Reviewing MacBook Air M1 in 2023: Apple M1 Still Powerful, Long-lasting Battery, Modern Design

It's no coincidence that the MacBook Air M1 maintains the TOP 1 spot in Apple's MacBook sales worldwide for 2 consecutive years. One of the notable upgrades of this laptop lies in the incredibly powerful Apple M1 Silicon chip. Additionally, the device boasts many other positives regarding design, display, battery life, and a very attractive price. Let's now evaluate the MacBook Air M1 in 2023 to see if it's still worth buying!

Note: The price of the MacBook Air M1 2020 model with 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a 7-core GPU at Mytour is 18.79 million Vietnamese đồng (subject to change depending on timing and promotional programs).

Read more: Is the MacBook Air M1 still worth buying at the current time?

MacBook Air M1 Performance Still Dominant with Apple M1 Chip

Let me quickly outline the specifications of the MacBook Air M1 for you to grasp easily!

• Display: 13.3-inch size, 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, True Tone support, P3 color gamut, 400 nit brightness.
• CPU: Apple M1 8-core (4 high-performance cores + 4 energy-efficient cores).
• GPU: 7 cores (the version I'm using), there's also an 8-core GPU version available.
• RAM: 8 GB (the version I'm using), supports up to 16 GB.
• Storage: 256 GB SSD (the version I'm using), supports up to 2 TB.
• Operating System: macOS 13.3 Ventura.
• Battery: 49.9 Wh capacity, up to 18 hours of battery life when watching Apple TV and videos (as announced by Apple), 30 W fast charging.
• Battery Status: 100%.

Read more:

• What is the Apple M1 chip? The processors that make Mac even more fantastic
• All About Apple M Series: The most powerful, luxurious chip series from Apple

When it comes to the performance of MacBook Air M1, I believe there have been many articles and tests showcasing the unparalleled superiority of this machine within its price range. This is also the main reason why many users decided to invest in the MacBook Air M1 when it was first released. Currently, the price of the product has decreased significantly, but that doesn't mean the M1 chip has weakened. The device can handle all basic tasks well and even tackle heavy graphic tasks such as 3D rendering or 4K video editing.

Using MacBook Air M1, when I open applications, browse, multitask,... the machine responds almost instantly. For me, experiencing such performance on a thin and light product like the Mac Air is unimaginable. Because historically, the previous generations of MacBook Air I've experienced have not had very good performance.

However, I'd like to share a bit about the 8 GB RAM on MacBook Air M1. For my real-world usage needs (typing documents, opening over 20 Chrome tabs, opening messaging apps, and some other miscellaneous apps), MacBook Air M1 sometimes experiences stuttering, lagging, and reports that the system is running out of RAM. Therefore, I recommend choosing the 16 GB RAM version for the best experience with MacBook Air M1.

Without keeping you waiting any longer, I'll utilize specialized benchmarking software like GeekBench 6, 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, Cinebench R23 to assess the performance of MacBook Air M1 after over 2 years. Here are the results:

- GeekBench 6:

• Single/Multi-Core: 2,324 points / 8,202 points.
• GPU Compute: 18,330 points.

- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme:

• Total Score: 4,127 points.
• Average FPS: 24.7.

- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test:

• Stability: 75.4%.
• Score difference between highest and lowest loop: 1,016 points.

- Cinebench R23:

• Single-Core: 1,501 points
• Multi-Core: 6,750 points.

In 2023, the performance of MacBook Air M1 still delivers very impressive scores, even outperforming some Windows laptop models in the same price range. When comparing MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Air M1 in terms of performance, I find that the M1 chip is only slightly inferior to the M2 in handling heavy tasks. For a basic user like myself using both products for basic office tasks, the difference is minimal.

Furthermore, I use MacBook Air M1 for light gaming to relax after stressful work hours. As you can see in the videos below, I play two games: League of Legends and Resident Evil Village. For the first game, League of Legends, my MacBook Air M1 handles the highest graphics settings (as shown in the image below) without experiencing any lag even when engaging in battles with multiple opponents and complex skill effects.

I also have to commend MacBook Air M1 for its stable frame rate (ranging from 60 - 80 FPS), making all movements in the game very smooth.

Moving on to the heavy graphic horror game, Resident Evil Village, I set the graphics to low (as shown in the image below) to achieve the most stable experience.

