I SWAPPED To the CHEAPEST M1 MacBook Air for a Week!

Summary

In this video, the creator challenges the notion of always needing the latest tech by using the M1 MacBook Air for a week. Despite its lower price compared to newer models, the M1 MacBook Air proved capable for daily tasks, with only minor drawbacks like limited display brightness and a single monitor output. The video highlights the value in considering older models over the latest tech, emphasizing that for many, the M1 MacBook Air still offers a fantastic user experience without the hefty price tag.

Takeaways

• 💻 The M1 MacBook Air is still a relevant and cost-effective option compared to newer, more expensive models.
• 💰 The base model of the M1 MacBook Air can be purchased for as low as $600 renewed or up to $999 brand new from Apple.
• 🔧 The speaker praises the build quality and durability of the M1 MacBook Air, noting it has withstood travel and daily use well.
• 🖥️ The display of the M1 MacBook Air is considered good but lacks brightness and has larger bezels compared to newer models.
• 🔗 The M1 MacBook Air has limitations with external monitor support, only allowing for a single monitor connection.
• 🎮 For gaming, the M1 MacBook Air can handle older and less demanding games with lowered graphical settings.
• 🛠️ The user found the M1 MacBook Air to be easily integrated into their existing desk setup, despite the lack of an HDMI port.
• 🔑 The keyboard on the M1 MacBook Air is described as comfortable for typing, with a design that fits the user's typing style.
• 🎒 The lightweight design of the M1 MacBook Air makes it easy to carry around without causing discomfort.
• 📉 The webcam quality on the M1 MacBook Air is criticized as being poor, even by the standards of its release.
• 📊 Cinebench R24 benchmarks showed that the M1 MacBook Air's performance is still good, though not on par with the latest models.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video?

The purpose of the video is to test the relevance and performance of the M1 MacBook Air, an older and more affordable model, to determine if it can still meet the needs of a modern user.

What is the sponsor of the video?

The sponsor of the video is iFixit, a platform that provides repair guides and tools for various electronic devices.

What is the base model of the M1 MacBook Air and its specifications?

The base model of the M1 MacBook Air has an 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256 GB of storage, and 8 GB of unified memory.

What is the price range for the base model of the M1 MacBook Air?

The price for the base model of the M1 MacBook Air can range from as low as $600 for a renewed unit on Amazon to as high as $999 for a brand new one from Apple.

What is the main issue the user faced while using the M1 MacBook Air?

The main issue the user faced was the limitation of the M1 MacBook Air to only support a single external monitor, which was a significant drawback for the user.

How does the M1 MacBook Air compare to newer models in terms of display quality?

The M1 MacBook Air has a good display but it lacks the brightness and the larger display size of newer models like the M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro 16-inch.

What are the user's thoughts on the build quality of the M1 MacBook Air?

The user praises the build quality of the M1 MacBook Air, noting that it has withstood travel, drops, and daily use while maintaining its appearance.

How does the M1 MacBook Air perform in terms of gaming?

The M1 MacBook Air can handle older games like WoW Classic at reasonable frame rates with lowered graphical settings, but it is not as powerful as newer models for gaming.

What is the user's opinion on the ergonomics of the M1 MacBook Air?

The user finds the M1 MacBook Air to be the most comfortable MacBook for typing due to its sloped body design, which fits their typing style well.

What is the user's view on the webcam quality of the M1 MacBook Air?

The user is not satisfied with the webcam quality of the M1 MacBook Air, stating that it is straight up bad, even for the time when the computer was released.

What is the conclusion of the video regarding the M1 MacBook Air?

The conclusion of the video is that the M1 MacBook Air is still a fantastic option for those who do not need the latest and greatest features, and it is a significant upgrade over Intel-based Macs.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Testing the M1 MacBook Air's Relevance

The speaker embarks on a week-long experiment using only the M1 MacBook Air, an older yet affordable model, to test its performance and relevance against newer, more expensive machines. The hypothesis is that the M1 MacBook Air, despite its age, still offers sufficient capabilities for modern tasks. The speaker thanks the sponsor, iFixit, and shares their experience using the laptop for various activities like holiday planning, work, and gaming. They find the laptop to be surprisingly capable, with only minor issues such as limited monitor support and a less impressive display compared to newer models. Despite these drawbacks, the M1 MacBook Air proves to be a cost-effective choice that still delivers on performance.

