UPDATE 3/8/2023: i bought parallels desktop and a windows 11 license. I need it to try a certain amount of things in IT, however, the performance when running windows in a virtualized environment (like parallels is) it gets seriously affected on the M1, something that didn't happen with intel processors. You notice the performance degrading (but not that much, maybe 10, or even 15% i risk to say) when switching between full screens and main desktop with windows (full separate screen, remember that there's an option to seamlessly integrate within your macOS). You kinda feel the stutter but i can see the M1 processor get in the way and prioritize the screen, and that's a good thing to re-prioritize tasks that are being done in one screen or another (take the word "screen" as full-screen apps or software that switches between desktop and full-screen apps or between apps). In my case, running windows 11 makes the mbp m1 run hotter than i'm really use to, but it does not affect battery performance as much as i expected!... weird, isn't it?... love it!

If you're going to virtualize something, that isn't Windows, you shouldn't worry that much on this laptop. Just remember that's still have 8gb ram and usable 228gb, therefore, performance wouldn't be the same as bare metal.

Still, other regular software from apple or safari (or any other browser), Office365, Adobe XD, Photoshop do not affect performance nor consume that much battery, although if you are a graphic designer or a photographer making a quick change could make you brighten your screen, in which may lead to higher power consumption, which also could be confused by software running.

One bad thing that i found with heavy usage is that the keyboard gets "oily", meaning, it wears in time and amount of usage per day; funny enough, the aluminum part of the palm rest don't have any signs of wear.

Another thing that i found is that the left speaker sounds like it broke when hearing at 70% volume, i don't know if that's fixable or not, anywho anyhow... i'm gonna stick with that because i rarely use it.

One thing that i've also found is how i got used to the fact that this mbp m1 takes nothing to return from suspended state, why? Because no matter what other laptop i use (or desktop, for that matter), all of them takes a few seconds to access to their respective desktops and another few seconds to actually be productive (after booting software)... This one literally takes nothing to wake and start using it... that's why i'm not changing this laptop... and yes, even with its flaws... why? because in critical cases when i need to go somewhere and fast react to do something at work, i just do it! it takes me 0 seconds to wake up the mbp and enter another desktop via anydesk or teamviewer or ssh... this takes time on most windows laptops... i love it!

I just wish this laptop was upgradeable... after all at the end of the day, it makes my life so useful and convenient despite the down side of it... what a masterpiece! i just wish i could do more and more with it, i feel limited... but happy!

and by the way, i still stand on my original review.

ORIGINAL:

I believe i've found my unicorn because this particular macbook air still lasts an insane amount of time! Although i don't use it on full brightness, i regulate it a lot. Connecting several devices to it via bluetooth is transparent, but unfortunately, Apple made the macOS more inconvenient to handle in terms of simplicity.

User experience on the macOS is weird, you know as a mac user where things used to be, then you have to relearn some things and it doesn't feel like home, the new normal isn't good so far.

Keyboard is relatively quiet, also, there's the missing keyboard light on this iteration of the macbook air, why did you take (probably) the most useful key from us?! if you're watching a movie you have to literally stop the movie, go through the menu from above and turn off the keyboard lights, or if you're on a presentation and everything is dark, you just turn your screen light down but you can't with your keyboard because you need to actually stop paying attention to the presentation and go through the menu, inconvenient as heck!

I know (and i'm very well aware) that there are some workarounds to change to the keyboard light again using a small software... but that isn't the end-game, the thing is that we shouldn't need an extra software or aditional configuration just to use something the macbook had for, literally, over 10 years!

Speed on this macbook: you don't even feel it... everything is instant, nothing is slow, if something is, it's most likely the software or the website you're on, is that simple! If you're planning on using massive storage, you should use an usb-c one, not an usb-a through usb-c dongle, you will have a bottleneck, that's guaranteed.

I haven't used it on games because that's why i have my pc and xbox for. However, if you're planning on developing software on it, just make sure your libraries fit within 228gb (the half of it is recommended for all ssd's) of storage, if that's gonna be an issue, then go for usb-c massive storage.

Weight isn't a problem, it makes you feel like you're having a premium laptop on your hands, but not enough to make your bag heavier. Construction feels like you own something premium and well-made.