Although Resident Evil Village has been released on Mac devices for some time now, I've only had the opportunity to experience it recently. I was truly surprised by the countless interesting areas, landscapes, and beautifully detailed scenery of a snowy Eastern European land.

Even more surprising is that the MacBook Air M1 can handle those scenes quite well, providing a relatively smooth gaming experience with frame rates fluctuating from 50 to 60 FPS.

In addition to the performance tests above, I also measured the SSD read/write speed of MacBook Air M1 to give you the most visual insight. During my usage of MacBook Air M1, I found the SSD speed to be relatively fast and even slightly better than its successor, the MacBook Air M2. I used 2 software tools, AJA System Test Lite and Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, to measure the SSD speed for MacBook Air M1, and here are the results:

- Blackmagic Disk Speed Test:

• Read Speed: 1,473 MB/s.
• Write Speed: 1,656 MB/s.

- AJA System Test Lite:

• Read Speed: 1,275 MB/s.
• Write Speed: 1,490 MB/s.

For me, the absence of a fan in MacBook Air M1 is both a pro and a con of the product. The pro is that whenever I take the laptop to a cafe or work in an office, it remains silent except for the sound of typing, avoiding disturbance to those around me. Additionally, the lack of a cooling fan helps prevent dust from entering the internal components, thereby increasing the device's durability and lifespan.

However, the downside I mentioned above is that MacBook Air M1 will get slightly warm when handling some heavy tasks like editing photos in Lightroom or Photoshop. I have a solution to address this by using MacBook Air M1 in an air-conditioned room, where the device won't experience overheating anymore.

Overall, Apple has done well in optimizing the temperature for MacBook Air M1, as a fanless laptop operates relatively cool.

Battery life on MacBook Air M1 remains something truly different

Despite MacBook Air M1's battery capacity being only 49.9 Wh, I can use this machine all day without running out of battery. My daily tasks include content writing, photo editing, listening to music, web browsing, and checking emails. There have been days when I used it until 11 PM, and the battery still had over 30% left.

At the time of MacBook Air M1's launch, I didn't believe in what Apple advertised regarding the device's battery life. However, after actual usage of MacBook Air M1, I was shocked by its durability. Furthermore, MacBook Air M1 is a very slim and lightweight laptop, which outperforms most competitors in the same segment or even higher (in terms of battery life).

To provide you with a more visual perspective on the battery life of MacBook Air M1, I will conduct a battery test based on my own real-life usage needs with the following settings:

• Screen brightness: 100% throughout usage, with automatic brightness adjustment turned off.
• Keyboard backlight: Automatically adjusted according to the environment.
• Audio volume: Set at 50%.
• Bluetooth continuously enabled to connect to some accessories.

I started work at 9:22 AM with my MacBook Air M1 at 100% battery. Then, I opened around 16 Chrome tabs for work (mostly browsing tech news, typing content, planning,...). I also opened apps like Photoshop to edit some photos and used Line, Messenger for messaging.

After completing the morning tasks, my MacBook Air M1 still had 73% battery. Next, I took a 30-minute break and returned to work (of course, with the machine in Sleep mode), and the 73% battery level remained unchanged.

I continued with the tasks above, and by 2:07 PM, the MacBook Air M1 battery was at 65%. Then, I had additional tasks editing photos with Lightroom and Photoshop until 4:02 PM, and the battery was at 28%. Perhaps editing photos through Lightroom consumes more power, so my MacBook Air M1 had 28% battery left after completing the photo editing tasks.

After finishing a day's work at the company, I started heading home (on the way, my MacBook Air M1 remained in Sleep mode). When I arrived home, the device still maintained the same 28% battery level as it did at the office. This deserves praise for Apple, as they have optimized the M1 chip very well to minimize power consumption when the MacBook is in standby mode.

During the evening, I didn't use the machine much, only occasionally watching YouTube videos for entertainment or browsing the web for news. Therefore, before I went to bed (at 10:38 PM), my MacBook Air M1 had 17% battery left.

So, after what I've done with the MacBook Air M1, I believe this laptop can meet basic office needs very well. If you're into photo editing, video editing, or using the machine for external display output, it will consume more power. Generally, for an 8-hour workday, the MacBook Air M1 with 100% battery will easily last you all day.

