I have been using the oldest MacBook Air on the M1 for a year and a half, no less. Before that, I had a lot of other Apple laptops: mostly compact 13″ MacBook Air and Pro in various configurations. Survived the Touch Bar and even the “butterfly”.
Until now, I have not had such a successful solution in the daily meeting.
Him practically no flaws. Instead, a complete set of uses: high performance with a margin and amazing autonomy.
There is nothing better than the MacBook Air on the M1 in terms of price-quality ratio. Today in re:Store you can buy it for only 99 990 RUB 89,990.
Musicians, architects, artists, photographers, content creators and other creative professionals can receive additional 10% discount on the entire range of Macs. It is enough to confirm your position in any re:Store store or fill out a form on the site.
1. I still like the design of the MacBook Air on the M1
Just look at these sharpest edges!
In 2022, Apple redesigned the MacBook Air. The latest model is similar to the 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro in slightly smaller dimensions.
However, the new product is very far from the MacBook Air on the M1, which is measured in 2020.
Macbook Air on M1 feels very compact. This covers the use of an extremely thin profile at the edges of the case. Due to this, when the laptop is on the table, it seems that it literally soars above the surface.
Obviously, Apple will not return to the old format in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the MacBook Air on M1 is a living classic.
Laptop keyboard feels very solid
For a year and a half, the design of the 2020 MacBook Air has performed very well. The laptop got the most practical.
There are minor scuffs on the body of my copy. But 10+ hours of use almost every day in very non-standard conditions (from the inside of a car to a stone alloy in a rocky lagoon) fully justify them. It is strange that the laptop survived at all.
The keyboard with a reliable scissor mechanism in my hands has already survived about 7,500,000 keystrokes (according to rough estimates, of course) and will probably last several more times. All buttons work very well.
In general, constructively, there are absolutely no complaints about the laptop. His time and users.
▶︎ Conclusion: The MacBook Air on the M1 is a classic of Apple’s “airy” laptops, to which the company is no longer returning.
2. There is still enough power for any task
The laptop will last for a few more years
Previously, my laptop most often played office applications, various software for remote communication, graphic editors and time planning tools.
But lately, my usage patterns have begun to change.
Started participating in web development, so a separate desktop of a laptop now most often opens additional, terminal, version control software, development environment and other related software.
The performance of the computer did not deteriorate at all. He, as before, instantly opens most applications and in general does not think about the performance of any tasks.
It is clearly seen that even in this way they are involved by 30-40%, no more.
▶︎ Conclusion: the M1 has a mandatory performance headroom that will be dizzying for several years to come.
3. Even the beta version of macOS 13 Ventura works very well
Until now, the last betas usually remain, and there are no problems with them at all
Yes, to try new Apple features among the first used on all of their gadgets test versions of processors. The MacBook Air is certainly no exception.
The M1 chews on duplicate pre-release versions with no problems at all.
I remember very well that laptops based on Intel were much more difficult with this task. The power reserve is not used imbanally.
▶︎ Conclusion: the laptop is so productive that it even spins the first test builds of production versions of macOS.
4. Multi-channel storage also became a guarantee of speed
Under the hood there are two SSDs at once, hence such speed
It is important to understand that even the basic version uses a 256 GB MacBook Air on the M1. dual channel read-only memory.
The laptop case has two 128 GB SSD sticks that can work in parallel. This greatly increases the read and write speed.
The new MacBook Air on M2 with the same drive is a completely different story.
The minimum size of the memory strips in it is 256 GB. Therefore, in a base laptop, the speed of portable devices. It is advisable to take the 512 GB option.
▶︎ Conclusion: The fast dual-channel memory in the MacBook Air on the M1 even comes with a base model with 256GB storage.
5. It makes no sense to check external software for compatibility with ARM
Almost all software is already adapted for ARM
Get a detailed report on the assembly on the MacBook Applications will be obtained using the iMobie M1 App Checker application.
It shows which of the compiled programs are adapted for Apple Silicon, which are universal or only for Intel.
When I first switched to the MacBook Air on the M1, it is supposed to use only sharpened applications for ARM. But in reality, it doesn’t make much sense.
The point is that the translator Rosetta 2 is well developed with software adaptation to new realities. Drawdown in performance at this minimum: no more than 20%. a set of power reserves, these are mere trifles.