I bought this 2020 MacBook Air (8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD storage) to replace a 2014 MacBook Air (4GB RAM, 256 GB SSD storage). I am undeniably a fan of Apple products in general, because they work with little fuss and are built to last (note that my old MacBook Air is more than 7 years old and still working perfectly). Although I've been underwhelmed by some Mac models in recent years, this one is stellar IMHO. Unless you have very heavy system requirements this machine would be an excellent choice.

The M1 processor is very impressive, delivering outstanding performance and power/thermal efficiency simultaneously. Battery life is every bit as good as advertised; I can charge overnight and use it all day without plugging in. Connecting USB devices such as external drives will shorten battery life, but that's to be expected. I love the fanless design, which means the machine is absolutely silent at all times, while the thermal efficiency of the M1 chip allows it to remain amazingly cool. In use, this computer feels very fast, especially with apps optimized for Apple processors (as MacOS Big Sur is). Interestingly, Microsoft has been on board early with M1 optimization; the latest Office 365 version is smooth and fast on this machine. I also tried out MS Edge on my new laptop based on a recommendation from another user and have been so pleased with its speed and efficiency that it's my current default browser. The touch ID and Apple Pay capability is a welcome addition.

The only cons I see are minor in my opinion. Because RAM is integrated into the M1 processor, post-purchase memory expansion is not possible; if you think you'll need 16 GB of memory that model can be had from the Apple Store. There has been criticism of the fact that this machine has only two ports, which is fair. For me that's not insurmountable; I simply use a USB-C hub to provide additional connectivity. I've read recently that some users have had certain hubs cause problems with their M1 Macs, which appears to be related to battery charging through these hubs. To be on the safe side I use a built-in port for charging and have had no issues.

Reading through the relative handful of critical reviews, it looks to me like most (excluding actual defects, which happen with all products) are based on lack of understanding. For example, I saw a large number of reviews complaining that this machine "has NO USB PORTS!!!", which is patently false. In fact, its two ports are both USB, they just require a different connector. What these users are looking for is the old USB-A connectors, which this MacBook does not have; however, that's easily fixed by using a USB-A to USB-C converter cable, or with a USB-C hub. USB-A peripherals are gradually disappearing as well, in favor of the new connector.

All things considered, I really love this machine. The $899 price (at the time I bought mine) was $100 less than I would have paid at the Apple Store, and I believe I can probably get $200 on eBay for my old MacBook Air (try that with a 7-year-old PC!) leaving me with a total outlay of $699. Considering that I'll almost certainly get 5 or more years use out of this model, I'm very happy with my purchase and would do it again.

I had been a Mac user for years, but then got interested in the Microsoft Surface line, and bought the Pro 6 model a few years back. I liked it well enough, despite finding that I really didn't use the convertible capabilities of that device very often -- I found it to be too heavy to use as a proper tablet, and it also didn't function very well as a true "laptop."

I "upgraded" a few months back to the Surface Pro 9, and found it to actually be a downgrade. Main issues being: no noticeable improvements in performance or display quality, and the VERY noisy fan would be screaming almost constantly during normal usage. Also, the battery life was absolutely abysmal.

I finally got fed-up, noticed that there were great deals to be had on the M1 MacBook Air, and thought `why not?' SO glad I gave it a try! I notice absolutely no performance difference between either of the Surface models I owned, and it runs quiet -- because there is NO fan to make any noise. In my experience so far the unit does not overheat, either. And the kicker: battery life is absolutely amazing. As in: seemingly unkillable. It just goes and goes, for hours of normal usage. I love it. With the Surface, I wouldn't even consider taking anywhere to work, without a power supply. Now I wouldn't hesitate to take my MacBook and I bet I could work all day at a remote location without plugging in.

As far as being back in the Apple/Mac ecosystem: meh. I'm surprised how little MacOS has NOT changed since I lasted was a user, and also how kinda underwhelming it is. But in 2023 do different flavors of operating system really matter? Nope. Once you open a browser it simply doesn't matter. I'm getting used to hitting the "Apple" key again, but that's not a big deal.

Overall, very happy. The MacBook is a solid choice, and I'm glad I just got the Air over the Pro -- I have no need for the larger screen nor the premium performance, and the M1 Air is a major bargain right now.

Not long ago I decided to get far from Apple products because some work necessities I couldn't cover with an iPhone and a Mac. The limitation of the Iphone for some advanced features (like dual SIM and the possibility to flash OS images from a ssd) and the need to use bootcamp in the Mac made me jump to an android phone and a windows computer.