The design of the MacBook Air M1 remains very modern and elegant

As of now, nearly 3 years since the official release of the MacBook Air M1, its design still captivates many. The appearance of the MacBook Air M1 doesn't differ much from previous generations of Intel-based MacBook Airs. The device still boasts a slim and lightweight design wrapped in a sturdy metal frame, weighing 1.27 kg with dimensions of 30.48 x 21.34 x 1.52 cm.

While the MacBook Air M1 is no longer the thinnest and lightest laptop on the market, I still highly appreciate its mobility. I can easily slip it into my backpack and carry it around for a full day of work in various places without feeling uncomfortable.

Apple's attention to detail in crafting MacBooks is undeniable, and the MacBook Air M1 is no exception. Every detail is meticulously refined by Apple, with no gaps or unnecessary components. Everything fits together flawlessly.

One of the aspects I admire about the exterior of the MacBook Air is how cleverly Apple designed the palm rest area. Specifically, they have tapered this area towards the TrackPad to provide a more comfortable typing experience. This is something that later generations of MacBook Pro or even the MacBook Air M2 have forsaken.

Moreover, the hinge of the MacBook Air M1 is extremely sturdy and durable, allowing me to easily open the laptop with just one hand. Despite some stiffness over time, the hinge remains robust, evenly distributing force when opening and enabling the laptop to stay at very low angles.

The TrackPad of the MacBook Air M1, in particular, and most MacBook models in general, always provide a superior user experience that is hard to match. I found this to be true when using it directly—the gestures are smooth and precise. Additionally, the large size of the TrackPad on the MacBook Air M1 enhances my user experience.

Although I typically use a mechanical keyboard, the MacBook Air M1 keyboard still impresses me with its typing experience. In some cases, I find myself exclusively using the MacBook keyboard without carrying an external one.

However, I still think it's a good idea to get an external keyboard because the laptop keys may lose their bounce after extensive use. Moreover, the issue of keys becoming shiny (due to sweat) also occurs, detracting from the device's aesthetics.

The MacBook Air M1 also supports unlocking via TouchID, and I find the fingerprint sensor's recognition speed to be remarkably fast and accurate. Another great feature of the MacBook Air M1's security mechanism is the ability to unlock the device using an Apple Watch, which is incredibly convenient. This is perhaps something only the Apple ecosystem can deliver.

Experience Crisp Display with MacBook Air M1's 2K+ Screen

The MacBook Air M1 2020 features a 13.3-inch display, Retina panel, and a 2K+ resolution (2,560 x 1,600 pixels). As of now, these display specs are still excellent, providing sharp visuals with fine detail and accurate colors. The MacBook Air M1 2020 also boasts a screen brightness of 365 nits, allowing confident usage in various lighting conditions.

However, I believe the 13.3-inch size of the MacBook Air M1 is somewhat small for multitasking. I consider laptops as my primary work device, so I prefer products with larger screens. Nevertheless, this doesn't significantly impact me because I always use the MacBook Air M1 with an external monitor.

Another great feature of the MacBook Air M1 is the ability to use an iPad to expand the workspace. Specifically, this feature called Sidecar allows me to connect to an iPad (as long as they are on the same Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is enabled).

Overall, in terms of display quality, I have no complaints about the MacBook Air M1. Another plus point of this product that I want to highlight is the external speakers. The speaker system of the MacBook Air M1 delivers good sound quality and even outperforms many competitors in the same segment. Whenever I forget to bring headphones while watching movies or playing games on the MacBook Air M1, the external speakers of the machine serve as a very useful alternative.

How much does the MacBook Air M1 cost? Is it worth buying the MacBook Air M1 now?

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the price of the MacBook Air M1 at Mytour is 18.79 million VND for the version with 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a 7-core GPU. At this price point, I believe the MacBook Air M1 is definitely still a choice not to be overlooked even though the machine is over 2 years old. This MacBook model remains a very balanced product, ready to meet any user's needs.

The machine performs smoothly with all tasks, has long-lasting battery life, good heat dissipation, and especially the design is still up-to-date. All of these factors contribute to the balance of the MacBook Air M1, making the device user-friendly for the majority of basic users.

So what do you think about the MacBook Air M1? Leave your comments below for me and everyone else to know! Thank you for your interest and following my article.

MacBooks are a great choice for graphic design and creative work. If you're interested in these products, click the orange button below to check out the deals!

BUY GENUINE MACBOOK AT Mytour

Check out: How to Display Battery Percentage and Remaining Usage Time on MacBook Menubar