MacBook Air · Apple Silicon · 2020
MacBook Air (M1)
The third great architecture leap, and the most decisive. The M1 delivered laptop performance and battery life that shocked the industry, all without a fan. "Intel inside" stopped being the Mac’s story.
I own several of the M-series Airs, and I think they're some of the best things Apple has ever made. Fast, light, and a world apart from the MacBooks that came before. For the money it's hard to talk anyone out of one.
First Mac with Apple Silicon, and the first fanless Mac that could outrun machines with fans.
MacBook Air (M2) (2022)
▶ Watch the keynote where it was unveiled →
MacBook Air (M1): key facts
When was the MacBook Air (M1) released?
The MacBook Air (M1) arrived on November 17, 2020. Apple discontinued it in March 2024.
How much did the MacBook Air (M1) cost?
The MacBook Air (M1) launched at $999 in 2020, about $1,209 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple M1 (8-core) at 3.20 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, 13.3" Retina, 2560×1600 display.
Why does the MacBook Air (M1) matter?
First Mac with Apple Silicon, and the first fanless Mac that could outrun machines with fans.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple M1 (8-core) · 3.20 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 8 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB (up to 16 GB) |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Display | 13.3" Retina, 2560×1600 |
| GPU | Apple 7/8-core GPU |
| Ports | 2× Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Weight | 1.29 kg |
| Dimensions | Tapered wedge, fanless |
| Operating system | macOS 11 Big Sur |
| Released | November 17, 2020 |
| Discontinued | March 2024 |
| Launch price | $999 |
How the MacBook Air (M1) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 2.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 3.20 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.0× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 65,500 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $999 in 2020, about $1,209 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
A silent, fanless laptop beating Apple’s high-end Intel machines made the whole industry recalculate.
Related MacBook Air models
Open the MacBook Air (M1) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11