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Retina MacBook Air Q&A
Revision Published December 5, 2020
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How fast is the "2020" MacBook Air compared to earlier MacBook Air models? How fast is it compared to recent MacBook Pro models?
Please note that the "2020" Retina MacBook Air has been discontinued. However, this Q&A is up-to-date and can be quite helpful for anyone considering one of these notebooks on the used market.
In the corporate press release for the "2020" Retina MacBook Air models -- the MacBook Air "Core i3" 1.1 13" (2020), "Core i5" 1.1 13" (2020), and "Core i7" 1.2 13" (2020) -- Apple mentions performance several times. In fact, Apple boasts that the notebook "delivers up to two times faster CPU performance and up to 80 percent faster graphics performance."
With a specific performance claim, it would be reasonable to expect a remarkable speed increase for the "2020" Retina MacBook Air models compared to their predecessors.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Retina MacBook Air 2020)
However, Apple buries some details in fine print -- most notably that the "up to two times faster" claim is comparing the high-end build-to-order MacBook Air "Core i7" 1.2 13" (2020) to the previous MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.6 13" (True Tone, 2019). Both models are custom configured with 16 GB of RAM and the largest available SSD. The entry-level "2020" MacBook Air started at US$999 whereas this model with a custom-configured processor, RAM, and SSD used for Apple's performance claim cost US$2249; quite a bit more.
Accordingly, it still is useful to know how the entry-level and mid-range "2020" MacBook Air compare to its immediate predecessor as well as how it compares to earlier MacBook Air and contemporary MacBook Pro models.
General Performance Overview
For a worthwhile overview of the performance difference between the "2020" Retina MacBook Air and other Mac notebooks, EveryMac.com's own Ultimate Mac Comparison makes it quick to compare side-by-side 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench benchmark averages with all other G3 and later Macs for thousands of possible performance comparisons.
This Q&A combines Geekbench 5 benchmarks with our own independent analysis for a deeper dive into the performance of these notebooks.
2020 Retina MacBook Air vs. 2019 Retina MacBook Air
If you guessed that Apple chose to compare the custom-configured high-end "2020" Retina MacBook Air to its predecessor to maximize the performance difference, you would be right:
| 2020 MacBook Air | 2019 MacBook Air | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i3" 1.1 13" | "Core i5" 1.6 13" | +33% | +31% |
| "Core i5" 1.1 13" | +41% | +75% | |
| "Core i7" 1.2 13" | +46% | +87% |
The entry-level "2020" Retina MacBook Air is around 33% faster than its predecessor -- still a significant performance gain -- but less dramatic than the 87% performance increase in multicore tasks demonstrated by the high-end custom configured model.
2020 Retina MacBook Air vs. Pre-Retina MacBook Air
As you would expect, the much older pre-Retina MacBook Air models are slower than the "2020" Retina MacBook Air:
| 2020 MacBook Air | 2017 MacBook Air | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i3" 1.1 13" "Core i5" 1.1 13" |
"Core i5" 1.8 13" | +50% +58% |
+45% +93% |
| "Core i7" 1.2 13" | "Core i7" 2.2 13" | +47% | +84% |
The "2020" Retina MacBook Air is as much as 58% faster in single core tasks and as much as 93% faster in multicore tasks than the "2017" pre-Retina MacBook Air models.
2020 Retina MacBook Air vs. 13" Retina MacBook Pro
The "2020" Retina MacBook Air generally is faster than the higher-end "2019" 13" Retina MacBook Pro -- still current at the time the MacBook Air models were introduced -- but significantly slower in multicore tasks:
| 2020 MacBook Air | 2019 13" MBP | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i3" 1.1 13" "Core i5" 1.1 13" |
"Core i5" 1.4 13" (2 TB 3) | +8% +14% |
-48% -31% |
| "Core i7" 1.2 13" | "Core i7" 1.7 13" (2 TB 3) | +6% | -28% |
| "Core i3" 1.1 13" "Core i5" 1.1 13" |
"Core i5" 2.4 13" | +5% +11% |
-49% -32% |
| "Core i7" 1.2 13" | "Core i7" 2.8 13" | -1% | -32% |
The "2020" Retina MacBook Air is as much as 14% faster than the "2019" 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro models in single core tasks but as much as 49% slower in multicore tasks.
Performance Summary
Ultimately, the "2020" Retina MacBook Air provides a notable performance boost compared to its predecessors and even can topple the "2019" 13" Retina MacBook Pro models in single core tasks despite a much smaller price tag.
However, for multicore tasks -- most typically performed by professional software -- the "2019" 13" Retina MacBook Pro models retain a significant edge over the newer "2020" Retina MacBook Air.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new Retina MacBook Air models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb MacBook Air models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. On the other hand, if you need to sell a MacBook Air, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older notebook with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used MacBook Air models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise has a variety of used MacBook Air models sold at low prices and available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.
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