Why the M1 MacBook Air won't last forever.
Summary
TLDRThe 2020 M1 MacBook Air, despite its initial impact, faces limitations in 2024, including only two Thunderbolt ports prone to port fatigue, a fanless design that may lead to thermal throttling, and a 7-core GPU that's less competitive in the current market. The device's 8GB base RAM and 13-inch screen size may also hinder performance for intensive tasks. However, its silent operation, powerful Apple silicon, and value for money make it a compelling choice for users not requiring top-tier specs, with the understanding that it may not receive OS updates beyond a certain point.
Takeaways
- ๐ป The 2020 M1 MacBook Air is considered a great purchase, having made a significant impact on the laptop market with its Apple silicon chip.
- ๐ It has only two Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can lead to port fatigue over time due to their frequent use for charging, connecting to displays, and accessories.
- ๐ซ The lack of additional ports can be a significant drawback for users who require more connectivity options.
- ๐ง A faulty Thunderbolt port can be replaced without soldering, but the process requires careful handling.
- ๐ก๏ธ The M1 MacBook Air is fanless, which contributes to its silent operation but may lead to thermal throttling as the processor works harder over time.
- ๐ The performance of the M1 chip was impressive at launch, but as operating systems and applications become more complex, the lack of a cooling fan could be a limitation.
- ๐ The battery life of the M1 MacBook Air may degrade over time, with the script mentioning a user's device having 375 cycles with 88% of its original battery life remaining.
- ๐ ๏ธ Replacing the battery in the M1 MacBook Air is a somewhat complicated process that requires specific tools and careful handling.
- ๐พ The base model of the M1 MacBook Air comes with 8 GB of RAM, which may not be sufficient for modern gaming or professional software that requires more memory.
- ๐ฎ The GPU in the M1 MacBook Air, while powerful at launch, may not be suitable for gaming or 3D design work in 2024 as the competition has caught up.
- ๐ฅ๏ธ For visual arts and video editing, a larger screen size than the 13-inch offered by the M1 MacBook Air would be beneficial for better preview capabilities.
- ๐ The M1 MacBook Air is likely halfway through its macOS update cycle, with support typically lasting between 5 to 10 years, indicating potential limitations in software updates by 2030.
Q & A
How has the 2020 M1 MacBook Air impacted the laptop market since its release?
-The 2020 M1 MacBook Air, powered by Apple's silicon, has significantly changed the laptop market by offering impressive performance and efficiency, setting a new standard for laptops in terms of power and battery life.
What is the main limitation regarding the connectivity of the M1 MacBook Air?
-The M1 MacBook Air has only two Thunderbolt three ports and an audio jack, which can be limiting for users who require more ports for charging, connecting to external displays, or using various accessories.
What is the potential issue with the Thunderbolt ports on the M1 MacBook Air due to their frequent use?
-Port fatigue is a concern with the M1 MacBook Air, as the constant use of the same two ports can potentially lead to them failing over time.
How easy is it to replace a faulty Thunderbolt port on the M1 MacBook Air?
-Replacing a faulty Thunderbolt port on the M1 MacBook Air is fairly easy as it does not require soldering, but it does require careful handling and the right tools.
What is the significance of the M1 MacBook Air being fanless?
-The fanless design of the M1 MacBook Air means it operates in total silence, which was previously only achieved with weaker processors. However, this design may lead to thermal throttling if the processor works harder to keep up with more complex tasks over time.
How does the performance of the M1 MacBook Air compare to the 2015 MacBook Pro?
-The M1 MacBook Air, despite being fanless, offers performance that was almost identical to the 2020 MacBook Pro at release, and it is significantly more powerful than the 2015 MacBook Pro, which had a fan but was considered to thermally throttle over time.
What is the potential impact of thermal throttling on the M1 MacBook Air's performance?
-Thermal throttling can slow down the CPU of the M1 MacBook Air to allow it to cool down, which may affect performance during intensive tasks such as editing 4K footage or rendering long video projects.
How does the battery life of the M1 MacBook Air degrade over time and how is it measured?
-The battery life of the M1 MacBook Air degrades with each charge cycle, and it is measured as a percentage of its original capacity. For example, after 375 cycles, the battery life might be reported as 88% of its original capacity.
What is the process of replacing the battery in the M1 MacBook Air and why is it considered a hassle?
-Replacing the battery in the M1 MacBook Air involves opening the case with a specific screwdriver, removing parts like the speakers and audio board, and carefully removing adhesive strips to access the battery. It is considered a hassle due to the complexity and care required for the process.
How does the M1 MacBook Air's RAM and GPU compare to the requirements of modern applications and games?
-The base 8 GB of RAM and the seven-core GPU in the M1 MacBook Air may not be sufficient for the latest games or professional applications like video editing or 3D design software, which often require more RAM and a more powerful GPU.