05:02

🛒 Value and Practicality of the M1 MacBook Air

The speaker discusses the cost-effectiveness of the M1 MacBook Air, comparing its price to both refurbished and brand new options. They highlight the laptop's ability to handle everyday tasks smoothly, despite not being as powerful as the latest models. The speaker also addresses the limitations of the laptop, such as its inability to support multiple monitors and the lower screen brightness, which could be a deal-breaker for outdoor use. They emphasize the importance of being disciplined with computer usage to maximize the laptop's capabilities. The speaker also praises the build quality, typing comfort, and lightweight design of the M1 MacBook Air, making it a portable and ergonomic choice. However, they note the mediocre speaker quality and poor webcam performance. The conclusion is that the M1 MacBook Air remains a fantastic option for those who do not need the latest features and are looking for a reliable, cost-effective device.

Keywords

💡M1 MacBook Air

The M1 MacBook Air is an Apple laptop powered by the M1 chip, which is Apple's first-generation custom ARM-based processor designed for Macs. In the video, it is presented as an affordable option compared to other high-end models, and the creator tests its performance and relevance in daily tasks, highlighting its value for money.

💡Hypothesis

In the context of the video, the hypothesis refers to the creator's initial assumption or theory that the M1 MacBook Air, despite being an older model, can still perform well for various tasks. The video serves as an experiment to validate this hypothesis through practical use.

💡Relevance

Relevance, in this video, pertains to the ability of the M1 MacBook Air to meet current computing needs and remain a viable option in the market. The creator discusses how the laptop's performance supports its continued relevance despite newer models being available.

💡M Series Laptops

M Series Laptops refer to the line of Apple laptops that use the M-series chips, starting with the M1 and including subsequent models like the M2 and M3. The script mentions the creator's experience with these laptops, particularly focusing on the M1 MacBook Air in the context of its capabilities and limitations.

💡Display

The term 'display' in the video script refers to the laptop's screen quality, including factors like brightness, refresh rate, and overall visual experience. The creator compares the M1 MacBook Air's display to that of newer models, noting differences in brightness and bezel size.

💡Benchmarks

Benchmarks are standard tests used to measure the performance of a computer system. In the script, the creator mentions using Cinebench R24, a benchmarking tool, to assess the M1 MacBook Air's processing capabilities, providing a quantitative measure of its power.

💡Gaming Workload

Gaming workload refers to the demands placed on a computer system when running games, which often require high graphical processing capabilities. The video discusses the M1 MacBook Air's ability to handle gaming, despite not being a primary focus for Apple's laptops.

💡Desktop Management

Desktop management in the context of the video refers to the practice of keeping multiple applications and programs open simultaneously. The creator notes that the M1 MacBook Air requires more disciplined management due to its limited memory compared to higher-end models.

💡Build Quality

Build quality pertains to the physical construction and durability of a device. The script highlights the M1 MacBook Air's robustness, mentioning its ability to withstand drops and travel without significant wear.

💡Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the study of designing products to fit the human body and its movements comfortably. The video script discusses the M1 MacBook Air's ergonomic design, particularly its楔形机身 (should be 'sloped body design' in English) that provides comfort during typing.

💡Webcam

A webcam is a digital camera that is connected to a computer and used for video calls or recording. The creator of the video criticizes the M1 MacBook Air's webcam quality, stating that it is a significant drawback despite the laptop's other positive attributes.

Highlights

The M1 MacBook Air is considered for a week-long test to assess its relevance and performance against newer models.

The hypothesis is that the M1 MacBook Air, despite being an older model, still has considerable capabilities.

The M1 MacBook Air can be purchased for as low as $600 renewed or up to $999 brand new.

A refurbished M1 MacBook Air from Apple is recommended for its return policy and Apple Care.

The M1 MacBook Air has limitations, such as only supporting a single external monitor.

The display of the M1 MacBook Air is criticized for its large bezels and lower brightness compared to newer models.

The M1 MacBook Air's performance was satisfactory for the user's work and gaming needs.

Cinebench R24 benchmarks show the M1 MacBook Air's performance is still competitive.

The M1 MacBook Air's gaming capabilities were tested with WoW classic and RimWorld.

Discipline in computer use is necessary due to the M1 MacBook Air's limited multitasking compared to higher-end models.

The M1 MacBook Air's build quality and durability are praised, even after extensive use.

The MacBook Air is noted for its comfortable typing experience due to its ergonomic design.

The lightweight design of the M1 MacBook Air is beneficial for portability.

The M1 MacBook Air's webcam quality is described as poor, even for its release time.

The M1 MacBook Air is recommended as a significant upgrade from Intel-based Macs.

The necessity of upgrading to newer models like the M2 Max or M3 Pro is questioned, suggesting they may offer more power than needed.