I had a Samsung s10+ and a Huawei Matebook pro with windows and linux. Both devices are impeccable. Really made my work easier in so many aspects. But as time passed my life wasn't getting simpler like it was with my Iphone and my Mac.

Apple products work flawlessly between each other and there are always new implementations that simplifies everyday life. Quality of this products and its software is incredible. Although other products have better capabilities ( for example my Matebook outperforms this MacBook Air m1 and has a much better quality screen) they lack the simplicity and stability.

Being all this said, The MacBook Air M1 is a really great laptop. The most basic version which is the one I bought is blazing fast, stable and with a great battery life (much better than the Huawei Matebook pro). Also its absolute silent and fresh. Its doesn't get hot at all.

To make my work easier I had to pay for some software that saddly I was denied to pay on the Mac at the beginning. Apple products are expensive but I've learned that in the long run they are worth it. Life is about time and how you spend it and apple definitely focus its effort to simplify the time you use to do a task.

I wanted to share my story in case you are in a situation like I had. If you have an iPhone and other Apple products don't doubt. Buy a Macbook Air M1. I still have a beefy windows machine for gaming, rendering, and other things. But most of the time I rather work in my new MacBook.

If you are in the Apple ecosystem, this is the perfect laptop to round out your needs. I have watched a ton of YouTube videos before buying this older technology base M1 computer and they all say in 2023, it is still the best performance for the money. After owning it for a month, I have to agree. I like having all my documents, photos, links etc available on all of my devices and this integrated perfectly. It was also super easy to set up and use. I love the feel and quality of the construction as well. Just beautiful in the Space Gray.

I purchased this on the school tax free weekend from Amazon without hesitation. The price here on Amazon is one of the best and the computer is brand new, just like buying from Apple. I have heard that they offer Apple products at a lower price/margin in the hope that you will purchase your accessories here as well i.e. mice, keyboards, cases, hubs, drive, etc. Not sure if this is true, but it makes sense. I can't speak for the refurbished products, but this Apple laptop is brand new, factory fresh.

This laptop has everything I need, and nothing that I don't!

I'm a software developer and I've only used PC for my entire career. I've been using the windows subsystem for Linux and other Unix based shells for work for a long time and I've always had the desire to try development on a Mac.

I assumed that it would be like any other Windows machine that's had the OS replaced with Linux, one of my favorite computers was a Lenovo with Ubuntu on it so that's what I expected.

I bought a Surface Pro X which has an ARM based processor (ms sq1 chip) so I thought that I knew what to expect, I assumed that it would be frustrating that the majority of the software I used probably wouldn't work correctly but I have to say that Apple did so much better than Microsoft on this one. The M1 chip makes this $1,000 laptop feel like a $2500 laptop. I've only run into one application that couldn't run and the general online community recommended an alternative for me.

the most difficult thing for me was getting used to the different keyboard layout but once I did, this laptop has been nothing short of a pleasure to work with and has replaced my Surface laptop 3 as my daily driver and primary software development machine.

I might revert to my Surface laptop three if I go back to .NET development in the future but for the general web stuff I typically do, I couldn't ask for a better machine.

The battery life is excellent, this laptop feels premium, I have no doubt that this will last me well into the future and it has completely changed my mind about Apple.

The biggest downside in my opinion is that I spent a fortune on accessories and peripherals because Apple products tends to exist in their own separate ecosystem which can be a bit frustrating.

One thing that everyone should be aware of is that you can't connect this laptop to two separate external displays. I had to get used to One external display and then using a virtual desktop. That is unfortunate because I really liked having three monitors at all times but I haven't found a way to make it work with this machine.

Generally speaking, I would recommend this to anybody who's considering it. Unless you are a PC gamer, there's very little that this computer won't excel at. I'd argue that it might be the best quality laptop in this price range by a factor of two, and I have historically been very critical of Apple.

It’s been a few years since I’ve purchased a MacBook as I have anas I have been using windows laptops the past seven or eight years. My intent for using this one was for a consulting business I am a part of doing teaching presentations, etc. I wanted something that was small and traveled easy but also durable. Using this was a pleasure from the keyboard to the color and clarity of the screen. It feels good in the hand and seems like a very premium and quality product I use this laptop for a job one day recently and literally at full brightness for around 8 1/2 hours on its battery. What I found is I liked it so much that I added more applications to make this my daily laptop but the standard 8 GB it came with just wasn’t enough. I was getting RAM full warnings at least once or twice a day. I have since given this laptop to my wife who had a 2011 Air and have purchased a new 16 GB M2 version for myself. As nice and robust, and as good looking as this laptop, is I highly recommend it but if you think for a moment that you might need extra ram, go ahead and bump up to the next level. in my opinion, this is the best $1000 laptop on the market with the best battery life and quality overall.

