performance - \+ Strong legacy app support - \+ Amazingly long battery life - \+ Comfy Magic Keyboard - \+ Improved webcam #### Cons - \- Still has thick bezels - \- Light on ports Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. [Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.](https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/how-we-test) MacBook Air with M1 review: Specs Price: \$999 (starting), \$899 (education) CPU: Apple M1 Display: 13\.3‑inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel Battery: 14:41 (tested) Memory: 8GB to 16GB Storage: 256GB to 2TB Dimensions: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches Weight: 2.8 pounds *Editor's Note:* The latest [MacBook Air M2](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/macbook-air-2022-m2) now occupies the top of some of our best-of lists. However, the M1 Air is still a great laptop; read the full review that we originally published in 2020 below to see why. As a prospective MacBook shopper myself, I'm happy to say that the new MacBook Air offers serious performance gains over its predecessor, and many more hours of battery life as well. This MacBook Air with M1 review will show why this is one of the [best laptops](https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/laptops/best-laptops), period. Most of the apps I've used on the MacBook Air are still the Intel versions, which macOS Big Sur uses Rosetta 2 to translate for working on its ARM-based processor. Once app developers make Universal versions, their apps will run even faster on Apple silicon systems, like this M1-based MacBook Air. Not only am I going to pit the new M1 MacBook Air against the best PC laptops in this review, but I'm also comparing it against the Intel-based MacBook Air released last year, to show how much has changed (or hasn't). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Price and release date The [MacBook Air with M1 starts at \$999](https://apple.sjv.io/c/221109/435031/7613?subId1=tomsguide-gb-1301843030983164152&sharedId=tomsguide-gb&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air), though educational customers can get it for \$899. It's also frequently discounted to below \$800 at vendors like [Amazon](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/amazon) and [Best Buy](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/best-buy). That model has an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The \$1,249 model is a little more stacked, with 512GB of SSD storage — plus an 8-core GPU. The MacBook Air with M1 debuted on November 17, 2020. Its follow-up, the MacBook Air M2 released in June 2022 and costs \$1,199 to start. Want more Apple news? Sign up to the Tom's iGuide weekly newsletter with coverage on everything from product launches to software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance The MacBook Air's performance — powered by the M1 processor and 16GB of RAM — is phenomenal. When I split its screen between 20 [Chrome](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/chrome) (Intel, not Universal) tabs and a 1080p [YouTube](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/youtube) video — plus Apple's Mail and Photos app, Pixelmator (again, an Intel app) and 1Password (Intel, again) in the background, I never saw anything close to a hiccup. Oh, and in the background, 20GB of 4K video was being AirDrop transferred, while everything stayed smooth and stable. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Performance](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t5SWUYqwxKAjLgqiGc4i5S.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) During a group call, I even found time to play around with iOS apps, downloading and opening the Overcast podcatcher, HBO Max and the game Among Us. All while a 4K YouTube video of a chef cooking played on my laptop monitor, I played around in each of those apps, so I could start an Adventure Time episode, download a podcast and drag my lil Among Us guy around on screen. Yes, I'm very good at multitasking. Most of the time, the MacBook Air with M1 felt — performance-wise — like it was identical (if not faster) than the 2020 Core i5 MacBook Pro I've used to test Big Sur, or the 2017 Core i7 MacBook Pro work computer I relied upon. This includes when I connected an external monitor. Before this, I was a bit skeptical, even with Apple's boasts of 3.5x improved performance vs the Intel MacBook Air released earlier this year, because I've always pushed my MacBooks to the limit, and needed a MacBook Pro, and not an Air, to do my work. This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro. And let's see how that shakes out in benchmarks — and I'll note that not all of our tests were done with Universal versions of apps, and Intel versions aren't optimized for the M1. The Air scored 5,962 on the Geekbench 5.1 (Intel) multicore test, which was practically in a dead-heat with the 5,925 from the M1 MacBook Pro. The Air soundly beat the 5,084 from the ZenBook 13 and the 5,319 from the XPS 13 (both tested with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM), on the comparable Geekbench 5.2 test. The old Intel MacBook Air Y-series Intel CPU mustered only 2,738. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Display](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YNKY4bexKTBAd43eEEoEuM.