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Apple Silicon MacBook Air Q&A
Update Published March 15, 2024
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What are all the differences between the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro? Which is best for my needs?
Please note that Apple has discontinued all of these models, although Walmart continues to sell the entry-level "2020 M1" MacBook Air as new. This Q&A has been updated subsequently and can be quite helpful for anyone buying or selling one of these models whether new or used.
As classified by EveryMac.com, there are two "2020 M1" MacBook Air models -- the MacBook Air "M1" 8-Core 3.2/7-Core GPU 13" and MacBook Air "M1" 8-Core 3.2/8-Core GPU 13" -- and a single "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "M1" 8-Core 3.2 (2020) 13".
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left: MacBook Air; Right: 13" MacBook Pro)
For years, the gap between the MacBook Air and the 13" MacBook Pro has been narrowing and the "2020 M1" models are the closest in capability yet. Accordingly, it is particularly worthwhile to understand the differences in detail because your decision to choose one or the other might come down to a single feature.
External Differences
The "2020 M1" MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro both use nearly sealed and disposable aluminum and glass case designs of a similar style, but the MacBook Air is available in a warm toned "gold" color option in addition to silver and a dark "Space Gray" like the 13" MacBook Pro.
The MacBook Air also is tapered to be thinner toward the front whereas the 13" MacBook Pro models are of uniform thickness, albeit they both have an identical footprint. The 13" MacBook Pro only is 0.2 of a pound heavier (3.0 pounds instead of 2.8 pounds), but because the MacBook Air is tapered, it feels quite a bit smaller.
The "2020 M1" MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro both have quality 13.3" color widescreen LED-backlit displays (2560x1600 native resolution at 227 ppi, which displays as a scaled resolution of 1440x900 by default) with "True Tone" technology that automatically adjusts the color temperature of the display. However, the 13" MacBook Pro display is a bit brighter (500 nits instead of 400 nits for the MacBook Air).
Both lines have an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam, "Scissor Switch" keyboard, large "Force Touch" trackpad, two Thunderbolt 3-capable ports (USB-C connector), 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.0, and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).
However, the 13" MacBook Pro also has an integrated "Touch Bar" that replaces the traditional function keys with a touch-sensitive display that presents customized controls for the macOS and different applications. This "Touch Bar" provides Touch ID and Apple Pay support, as well. The MacBook Air does not have a Touch Bar, but it does support Touch ID and Apple Pay. The 13" MacBook Pro has higher quality stereo HDR speakers and better quality mics, too.
Identification Differences
As diligently hand documented by EveryMac.com from physical inspection of the hardware itself, the "2020 M1" MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro models have different Model Numbers and EMC Numbers.
At the moment, these identifiers are unique to both lines, but it is possible that they will share these identifiers with future models, so the Model Identifier in software is a more reliable way to differentiate between these notebooks in the long-term:
| 2020 M1 | Model No. | EMC No. | Model ID |
| MBA | A2337 | 3598 | MacBookAir10,1 |
| 13" MBP | A2338 | 3578 | MacBookPro17,1 |
Additionally, EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can uniquely identify all of these MacBook Air models by their serial numbers.
More information about specific identifiers is provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
Internal Differences
On a technical level, a teardown confirms that there are a surprising number of part differences between the "2020 M1" MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro -- perhaps most notably that the 13" MacBook Pro has a fan for internal cooling whereas the MacBook Air relies on passive cooling -- but they use identical processor (SoC) designs of the same speed and have the same onboard RAM and storage that cannot be upgraded after purchase.
However, the 13" MacBook Pro models do have a physically larger 58.2 watt-hour battery that delivers an estimated whopping 17-20 hours of battery life. The MacBook Air has a smaller 49.9 watt-hour battery that pops out 15-18 hours of runtime, a number that still is quite impressive.
Comparison Chart
The above differences between the "2020 M1" MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro -- cooling, displays, battery life, input, audio capabilities, dimensions, identifiers, and starting prices -- are summarized below:
 MacBook Air |
 13" MacBook Pro |
|
| Architecture: | Apple M1 | Apple M1 |
| Clockspeed: | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Neural Engine: | 16-Core | 16-Core |
| Graphics: | 7/8 Core Apple GPU | 8 Core Apple GPU |
| Cooling: | Passive | Fan |
| Display Brightness: | 400 nits | 500 nits |
| Max. Ext. Display: | 6016x3384 (6K) | 6016x3384 (6K) |
| RAM Type: | Unified Onboard | Unified Onboard |
| Standard Storage: | 256, 512 GB | 256, 512 GB |
| Battery Life: | 15-18 Hours | 17-20 Hours |
| Touch Bar: | No | Yes |
| Speakers: | Stereo | Stereo HDR |
| 3 Mic Array: | 3 Mics | "Studio Quality" |
| Model ID: | MacBookAir10,1 | MacBookPro17,1 |
| Color Options: | Gold, Silver, Gray | Silver, Gray |
| Dimensions (In): | .16-.63 x 11.97 x 8.36 | 0.61 x 11.97 x 8.36 |
| Weight: | 2.8 lbs (1.29 kg) | 3.0 lbs (1.4 kg) |
| Orig. Price (US): | US$999, US$1249 | US$1299, US$1499 |
| Orig. Price (CA): | C$1299, C$1649 | C$1699, C$1949 |
| Orig. Price (UK): | £999, £1249 | £1299, £1499 |
| Orig. Price (AU): | A$1599, A$1949 | A$1999, A$2299 |
| Orig. Price (SG): | S$1449, S$1799 | S$1849, S$2149 |
So, is the "2020 M1" MacBook Air or 13" MacBook Pro best for me?
Ignoring subsequent models and just comparing them to one another, the "2020 M1" MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro are the same speed and even have the same connectivity. You might choose the MacBook Air just because you really like gold. However, the 13" MacBook Pro does offer a number of modest enhancements that might be worth (1) the extra US$150 or US$200 when it was new and (2) the extra 0.2 of a pound (0.11 kg) of weight to you.
The "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro has (1) more significant cooling, (2) a modestly brighter display, (3) the potentially useful "Touch Bar" functionality, (4) longer battery life, and (5) higher quality microphones and speakers.
Based on email received and Internet commentary, some people might choose the MacBook Air simply because it does not have the "Touch Bar" and they really hate the Touch Bar. On the other hand, others might find the Touch Bar alone to be worth the extra money. Others might find an extra 2-3 hours of battery life a day alone to be worth it for the 13" MacBook Pro and still others might find the combination of cooler operation, brighter display, longer battery life and higher quality mic and speakers to be worthwhile.
Whether or not these features are worth the extra money for the 13" MacBook Pro is your decision, and on the used market the difference likely is even smaller than it was when both notebooks were new, but it is hoped that this detailed comparison makes it straightforward.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama has new Apple Silicon MacBook Air models with free shipping for all. Other World Computing sells used and refurb MacBook Air models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well.
Need to sell a MacBook Air or another old Mac for cash? A+ BBB-rated site sponsors Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr buy MacBook Air models and many other Mac notebooks with an instant quote and fast 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.
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