I have two MacBook Airs (MBA), a 13" and a 11, both with the previous form factor (the wide, body colored bezel around the screen, 1280x800 resolution) and this new 13" MBA improves upon it in every way (almost) and makes it nearly perfect.

Good:

- SCREEN looks great! 2560x1600 resolution is bright and sharp and looks good with the thin black bezel. I usually don't go above 50% brightness.

- KEYBOARD is good. Some have mentioned that it still sucks, but I find it much better than the older MBAs that I own and better than say, the Magic Keyboard. Even with a thin silicone keyboard cover I find the typing experience to be much better and I can type faster and with fewer mistakes.

- BATTERY LIFE is fantastic. Haven't done any real testing yet and obviously it depends on a lot of factors (wifi usage, video streaming, HD vs 4k video viewing/processing/etc., screen brightness, type of app being used, etc.) but for my usage (mostly web browsing, video viewing on YouTube, accessing VPN for work (Citrix, EPIC), etc., it has been great. Easily tops 10 hours and super impressed so far.

- LOOKS GREAT. Love the newer (I know that the actual exterior design is a few years old by now) design, looks and feels great. Form factor is nice and it is a reasonable weight.

- NO FAN. That's awesome, as it not only stays quiet all the time but you also do not need to worry about blocking any fan vents on the bottom or back of the case while you have it on your lap. Pretty amazing really for a laptop to have no fans.

- PERFORMANCE. It works great so far on what I have used it for, which is not terribly a lot, but it is what it is for a laptop using Apple silicon for the first time. For just day to day use and things like Chrome, Office (Word, Excel), Citirx, EPIC, etc., it has been super smooth and fast. Have not tried gaming yet but do not have high hopes given it is the base model with 7-core GPU. Also, things like start up are noticeably faster with the M1 versus my 2020 iMac 27" (top end) with Intel chips.

- TOUCH ID is great still. Works very fast and the button does not get greasy (which makes it not work well) like the old iPhone home buttons. On the other hand, it should really have Face ID at this point.

- APPLE ECOSYSTEM is great as usual and a real reason to get this MBA. Apple Watch easily unlocks it (so you do not really need Face ID if you have the watch). You can easily send/receive files using AirDrop or cast using AirPlay. And so on and so forth.

- BIG SUR comes preinstalled but you need to update to get 11.0.1.

NOT GOOD:

- WEBCAM still sucks. Still low resolution and just does not look good in FaceTime, Teams, etc. Shame that Apple is so slow to upgrade webcams on the Macs (the 27" iMac FINALLY upgraded to 1080p front cams only a couple months ago... I got one and it looks so much better than this MBA's camera).

- ONLY 2 PORTS. Sad that this thing has only 2 USB-C ports (that cover thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, charging, DisplayPort). Given that it is used to charge, it leaves only one USB-C port for other use, pretty lame. I wish they had squeezed (I think it would fit) a USB-A port so that I could plug in my wireless mouse USB-A dongle as I have never liked any bluetooth mouse, or at least one more USB-C port.

- NEW TECH (Apple silicon) means the M1-optimized apps are still being rolled out, e.g. Photoshop still not available at release.

- BATTERY still cannot be removed, no surprise here, but means that like all Apple mobile tech it will have a useable lifespan determined at least partly by the non-removable battery. Easier to have an iPhone's battery replaced than a MBA I would imagine but hopefully it maintains a high level of performance for 4 years at the minimum.

OVERALL:

A few negatives (mostly the webcam) but enough significant improvements that this MBA is really a no-brainer for anyone needing a non-power notebook compute, especially if s/he is already in the Apple ecosystem. Love it so far!

Atende bem as expectativas. Design leve e prático. Processador rápido e desempenha todas as funções esperadas.

Só consigo mencionar prós sobre o micro, excessão é a primeira semana para acostumar com o teclado e as funcionalidades de um viciado em windows, depois disso, só alegria (nem posso chamar de excessão).

Pense num micro inteligente: liga muito rápido, possui funcionalidades inteligentes (desliga automático e preserva a bateria, não necessita pagar pelo software, não precisa pagar anti-vírus, conecta facilmente com rede wi-fi e a recepção de sinal se mantém estável mesmo longe do roteador, conecta e imprime muito rápido).

