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Apple Silicon MacBook Air Q&A
Published December 8, 2020
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How fast is the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air compared to earlier MacBook Air models? How fast is it compared to the MacBook Pro?
In the press release for the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon 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" -- Apple emphasizes performance in great detail, perhaps more so than the company has in many years.
Specifically, compared to the earlier "2020" Retina MacBook Air models replaced -- the MacBook Air "Core i3" 1.1 13" (2020), "Core i5" 1.1 13" (2020), and "Core i7" 1.2 13" (2020) -- Apple declares that the "2020 M1" MacBook Air can:
- Export a project for the web with iMovie up to 3x faster.
- Integrate 3D effects into video in Final Cut Pro up to 5x faster.
- For the first time, play back and edit multiple streams of full-quality, 4K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro without dropping a frame.
- Export photos from Lightroom up to twice as fast.
- Use ML-based [Machine Learning] features like Smart Conform in Final Cut Pro to intelligently frame a clip up to 4.3x faster.
With such detail, it would be reasonable to expect a substantial speed boost for the "2020 M1" MacBook Air compared to their predecessors in just about all tasks.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple Silicon MacBook Air 2020 M1)
Nevertheless, it still is useful to know how the "2020 M1" MacBook Air compares to its immediate predecessor overall as well as how it compares to earlier MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
General Performance Overview
For a worthwhile overview of the performance difference between the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon 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 evaluation for a deeper dive into the performance of these notebooks.
2020 MacBook Air vs. 2020 M1 Apple Silicon MacBook Air
Graphics performance is in the neighborhood of 6%-13% faster for the higher-end "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air model with an 8-core GPU, but overall performance essentially is the same:
| 2020 MacBook Air | M1 MacBook Air | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i3" 1.1 13" | "M1" 3.2 13" | +67% | +257% |
| "Core i5" 1.1 13" | +58% | +165% | |
| "Core i7" 1.2 13" | +49% | +145% |
With speed gains like these, it is not difficult to see why Apple is so confidently boasting of the performance increase that the "2020 M1" models provide. Truly impressive.
Earlier MacBook Air vs. 2020 M1 Apple Silicon MacBook Air
As you would expect, the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air pulverizes earlier MacBook Air models by even greater margins:
| Intel MacBook Air | M1 MacBook Air | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i5" 1.6 13" (2015) | "M1" 3.2 13" | +175% |
+474% |
| "Core i5" 1.8 13" (2017) | +152% |
+428% |
|
| "Core i5" 1.6 13" (2019) | +125% |
+381% |
Because users generally do not upgrade from the previous year's model, but are more likely be upgrading from a MacBook Air a few years old, the performance boost can feel particularly substantial.
13" MacBook Pro vs. 2020 M1 Apple Silicon MacBook Air
The "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air and "2020 M1" 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro have the same processor and effectively are the same speed. However, the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air runs circles around earlier 13" MacBook Pro models:
| 13" MacBook Pro | M1 MacBook Air | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i5" 2.3 (2017) | "M1" 3.2 13" | +97% | +258% |
| "Core i5" 2.3 (2018) | +89% | +89% | |
| "Core i5" 2.4 (2019) | +76% | +85% | |
| "Core i5" 1.4 (2020) | +85% | +93% | |
| "Core i7" 1.7 (2020) | +62% | +86% |
The "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air provides an impressive performance gain compared to recent 13" MacBook Pro models, as well.
Performance Summary
Ultimately, the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air models provide an absolutely massive performance boost over its predecessors. Even those most skeptical of the switch from Intel processors to Apple's own M1 have to be impressed.
Because the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Air essentially is the same speed as the "2020 M1" 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and yet costs 23% less, it is a particularly good value, too.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new 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.
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