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) > This MacBook Air? It feels like a Pro. On our Handbrake (Universal) video conversion test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p, the MacBook Air finished the test in 9 minutes and 15 seconds and the MacBook Pro took 7:44 (on a Beta version of Handbrake that's optimized for Apple silicon). Those times obliterate those from the ZenBook 13 (17:51) and XPS 13 (18:22), as well as the 27:10 time from the Intel MacBook Air from earlier this year. Apple also promised twice as fast storage speeds, and they delivered. The 1TB SSD in the MacBook Air we tested hit a read speed of 2692 MBps on the Black Magic Disk Speed Test (Intel), literally more than twice the 1,301.9 MBps read rate from the Intel MacBook Air. The MacBook Air scored a 653 on the PugetBench Photoshop (Intel) test, which beats the 588 from the XPS 13, but falls to the 743 from the ZenBook 13 (a rare win for the x86 crowd). The MacBook Pro came pretty close, with a 649. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics Our test MacBook Air has the 8-core GPU configuration, which (by the feel of it) could reshape the Mac in the minds of some gamers. I started it off easy, running Bioshock 2 Remastered (at the native 2560 x 1600 resolution) and that game played smoothly, as rippling water flowed through the rooms I navigated, electro shocks hit enemies and all the underwater life outside the hallways I explored moved without a glitch. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Graphics](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C3B3avxZEqqeDTz86xozCL.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) But since that's an older game, I brought out Rise of the Tomb Raider (also at 2560 x 1600, and set to Medium graphics) which looked great on the MacBook Air — and I never thought I'd see a MacBook Air run a demanding AAA game at all. Whether I was climbing a snowy arctic mountain or exploring the deserts of Syria, Lara Croft moved as she should. Oh, and both of these games are Intel versions running via Rosetta 2, so they're not Universal versions (yet). ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Gaming](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tj3enzckMM2bEnZRQwjWfK.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) When we benchmarked Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Intel) on the MacBook Air (where 1440 x 900 was the highest resolution supported), it ran at 37 frames per second, walloping the 7 fps score we got from the Intel MacBook Air and coming in slightly under the M1 MacBook Pro's 38 fps time. The ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 (which could run that game at a slightly sharper 1080p) posted rates of 21 and 16 fps, respectively. Interestingly, the GFXBench Metal Aztec Ruins graphics benchmark (Universal) gave the Air and Pro practically similar scores: a 54 on High and 60 on Normal (both rounded down). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Battery Life > On the Tom's Guide web browsing battery test, the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes. Apple declared its M1 chip would enable all-day battery life, and the company has hit that mark. On the Tom's Guide battery test (web browsing at 150 nits), the new MacBook Air lasted an epic 14 hours and 41 minutes (while the new MacBook Pro hit 16:32) — times that beat both the ZenBook 13 (13:47) and XPS 13 (11:07). The [OLED XPS 13](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/dell-xps-13-oled-review) (7:59) put in a much lower time. And for those who just want to compare against the previous Intel Macs — they're left in the dust. The Intel MacBook Air (9:31) and MacBook Pro (10:21) times have now been beaten by 5 and 6 hours, respectively. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Webcam I've wanted Apple to give its MacBooks a higher-resolution camera, but they found another way to improve the MacBook for the Zoom era. The M1 chip features an image signal processor that makes you look better in a couple of ways. I put the New MacBook Air's webcam in a head-to-head face-off with the early-2020 Intel-based MacBook Pro, with both joining the same [Google](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/google) Meet call. My boss, looking at two of me at the same time, noted that the video from the M1-based MacBook Air offered better colors, including skin tones, and an overall brighter picture. Other calls I made on the MacBook Air, where we didn't have a live comparison, didn't wow anyone with the video quality, which goes to show that a better webcam would still be welcome. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Design The MacBook Air with M1 looks and feels exactly like the early 2020 MacBook Air I reviewed back in March. And that's arguably the point. This MacBook Air has the same wedge-shaped machined-aluminum chassis (available in gold, silver and space gray) that we're used to, as Apple seems to want to ease users into the Apple Silicon era. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Design](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YTeenxBvujGLBqsRv82PGV.