Bateria dura em média 10 horas, utilizo para estudo e praticamente recarrego dia sim e dia não, a recarga se dá em média por duas horas (carregador incluso só que no modelo americano, requer um adaptador para conectar na tomada brasileira). Não possui a bendita ventuinha! Aleluia!

Muito leve e a praticidade de regular a iluminação de tela e teclado são excelentes (também regula automático se desejar).

Único detalhe que menciono, o vendedor o enviou sem nota fiscal, somente a emitiu após cobrá-lo. É importante que a possuam, pois é o respaldo que o micro não é roubado e tal, também para garantia legal do produto.

Tive muito receio de mudar para um Mac depois de anos utilizando apenas windows em mais de um micro, de fato é um desafio (apps diferentes, usb diferente, atalhos e comandos diferentes - nada que o google não te salve), mas valeu muito a troca. Zero arrependimentos e apenas recomendações, aliás, o outro micro que estava "sondando" era do mesmo patamar de preço e capacidade de processamento. Ainda bem que optei por este.

I have been a windows user forever. I used to HATE on mac, and really apple in general. Owned android phones up until 2019 when I had spent some time using a friends iphone I started to fall in love with apple products. I got my first iphone (iphone xr) and I was hooked. I never thought I would own a macbook, I always used windows laptops/computers until this year. I had bought a few different windows laptops as I was returning to school to finally pursue a degree, and I ran into some issues. The first laptops wifi chip quit within the first couple of weeks and I tried everything to fix it, found out chips were commonly faulty on that unit so returned it. The second one was better, it had a good battery life, was small, but it got really hot. The last one was a gaming laptop because I thought maybe I would game on the go more (I ended up not) and it turned out to be way to bulky and heavy to conveniently carry around. That's when macbooks started to look real nice. Lightweight, battery lasted a while, small, and fanless (which is a game changer if you wanna actually use it on your lap). When the M1 went on sale, I knew it was time. I do not regret it. Getting used to mac os has had its moments, but the actual macbook is insane! It does everything I need and want it to do, and it doesn't feel like a hassle. It's also nice cause I can transfer anything and everything from my phone to the macbook with minimal effort. I have to admit, apple has done it well this time around, even though the m1 is a few years old now, its still an impressive machine and built so well (best speakers on a laptop I have ever experienced). It definitely beats out most windows laptops on build quality too. No gaming, I have not tried, and I don't intend to. I have a computer, its great, and I don't really have time to "game on the go" so I have no need for mobile gaming. Anyways, I highly recommend the macbook air, anywhere up from the m1 simply because they work well, and have high build quality.

I love my Apple 2020 MacBook Air Laptop, I’ve done a lot of research on laptops and discovered this was for me.

Still getting to know all its functions it can do, but I’m extremely happy with it.

My purpose for this purchase is to use it to write my novel.

I love the Retina it does help with the eye strain. Also the lit up keyboard is amazing that I can keep going at anytime I want to.

I love Apple and I know I can trust my MacBook Air to accomplish to complete my work.

-It’s very light

-it turns on immediately as soon I open the cover from being at a log out completely.

-keyboard friendly

-can adjust the keyboard to lit up completely at night

-word correctly perfectly

Estou usando a alguns dias para desenvolvimento mobile/web e produto é excelente. Quanto o chip M1 ainda tem uma coisa ou outra que não funciona 100% mesmo com o rosetta porem como não é meu único computador não faz tanta falta assim, porém, para aqueles que vão usar somente o macbook precisam verificar como está o suporte da linguagem, frameworks, imagens docker etc. Mas no geral esta atendendo bem.

Bateria dura umas 8-10 horas trabalhando pesado.

Memoria dependendo da carga de trabalho não é suficiente, estou me adaptando a economizar um pouco de recursos, mas mesmo quando lota a swap é rápida o suficiente para não travar a maquina por completo.

Tela estava com receio de ser muito pequena e prejudicar a leitura/vista porém me surpreendi pois a nitidez é muito maior que um monitor de PC por exemplo ou a tela de um notebook convencional tornando fácil a leitura de textos pequenos.

Enfim, é uma máquina surpreendente por ser tão pequeno, bateria de alta duração e entregar desempenho, em alguns casos, melhor que o meu PC principal.