The New Apple MacBook Air 2020 (M1 CPU) Overview

The new 2020 Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) features some of the biggest changes in Apple’s line-up in recent years. The biggest change to the 2020 model is the transition to Apple’s own ARM-based Silicon chip, the new Apple M1 CPU. The new MacBook range also comes with MacOS 11 Big Sur preinstalled.

Apple have proclaimed the new M1 chip will allow the new models of the MacBook Air to perform better and run longer while on battery compared to previous models, while also bringing other big performance benefits to the table. Rosman Computers now has stock of the new 2020 MacBook Air (M1) priced lower than Apple’s RRP for Black Friday only.

The launch price of the 2020 M1 Apple MacBook Air is $1599 AUD - Apple have been able to fit a lot into this price, which is the same as the previous model (also $1599). At this price point, Apple will go against the Surface Pro line-up from Microsoft, the Spectre x360 from HP, and the Dell XPS 13. If you weren’t convinced by Apple’s offering of the 2019 MacBook Air, we believe this year’s version will.

• Black Friday MacBook Air Sale

If the entry level MacBook Air 2020 doesn’t meet your requirements, you can opt for the higher-spec MacBook Air, which comes with a more powerful 8 core M1 CPU and 512GB SSD storage for an extra $250 AUD. You can alternatively go with a CTO MacBook Air that can be customised with even more RAM and storage if you need it.

Overall, Rosman Computers believes Apple has nailed the price point – Apple has been able to provide much more power for the same price due to the lower costs associated with using their own CPUs instead of Intel’s range of CPUs. Thankfully, the aesthetics of the model have not changed with the refresh of the MacBook Air, only the internal specs have changed.

For all intents and purposes the M1 Air looks and feels just like the previous model 2019 and 2018 models, which is good news for those who enjoy the current look of the Apple Air. However, this is potentially a missed opportunity on Apple’s part: with the first ever MacBook Air to carry Apple’s own silicon (M1 chip), there could’ve been a refresh of the overall styling of the machine. Our team at Rosman Computers would’ve liked to see Apple take a couple of design risks such as bezel-less design or sharp edges similar to the iPhone 12.

If you are looking for a stylish ultra-book, Apple’s new MacBook Air with the M1 processor would have normally been the go to. However, we have seen the likes of HP, Microsoft, and Dell beginning to market a few worthy opponents to the MacBook Air that would have been unimaginable a few of years ago.

Performance of the new M1 Processor, according to Apple Insider, is an absolute unit and puts many Intel CPUs to shame in a range of tests. The new OS Big Sur arguably runs very well, with visual updates offering a nice change while still remaining familiar to regular users. Both new and legacy apps run well on the new M1 chip, and reports demonstrate no considerable/noticeable drawbacks. Battery life is considered to be fantastic. The new fan-less design runs silently, but we could see some performance impacts later in the Air’s life depending on how it manages heat.

Overall, Apple have released a great all around machine that performs very well across an array of benchmarks. Even though the design could’ve been bolder, we have to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day! The overhaul of the Intel CPU to the Apple M1 Silicon represents big changes for Apple and even more value for the consumer!