What is the expected lifespan of macOS updates for the M1 MacBook Air?
-The M1 MacBook Air is expected to receive macOS updates for more than five but fewer than ten years, making it likely that support will continue for a few more years beyond its release date.
Why is the M1 MacBook Air still considered a good value for money despite its limitations?
-Despite its limitations, the M1 MacBook Air offers excellent performance compared to previous models and remains a great value for money, especially for users who do not require the latest specifications for intensive tasks like video editing or 3D work.
Outlines
๐ป M1 MacBook Air: Aging Gracefully with Minor Flaws
The 2020 M1 MacBook Air is reviewed as a potentially best purchase of the past five years, thanks to its Apple silicon power that revolutionized the laptop industry. However, it's not without its imperfections. The laptop features only two Thunderbolt 3 ports, which, despite their versatility, may lead to port fatigue over time. The script mentions one such port failure on the author's device, which is inconvenient for their video editing work. The M1 MacBook Air also lacks fans, operating silently but risking thermal throttling as software demands increase over time. The author notes experiencing slowdowns during intensive tasks, a sign that the fanless design might be a limitation. The battery life, while impressive, is subject to degradation, and replacing it is a complex process. Despite these issues, the M1 MacBook Air offers excellent value for its performance capabilities, particularly for those not engaged in heavy video editing or 3D work.
๐ M1 MacBook Air: Performance, Limitations, and Value Assessment
This paragraph delves into the performance aspects and limitations of the M1 MacBook Air. With time, apps and operating systems become more demanding, and the M1 MacBook Air's 8GB base RAM, seven-core GPU, and storage options are starting to show their age. The author points out that 16GB RAM models are rare and expensive, and the GPU, while impressive in 2020, is now the weakest among Apple's silicon offerings. For gaming or 3D design work, the M1 MacBook Air is not the best choice compared to more recent models or a custom gaming PC. The author also notes the MacBook's screen size as a limitation for certain tasks like video editing. However, they acknowledge that the M1 MacBook Air is likely to receive OS updates for a few more years, and despite its limitations, it remains an excellent value for money, especially for users with less demanding performance needs.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กM1 MacBook Air
๐กApple Silicon
๐กThunderbolt 3 Ports
๐กPort Fatigue
๐กFanless Design
๐กThermal Throttling
๐กBattery Cycles
๐กRAM
๐กGPU
๐กMac OS Updates
๐กValue for Money
Highlights
The 2020 M1 MacBook Air has been a highly valuable purchase over the last half decade, setting a new standard in the laptop market.
Apple's M1 chip has revolutionized the laptop industry with its performance and efficiency.
Despite its success, the M1 MacBook Air has a limitation of only two Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can lead to port fatigue over time.
The lack of additional ports on the M1 MacBook Air can be problematic for users requiring multiple connections simultaneously.
The M1 MacBook Air's single dodgy Thunderbolt port highlights the potential for hardware failure due to overuse.
When purchasing a used M1 MacBook Air, it's crucial to check all ports for functionality before buying.
The M1 MacBook Air's fanless design contributes to its silent operation but may lead to thermal throttling under heavy load.
The absence of a fan means the M1 MacBook Air's processor may struggle to cool effectively during intensive tasks.
Comparing the M1 MacBook Air to its predecessors, it offers significant performance improvements despite being fanless.
The M1 MacBook Air's performance may degrade over time as operating systems and apps become more complex and demanding.
Battery life on the M1 MacBook Air can degrade over time, with the system reporting reduced capacity after multiple charge cycles.
Replacing the battery in the M1 MacBook Air is a complex process requiring specific tools and careful handling.
The M1 MacBook Air's 8 GB base RAM may not be sufficient for modern software requirements, including gaming and design applications.
The M1 MacBook Air's GPU, while impressive in 2020, may not meet the demands of current gaming and 3D design software.
The M1 MacBook Air's 13-inch screen size may be limiting for users working with large projects or requiring more screen real estate.
The M1 MacBook Air is likely to receive OS updates for a limited time, potentially becoming outdated by the 2030s.
Despite its limitations, the M1 MacBook Air offers excellent value for money and remains a top choice for many users.
The M1 MacBook Air's performance and efficiency make it a strong contender in the laptop market, even years after its release.