The M1 MacBook Air is still considered a fantastic option, emphasizing the value of older models over constant pursuit of the latest technology.

Transcripts

I'm sick of arguing about bar charts

today I'm embarking on an adventure to

only use the absolute cheapest M series

Apple laptop the M1 MacBook Air for the

next week this laptop costs a fraction

of the other machines that we've

recently talked about but my hypothesis

is this thing still has it word counts

so let's get to it but before this week

is over I'd like to thank today's

sponsor I fix it okay one week later no

kidding that was a pretty crazy week

between holiday planning work YouTube

and my crippling wow classic Obsession I

put in a serious amount of work on the

old M1 here and I'd have to say if we

were to summarize this whole video at

the beginning it wasn't too bad the

point of the video was to show just how

relevant this older computer could be

and that those of us Chasing the

shiniest and newest thing we kind of

spending money that we don't need to so

I'm not sure why I was so surprised with

how well it went the whole point was to

kind of just have things work and they

did just kind of work work first off

let's talk about how much you yourself

would spend if you bought an M1 MacBook

Air Now quickly glancing at the internet

it looks like you can get one of these

base models which is the model that I

use the 8 core CPU 7 core GPU 256 GB of

storage and 8 GB of unified memory you

can get that for as low as $600 renewed

on Amazon to as high as

$999 brand new from Apple obviously I

personally wouldn't buy one of these

brand new I would go refurbish from

Apple for about

$849 which yes it's a little pricier and

you will have to balance that out but

for me it's worth it because I really

like the Apple return policy and Apple

Care ability either way the point of

this starting section is save yourself

some money and don't go brand new this

next part of the video I was going to

save for problems I found over the past

week honestly I didn't find many the

biggest problem that I ran into is

something I've been complaining about

with the standard M Series Laptops for

years it only exports out to a single

Monitor and I'm so sick of saying this

specific section that I'm just going to

leave it at that it sucks Su for me it

might not suck for you if you're a

single monitor person don't worry about

it if you're a double monitor

person it's a little worse another thing

that was a problem but very noticeable

is having gotten used to the display on

my M1 and later M3 Max MacBook Pro 16s

this display is kind of lacking it's not

that it's bad it's actually a pretty

good display and it's not that it's bad

because of a slower refresh rator rather

geek talk okay In fairness though it

does take your eyes some time to adjust

the slowness though my main two I guess

you could call them issues are the

gigantic bezel and the lower brightness

ability the bezels speak for themselves

this is an older computer built from an

older time and design you get used to it

it's not that much of a problem the

brightness though is kind of a problem

for me it only goes up to 400 nits of

brightness which is fine in controlled

lighting environments Library lecture

hall your home office Etc but it's not

very useful the second a beam of

sunlight comes in through the window and

if I had to say there was one deal

breaker in this whole video and all this

time later it would be this specific

gripe and it sounds like a small thing

to call a deal breaker I totally get it

you're like oh the screen brightness is

a deal breaker but if you are going to

be outside using your computer a lot I

wouldn't get this one like it is just

harder to see this than other variants

out there thanks again to iFix it for

sponsoring this video you can learn how

to fix just about anything at ifixit.com

search through thousands of free repair

guides and find the highquality parts

and precision tools to fix your phones

laptops game consoles and so much more I

fix it as your place to to skip the

materialism of the holiday shopping and

focus on giving gifts that are actually

meaningful iFixit is now offering a

brand new essential repair bundle that

includes their essential Electronics

toolkit Electronics cleaning bundle and

even limited edition stickers and

patches I just I cannot get over how

much I like stickers thankfully I have

not grown out of that as I've gotten

older go to their website today by

clicking on that very easy Link in the

description below and find your fix for

performance I'm going to put up some

benchmarks taken throughout the course

of the the past week using cinebench r24

it's okay obviously numbers going up

Wise It's not up to speed with the

latest and greatest from Apple but it's

still pretty darn good one thing to note

of these arm-based Apple Computers they

punch way above their literal weight and

price tag weight prices don't have

weights so while the M1 MacBook Air is

less powerful than most powerful Apple

Computers it's still way more usefully

powerful than any competing Windows

computer not just in power because I

will admit that the latest Intel and AMD

processors they are faster than this one

but it's in useful power it's really

hard to Max gaming is never Apple strong

suit but I was very impressed with how

the M3 Max handled my gaming workload

which frankly it should at that very

steep price tag the M1 MacBook Air

especially the Basse model has probably

the weakest of Apple's gaming suits in

their current gen Apple computer set yes

computers wear suits I don't know if you

knew that I was able to play WoW classic

