Expert review Apple MacBook Air (2020) with Apple M1 chip
Note: newer model available
On June 6 2022, Apple announced a new MacBook Air model. In addition to the new M2 chip, this 13.6-inch model also has a better screen, extra connectors, and new colors.
Apple MacBook Air (2020) with Apple M1 chip
- The Apple M1 chip is powerful enough for demanding programs like Final Cut Pro.
- The battery of this model lasts up to 18 hours.
- Thanks to its light 1.29kg weight, you can easily take this model with you.
- The passive cooling makes this model less suitable for prolonged use with demanding programs. The 13.3-inch screen is too small to work in detail without external monitors.
First impression of the Apple MacBook Air (2020) with the Apple M1 chi
Apple didn't change anything about the design of this new MacBook Air. It still has the same sleek and thin design. In addition to the Apple MacBook, you'll find a charger and the user manual in the box. No surprise there, but I'm mostly curious about the performance of the new chip. I open the Apple MacBook and before I can even blink, I'm welcomed by the startup screen. This looks promising, time to get started.
Faster and more silent thanks to the Apple M1 chip
The Apple M1 chip is the star of this model. It's faster and more energy-efficient than the Intel chip in previous models. That was made clear with various benchmark tests. I'm mostly curious about the performance of the chip in practice. As soon as I open Safari, I notice how smooth that feels. Pages open almost right away, even when I open multiple tabs at a time. I notice the same thing when I open Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. It's clear that the chip was optimized for the Apple software.
Thanks to Rosetta 2, all of the apps work
Many apps are made to work with Intel processors. That means that they don't work directly on the latest Apple MacBook models with the M1 chip. That's why Apple came up with Rosetta 2. This program translates instructions so the Apple M1 chip can handle it. I'm curious to see how that works, so I open Adobe Premiere Pro. The first time booting it takes a bit longer than I'm used to. But after that, I can edit videos without any problems.
Cool and silent
The Apple MacBook doesn't have a fan, so it only has passive cooling. This makes it extremely silent while it runs. I worked with the Apple MacBook on my lap for a couple of hours. The bottom was a bit warmer, but it didn't get very hot. And to make things even better, the chip is also energy-efficient. I used the Apple MacBook for a whole working day, watched a Netflix series at night, and still have more than 20% of battery left at the end of the day.
Conclusion
All in all, I can say that the Apple MacBook exceeds all my expectations. Apple handled the transition to the new chip well, so you hardly notice it. It's faster, more energy-efficient, and more silent than its predecessor. It's the perfect example of all the things the Apple M1 chip can do.
