MacBook Air 2020

MacBook Air 2020

MacBook Air

Discontinued
Released: March 18, 2020Discontinued on: November 10, 2020
United States: 1299Japan: 134800

Overview

The Apple MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.1 13-Inch (Retina, Scissor Keyboard, 2020) model is powered by a 10-nm 10th Generation "Ice Lake" 1.1 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (1030NG7), which includes four independent processor "cores" on a single chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of onboard 3733 MHz LPDDR4X SDRAM, 512 GB of onboard PCIe-based flash storage, and an "integrated" Intel Iris Plus graphics processor that utilizes system memory. Both the RAM and SSD were upgradable at the time of initial system purchase, but not afterwards.


All of this is housed in a slim, wedge-shaped aluminum case featuring 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 available in three color choices—gold (pictured, left), silver, and a darker "Space Gray" (but not other colors)—and has a weight of 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg). Apple estimates the battery life to be between 11-12 hours, depending on usage.


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


In comparison to its predecessor, the "2020" MacBook Air lineup maintains a nearly identical appearance and the same "True Tone" display. However, it incorporates a newer, significantly faster processor and architecture, more powerful graphics capabilities, a new and more reliable "Scissor Switch" keyboard, a larger amount of default storage, and a more accessible starting price.

Evaluation

This quad-core i5 model from 2020 was widely regarded as the sweet spot in the lineup. It delivered a significant performance leap over the i3 version, making it a capable machine for everyday productivity and even light creative work. The introduction of the reliable Magic Keyboard was a massive relief for users, and the 512 GB of storage in the standard configuration was a generous inclusion. While it could still experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads, its overall balance of performance, features, and price made it the most recommended MacBook Air of its generation.

Product Info

Product Info Table
Model IDMacBookAir9,1
Apple Model NoA2179 (EMC 3302)
Apple Order NoMVH22LL/A
Apple Subfamily2020

Price

Price Table
Original Price (US)1299
United States1299
Australia1999
Austria1499
Belgium1499
Brazil13299
Canada1699
China9999
Denmark11699
Finland1529
France1499
Germany1499
Hong Kong9999
India122990
Indonesia21499000
Ireland1529
Italy1529
Japan134800
Korea1720000
Luxembourg144944
Malaysia5599
Mexico32999
Netherlands1499
New Zealand2349
Norway16790
Portugal1529
Singapore1899
Spain1499
Sweden16995
Switzerland1449
Taiwan41900
Thailand42900
The Philippines74990
United Kingdom1299
Vietnam36990000

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 i5 (I5-1030NG7)
Processor Speed1.1 GHz
Processors1 (4 Cores)
Turbo Boost3.5 GHz
Architecture64-Bit
System Bus SpeedOPI
Cache Bus Speed1.1 GHz (Built-in)
L1 Cache32k/48k x4
L2/L3 Cache512k x4, 6 MB (on chip)
FPUIntegrated
ROM/Firmware TypeEFI
EFI Architecture64-Bit
Geekbench 4 (SC)5168
Geekbench 4 (MC)14450
Geekbench 5 (SC)1065
Geekbench 5 (MC)2725

Memory

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

Storage

Storage Table
Standard Storage512 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