Today I go to iMobie M1 App Checker just out of curiosity.
▶︎ Conclusion: MacBook Air on the M1 does not require the use of purely ARM-specific software.
6. Just pairs of USB Type-C ports will be enough for most
I almost never connect external contacts myself.
In addition to charging, nothing else is connected to the laptop ports at all.
It is extremely rare that an iPhone ends up in the second USB-C if it does not have a charging adapter, and both gadgets are discharged.
If you are sure that you will have other scenarios for connecting something, you will simply need to get a multiport interface for every taste. However, mine has been idle for a long time.
▶︎ Conclusion: two USB-S ports abound for laptop use. If anything, you can take a hub.
7. The absence of an active cooling system is a holiday
The laptop is completely silent
No need to be afraid of installing an active cooling system. We are talking about fans that work inside the laptop case along with dust to lower the temperature of its components.
The chipset practically does not heat up, so it does not need to be cooled. He cools down observantly.
Without active cooling, the laptop can be used even on light fires. Moreover, he absolutely silent.
▶︎ Conclusion: the laptop does not heat up at all, does not make noise on the table, and is not limited to the scenario of tastes.
8. Recommended to use MacBook Air on M1 without charging
This is Apple Mobile Device Management
An important advantage of the MacBook Air on the M1 is the time of its work with the audio system. Despite decent performance, the laptop can withstand up to 7-9 hours of use on a single charge.
The indicator is required. It makes it possible not to connect the laptop to the network at all during the working day.
Recently, I generally began to use my laptop, like any other Apple mobile device. I put on charging later when there is no need, but I usually take it off as long as necessary, or until it is discharged.
When I started doing just that, the attitude towards the device changed. On the subconscious, I began to take it with me more often, using it even more mobile.
▶︎ Conclusion: even after a year and a half of operation, the average battery life of a laptop definitely exceeds 7 hours.
9. I miss the screen of the MacBook Air on the M1 a bit
Watching movies during the day on the street will also not be very comfortable.
The only negative that was found in the 2020 MacBook Air was the brightness of the screen. It sits at 400 nits, which is sometimes not enough.
When I do business on a fresh shore, I really want to raise the brightness by at least a couple of divisions. But at this moment, she is already at the maximum level.
Even in this case, the laptop can be used. However, in order to be more comfortable, there would be a margin of 500 nits.
▶︎ Conclusion: the brightness of the screen installed in the laptop is at the level of 400 nits, which is a bit lacking for the street.
Everything is described above in objective pluses ⊕ and minuses ⊖
Mass advantage:
⊕ The MacBook Air on the M1 has an absolutely thin design, I personally like the fresh design on the M2 less so far.
⊕ The M1 has excellent performance margins even after the release of the M1 Pro, M1 Max, and the new M2 chipset.
⊕ I have never encountered the intersection of the front surface with the ARM architecture. Rosetta 2 decides.
⊕ The MacBook Air on the M1 has multi-channel SSDs, even the smallest version with a 256 GB drive. It is important.
⊕ The laptop is completely silent during operation. Moreover, it does not heat up at all even on the upholstered furniture panel.
⊕ The MacBook Air on the M1 only has two fast USB-C ports, but for 99% of its users, this will be more than enough.
⊕ The laptop can be used without a permanent connection to the network – just like any other Apple mobile device.
One drawback:
⊖ Here the brightness is at 400 nits. This is not 100% enough for me to work on the fresh sea. 500 would be ideal.
There are recommendations:
⊗ It also makes sense to consider purchasing 512 GB modelsif normally 256 GB may not be enough.
In general, the MacBook Air on the M1 simply does not remain an actual compact laptop today: the power reserve is definitely enough for another five years. This is especially surprising given the incredible autonomy and active cooling.
Never regretted the purchase. The laptop has paid for itself many times over and has never been led into professional activities from different parts of the world. To date, there are time-tested and most practical devices that need to be appreciated as much as possible.
Today, the MacBook Air on M1 can be purchased from re:Store for just 99 990 RUB 89,990. I do not know anything better for the same money. I advise!
Musicians, architects, artists, photographers, content creators and other creative professionals can receive additional 10% discount on the entire range of Macs. It is enough to confirm your position in any re:Store store or fill out a form on the site.
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📸 All photos in the article:
Source: Iphones RU
