MacBook Air 2020

MacBook Air 2020

MacBook Air

Discontinued
Released: March 18, 2020Discontinued on: November 10, 2020
United States: 999Japan: 104800

Overview

The Apple MacBook Air "Core i3" 1.1 13-Inch (Retina, Scissor Keyboard, 2020) model is equipped with a 10-nm 10th Generation "Ice Lake" 1.1 GHz Intel "Core i3" processor (1000NG4). This processor features two independent "cores" on a single chip, a 4 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of onboard 3733 MHz LPDDR4X SDRAM, 256 GB of onboard PCIe-based flash storage, and an "integrated" Intel Iris Plus graphics processor that shares system memory. While both the RAM and SSD could be upgraded at the time of initial purchase, they cannot be upgraded later.


This is all enclosed in a slim, wedge-shaped aluminum case that includes an integrated 720p "FaceTime HD" webcam, Touch ID, a new backlit "Magic Keyboard" with a "redesigned scissor mechanism," a large "Force Touch" trackpad, and a high-resolution 13.3-inch LED-backlit 2560x1600 (227 ppi) "Retina" display with True Tone technology.


The aluminum case was offered in three color options—gold (pictured, left), silver, and a darker "Space Gray" (but no other colors)—and weighs 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg). Apple claims a battery life of 11-12 hours, depending on the task being performed.


Connectivity includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB-C connector), and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.


Compared to its predecessor, the "2020" MacBook Air lineup appears nearly identical and features the same "True Tone" display. However, it boasts a newer, significantly faster processor and architecture, more powerful graphics, a new—and more reliable—"Scissor Switch" keyboard, increased default storage, and a lower initial price.

Evaluation

The 2020 MacBook Air with the Core i3 processor was lauded for finally replacing the troublesome butterfly keyboard with the much-praised Magic Keyboard, offering a vastly improved typing experience. The Retina display with True Tone was another highlight. However, the base Core i3 processor was widely seen as underpowered, struggling with tasks beyond light web browsing and word processing, and prone to getting warm under load. It was generally recommended that prospective buyers should have spent a little more for the Core i5 version to get a much more capable and future-proof machine.

Product Info

Product Info Table
Model IDMacBookAir9,1
Apple Model NoA2179 (EMC 3302)
Apple Order NoMWTJ2LL/A
Apple Subfamily2020

Price

Price Table
Original Price (US)999
United States999
Australia1599
Austria1199
Belgium1199
Brazil10299
Canada1299
China7999
Denmark8999
Finland1229
France1199
Germany1199
Hong Kong7799
India92990
Indonesia16499000
Ireland1229
Italy1229
Japan104800
Korea1320000
Luxembourg115936
Malaysia4399
Mexico24999
Netherlands1199
New Zealand1799
Norway12790
Portugal1229
Singapore1449
Spain1199
Sweden12995
Switzerland1129
Taiwan31900
Thailand32900
The Philippines57990
United Kingdom999
Vietnam29990000

Body

Body Table
Form FactorMacBook Air 2020
Case TypeNotebook
Dimensions.16-.63 x 11.97 x 8.36 in / 1.60 x 30.40 x 21.23 cm
Avg. Weight2.8 lbs / 1.29 kg

Platform

Platform Table
Processor TypeCore i3 (I3-1000NG4)
Processor Speed1.1 GHz
Processors1 (2 Cores)
Turbo Boost3.2 GHz
Architecture64-Bit
System Bus SpeedOPI
Cache Bus Speed1.1 GHz (Built-in)
L1 Cache32k/48k x2
L2/L3 Cache512k x2, 4 MB (on chip)
FPUIntegrated
ROM/Firmware TypeEFI
EFI Architecture64-Bit
Geekbench 4 (SC)4605
Geekbench 4 (MC)9241
Geekbench 5 (SC)1007
Geekbench 5 (MC)2021

Memory

Memory Table
Standard RAM8 GB
Maximum RAM16 GB
RAM TypeLPDDR4X SDRAM
Min. RAM Speed3733 MHz
Motherboard RAM8 GB

Storage

Storage Table
Standard Storage256 GB SSD
Std. Storage SpeedOnboard
Storage InterfaceOnboard* (PCIe*)
Storage DimensionsSoldered
Standard OpticalNone

Display

Display Table
Built-in Display13.3" 16:10
Native Resolution2560x1600
Video CardIris Plus
Standard VRAM1.5 GB
Maximum VRAM1.5 GB
VRAM TypeIntegrated
2nd Display SupportDual/Mirroring
2nd Max. Resolution6016x3384 (6K)
Video (Monitor)2 (Thunderbolt 3/USB-C)

Audio

Audio Table
Microphone3 (Internal)
Headphone1
Sound OutNone

Wired Connectivity

Wired Connectivity Table
USB Ports2* (3.1)
USB2* (3.1)
Standard EthernetNone

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless Connectivity Table
Standard AirPort802.11ac
Standard Bluetooth5

Power

Power Table
Battery Type49.9 W h Li-Poly
Battery Life11-12 Hours
Power Adapter1

Software

Software Table
Pre-Installed MacOSX 10.15.3 (19D2064)
Maximum MacOS15.x (Sequoia)
Windows SupportBoot/Virtualization
Minimum Windows10 (64-Bit)
Maximum Windows10 (64-Bit)

Accessories

Accessories Table
Incl. KeyboardFull-size (Magic Keyboard)
Incl. InputTrackpad (Force Touch)

Upgrades

Upgrades Table
Processor UpgradeSoldered