at reasonable frame rates after kicking

down the graphical settings very very

low and it is like a 15-year-old video

game I was also able to play some Rim

world and In fairness that's a basic 2D

simulation game so it should be able to

do that but personally I don't play many

Cutting Edge game releases sorry I we're

not much of Gamers here in the house for

normal use I did have to be careful one

thing that the M3 Max MacBook Pro 16 has

allowed me to do is get in a real bad

habit of desktop management I just leave

crap programs open all the time

Photoshop battl net launcher whatever I

just keep it all running in the back

ground all the time because I have the

CPU and the memory headp space to allow

for it here you don't have such luxury

you will need to be a bigger aesthetic

in keeping only the programs you want

open at any given time and definitely

you need to break yourself of the habit

of having many internet tabs open at

once if you can get around that though

and be a little bit more disciplined in

your computer use and I imagine most of

us could easily just click the red X to

save ourselves some money in that

circumstance the MacBook Air holds up

very well operation was smooth I never

really had stutters or slowdowns

functionally it was just like any other

week of mind and I think that's the

important note from this whole video

there wasn't really a standout benefit

or a standout detraction from using the

MacBook Air if you can save a ton of

money and not notice that difference in

your computer that's great this is the

bag brand cereal from the grocery store

of computer technology in a good way

we've got MacBook Pro at home and this

is the MacBook Pro at home you've got

another thing I was pretty happy about

was the ease in which it plugged into my

existing desk setup sure that isn't

overly surprising right my desk setup is

made up for Apple computers and this is

an Apple computer but it's nice to know

they haven't changed standards around or

done anything too crazy over the past 3

years with an asterisk being that my

second monitor was blank over the last

week which did kind of suck and okay it

didn't plug into my entire desk setup

this doesn't bother me as much here for

two reasons though one is it's a much

cheaper computer than others with this

specific handicap the M3 standard

MacBook Pro costs so much more and has

the equivalent problem and number number

two in regards to that standard M3

MacBook Pro this only has Thunderbolt

ports you don't see an HDMI here so it's

not like you have an HDMI and a

thunderbolt port and only one works at a

time yes I haven't yet emotionally

recovered from that frustration someday

someday I will let it go other

functional positives were the build

quality I've had this computer since its

release it's been all over the United

States through many airport security

scanners it's knocked around on car

rides plane rides it's been dropped a

few times yes I'm clumsy I've let kids

use this to play Roblox on like the darn

thing still looks like it did on the day

I bought it the screen does kind of look

gross because I don't clean it as often

as I should but besides that this looks

immaculate also functionally this

continues to be the most comfortable

MacBook to type on I haven't said this

in a minute but the sloped body design

fits my I guess you could call it typing

style it fits my style of typing really

well because of these front slopes I

never get the edge of the computer

digging into into my wrist here and it

just feels ergonomically better now I'm

not a doctor or a hand expert so don't

take this as medical advice that the

MacBook Air will solve or fix any

problems but I personally feel more

comfortable typing here than on other

computers the weight is also awesome you

can't even tell this thing is in your

Satchel or backpack and that's really

important to me because a couple of

weeks ago I was carrying around a

backpack walking around the town of

Savannah and I was carrying my MacBook

Pro in a backpack for hours a day and no

kidding my my shoulders still hurt from

that no the airor probably wouldn't have

totally solved my shoulder pain but it

maybe would have lessened it greatly and

that's something I'm willing to explore

in the future the speakers are kind of

mid though they're not terrible in any

way shape or form but they absolutely

cannot keep up with the newer Mac

computers especially the MacBook Pro 16

and then something else I guess I should

have added to the problems but I'll talk

about it now the webcam is just bad like

I can't make up some kind of waffle

about well it's good for the price and

in combination with the rest of the

value it's actually good no this webcam

is straight up bad and even when the

computer was released years ago they

should have put something better in here

so after a solid week of use yes the M1

MacBook Air is still a fantastic option

you don't need to go chasing the

waterfall of the latest and greatest

every time apple has a big event some of

these older things are just ABS they're

just F they're just so good yes I do

think the M1 MacBook Air is a big

upgrade over any of the Intel Macs if

you still have one of those seriously

consider this machine but the M2 Max air

isn't all that much better and the M3

Pros are so much more expensive you

really need to stop and ask yourself if

you need that much capability because

frankly you probably don't but what

about you do you still have an M1

MacBook Air how is it holding up years

later let us all know in the comments

below and if you like this video click

here if you decided you do need some

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