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) So, the 12 x 8.4 x 0.6-inch, 2.8 pound M1 MacBook Air looks exactly like its Intel-based predecessor (11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds). And to be honest, it still has room to shrink. The 2.5-pound [Asus](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/asus) ZenBook 13 (11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches) is a bit lighter, while the 2.8-pound [Dell XPS 13](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/dell-xps-13-11th-gen) has a smaller 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6-inch footprint, thanks in part to its razor-thin InfinityEdge bezels. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: closing time](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6Jkm4EE5rZzmVXaeCNyuQ.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Apple sells the MacBook Air in gold, silver and space gray. I prefer gold, so much so that I really wish Apple would offer it for the MacBook Pro (which it does not). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Ports The M1 MacBook Air has 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports, just like its Intel-based predecessor, plus a headphone jack on the side (which I pray Apple never removes). While its USB-C ports are both on the left side, the XPS 13 splits them between the left and right side, making it easier to connect devices on your right. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: ports](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVahp4CVxo3frpHESfWhT.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Other laptops simply offer more ports. The XPS 13 also has a microSD reader, which the MacBook Air does not. The ZenBook 13 has a full HDMI-out and a USB-A port, but no headphone jack. Annoyed that the MacBook Air doesn't have the old MagSafe charging? Worry no more, rumor has it that the [MacBook Air 2021](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/macbook-air-2022-m2) will pack the more convenient charging standard. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: headphone jack](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6Xzev8dh4MozvqD6RYYPDU.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Plus, the ZenBook is also designed for serious durability, having passed multiple MIL-STD 810G certifications (including extreme temperatures and altitudes, drops, shocks, and vibrations). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Display As I watched Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse on the MacBook Air M1, I noticed how the pinks, yellows and blues of the graffiti popped off the screen, as did the greens of the arachnid that bit into young Miles Morales. As for detail, the MacBook Air's 2,560 x 1600-pixel Retina display provided fine details, with the hairs on that spider, the myriad of Ben-Day dots in the entire film, as well as the grains of the wood floors in Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite. The starting configurations of the ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 both rock 1080p screens, which are not as sharp. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: Video](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yqAgRukAtQYjzQjoJDNYVR.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) We're still waiting on an OLED MacBook, as the [Dell XPS 13 OLED](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/dell-xps-13-oled-review) just came out to get tons of applause for its gorgeous panel. That said, its improved screen comes at a big downside, as I mentioned in the battery life section. According to our Klein K10-A colorimeter, the MacBook Air with M1 produces 114.3% of the sRGB spectrum, which is slightly above the scores of the M1 MacBook Pro (110.6%) Asus ZenBook 13 (107.5%) and the [Dell](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/dell) XPS 13 (97.9%). The Intel MacBook Air posted a similar 113%, and the OLED XPS 13 hit a hair higher, at 117.3% Our colorimeter also rates the new MacBook Air's display as producing up to 365.8 nits of brightness (a bit below the company's 400-nit estimate), which makes it similar to the display of the Intel-based MacBook Air (386 nits) and the ZenBook 13 (370 nits). The M1 MacBook Pro (434.8 nits) and the XPS 13 (469.2 nits) get brighter. That extra brightness could help it prevent colors from darkening a bit when you view the panel 30 degrees to the left and right. Be sure to read our guide on [how to clean a MacBook screen](https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-clean-a-macbook-screen) to keep it looking its best. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Keyboard and touchpad Testing out the MacBook Air's Magic Keyboard on the 10fastfingers typing test, I clicked my way to 74 words per minute, not far from my 80 wpm average. As was the case with the early 2020 MacBook Air, this keyboard was the upgrade Apple needed, after its too-shallow Butterfly-switch keys proved controversial, with many arguing they were prone to sticking when small detritus or dust got into the keys. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: keyboard](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vQfD74RzgWwKtZHPiMA9CT.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The MacBook Air's 4.8 x 3.2 glass Force Touch trackpad offers accurate input recognition and smooth scrolling. Apple continues to substitute haptic feedback for clicks, a decision that seems to have been a success (though I preferred it the old way). ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Audio Turning on Rage Against The Machine's "Bulls on Parade" I noted how the MacBook Air's stereo speakers get loud enough to fill my pretty-large living room with sweet sound. Synths and guitar riffs sounded accurate, Zach De La Rocha's vocals came out clearly and the speakers have a decently large soundstage, giving a somewhat immersive feel. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: speakers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YbLDQnwRVXMQGdWsYTdPbS.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Also, the MacBook Air supports [Dolby Atmos](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/dolby-atmos), so when I watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse on the Air, I felt like I heard the movie's booming score more than I have on previous laptops. Whether that was Post Malone and Swae Lee's "Sunflower" or the timbre of Nicolas Cage's voice for the Spider-Noir character, the movie just sounded better. When you’re making video calls, the trio of built-in microphones means that [Siri](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/siri) can hear you (correctly) even when you're speaking away from the laptop. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Heat When I used the MacBook Air in my lap while writing this review, watching video and syncing my personal and professional email in Mail.app, I noticed the Air got a little warm. Not to an unpleasant degree, though. That’s good news since the new Air doesn’t have a fan. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: lid](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ec9VnxJYwSTx8eecJztUiU.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) After we streamed 15 minutes of full HD video on the MacBook Air, our heat gun picked up low readings on its touchpad (78 degrees Fahrenheit), keyboard (80.5 degrees) and underside (83 degrees), which all fall under our 95-degree comfort threshold. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Software and iOS apps As you've doubtlessly noticed, multiple applications we used to test and benchmark the MacBook Air were applications made for Intel processors. The Apple M1 chip, and all upcoming Apple silicon, will not natively run these applications. Fortunately, Rosetta 2 — Apple's tool for translating applications to run smoothly — is here and it performs that action up upon installation, so those applications can run unhindered. Hopefully, developers will create Universal versions of these apps sooner, rather than later, so the M1 Macs can run to their potential. ![MacBook Air with M1 review: apps](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ZmRjj8zRkTqazThy3VFLQ.jpg) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Apple silicon chips like the M1 will also allow you to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac. They'll be distributed in the Mac App Store, but look for the text "Not verified for macOS" — if you see that, the developer hasn't confirmed that their app runs smoothly on the Mac. Apps will default to arrive on the Mac App Store, but developers can opt-out, so don't expect everything. I've tried out some of my favorites, including Overcast, and it's nice to get the HBO Max app on the Mac, so you can save movies for watching offline. Playing Among Us without a touch screen had a bit of a learning curve. That said, you can also check out some of the [best Mac apps](https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-mac-apps) for your MacBook Air. Finally, [macOS Big Sur](https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/macos-big-sur) is at the heart of the new MacBook Air, and I've enjoyed it as I spent the summer playing around with it in betas. Its bright interface uses transparency and translucency a lot, which might require some adjustments based on your personal preferences. The biggest update to Big Sur is how Safari is getting competitive with Chrome, by gaining a customizable home screen and new tab previews. ## MacBook Air with M1 review: Verdict This MacBook Air with M1 review has shown why its amazing endurance and shockingly good speed combine to take the MacBook Air to new heights. If only it packed a couple more ports and slimmed down its bezels, the new MacBook Air might be 5-star perfect. The Dell XPS 13 has much smaller bezels, but it trails behind the MacBook Air in performance and battery life. You could save \$650 with a similarly configured \$999 Asus ZenBook 13, and get a few ports too, but you'd be sacrificing performance and around an hour of endurance. For those who live and work in the Apple ecosystem, though, the MacBook Air is one of the easiest buying decisions you've had in ages. But if you want the latest, the MacBook Air M2 is now available. TOPICS [Apple](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/apple) [M1](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/tag/m1) ![Henry T. Casey](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7GgHtdQYhXZUdB9bHngfxa.jpg) [Henry T. Casey](https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/author/henry-t-casey) Henry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.
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