The fact that both new and legacy apps run well on the M1 chip is very commendable, and so far there don't seem to be any issues with running apps built for Intel Macs using Rosetta 2, the tool used by Apple to allow older Mac apps to run on the M1. During our time with the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), we were incredibly impressed with how it performed.īig Sur runs well, and the visual overhaul of the operating system offers a nice change, while still feeling familiar.

The M1 has proved to be a complete beast that puts Intel to shame in many respects. When it comes to performance, however, we have no qualms. The fact is, HP and Dell have now overtaken Apple when it comes to designing thin, light and gorgeous laptops - a fact that would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago. The M1-based MacBook Air is such a revolutionary and exciting device, we'd have loved to have seen Apple take a few risks with the design as well, even if it was just by making it lighter, or slimming the bezels down that surround the screen. For people who love the look of the MacBook Air, this may be good news, but we feel it's a bit of a missed opportunity.

So, this model looks (and feels) just like the last model (and the model before that). This is because while the MacBook Air has some huge changes on the inside - most noticeably the M1 chip - on the outside, nothing has really changed. Of course, this certainly isn't a cheap laptop, but nor does it feel overpriced, especially compared to its similarly specced rivals - something that Apple has been accused of in the past.Īpple has also been accused of caring more about aesthetics of its products than the actual features and functions, but with the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), we actually think the opposite is true. Price-wise, then, we think Apple has nailed it.

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