Transcripts
just how well is the 2020 M1 MacBook Air
aging if you bought one of these laptops
in the last few years it's safe to say
it could have been the best purchase you
made this last half decade early
adopters of the M1 MacBook Air weren to
know at the time but this apple silicon
powered machine went on to change the
world of laptops
irreversibly despite how it exploded
onto the scene though it's no perfect
laptop certainly not in 2024 there are
some flaws the M1 MacBook air has always
had flaw that no one can do much about
M1 MacBook airs have just two
Thunderbolt three ports these are both
capable of charging the machine
connecting to external displays and
using all sorts of accessories but they
Remain the only ports on board beside
the audio jack anyone needing to use
more than two ports at once has no doubt
hated this from the very start but other
problems arise from the lack of
connectivity as the only ports on board
they get used so much there's a good
chance that they might fail over time so
Port fatigue is a real thing in fact my
MacBook Air already has one dodgy
Thunderbolt Port which is a real bummer
since it's the machine I have to edit
all my videos on if you're buying one of
these used make sure to check all of the
ports work before you hand over your
money it's worth noting replacing a part
is fairly easily done in these machines
as there's no soldering required you do
have to be seriously careful though the
whole problem wouldn't even exist if
Apple had put a slightly more robust
connection inside of their 2020 lineup
one of the more surprising aspects of
the M1 MacBook Air is the lack of any
fans inside it there's no spinning hard
drive inside either so it operates in
total silence no matter when or where
you use it in the past Apple only
managed this with very weak processors
the 12-in retina MacBooks which were
sold from 2015 to 17 were fanless but
considerably weaker than the MacBook Pro
and air models of the same years the
2020 MacBook Air features the same N1
chip as the 2020 MacBook Pro though it's
even got the same base amount of memory
with just one GPU core fewer than the
pro so performance at release was almost
identical between the two and there's no
doubt they were very powerful machines
for 2020 that lack of fan is likely to
catch up with it at some point though
over time operating systems become
harder to run with more complex
animations and features the apps we all
use every day also get harder to run
requiring more CPU power when features
are added if the processor in the M1 a
is consistently working harder to keep
up with these changes it will invariably
become hotter with no fan on board it's
only a matter of time until the maximum
temperature is reached and the laptop
thermally throttles slowing the CPU down
to give it time to cool down we've seen
this before with Intel MacBooks the 2015
MacBook Pro one of the most popular of
all time is now at an age where regular
Computing like having a lot of Internet
internet tabs open while editing music
in logic or Garage Band software might
cause it to thermally throttle that
laptop has a fan on board which has
given the 2015 the power to stay cool
for longer and operate pretty strongly
up to a certain point remember the M1 is
fanless and I've found on hotted days
when I try to edit 4K footage in Final
Cut with Photoshop and my recording
software open as well it does slow down
a little bit the same will happen when I
render long video projects too
considering I edited my videos on a far
slower 2012 machine until earlier this
year I'm certainly not complaining but
it's a shire sign this thing isn't going
to eat through any task one can throw at
it
forever yes Apple silicon machines
including this one are far ahead of any
intel MacBook money can buy but you'll
definitely want to consider a newer
MacBook Pro if you're a video editor or
doing any other work which requires a
lot of computing power if you decide to
buy an M1 MacBook Air or indeed have one
already you've got to think about how
the battery might have degraded over the
last few years too the M1 air was sold
by Apple from 2020 until the start of
2024 which really is an impressive run
if you have a recently made MacBook you
might still have under 100 charge cycles
on your battery but every time you
charge your battery and use it down to
empty that count goes up by one my M1
MacBook Air has 375 Cycles on it at the
moment and the system report is telling
me that the battery life is 88% as good
as it was when new generally speaking
MacBook batteries are good for 800 to
1,000 Cycles before they absolutely need
a replacement but I've seen batteries
all but fail before the 600 Mark and
even seen some keep going fine past the
1,500 Mark unfortunately replacing the
battery is a relative pain in the ass
first you'll need the right fivepoint
screwdriver to open up the case then
you'll need to remove some parts like
the speakers and the audio board before
you can actually get at the battery
there's adhesive strips keeping the
battery in place too which you need to
remove with care replacing the battery
is doable if you're careful and I'll
link a decent cool kit with everything
you need to do so in the description but
it's still a pain Apple didn't make the
internals of MacBooks more accessible
for the average Joe they'd certainly
last a lot longer all right so going
back to the performance of the M1
MacBook Air remember how I said apps are
getting harder to run over time the the
M1 MacBook airs RAM storage and GPU are
beginning to cause problems here too 8
GB of RAM is the base option for these
laptops and getting a 16 GB model is
either super expensive new or super
expensive and a wild goose chase used
thanks to how rare the upgraded models
are as you probably know 16 GB of RAM
has become a more standard requirement
for the latest games these days as well
as for running things like editing or 3D
design software
it's not just the ram holding you back
though the GPU on the M1 MacBook Air is
the weakest on an Apple silicon Mac it's
a seven core model and while it was
seriously impressive back in 2020
compared to integrated chips of the time
soc's and dedicated graphics processors
have stiffened up the competition since
using an M1 MacBook Air for games in
2024 is just not the move you could
build a gaming PC for half the price of
the laptop with better graphics
performance these days 3D design
software users would also benefit from
using something with a far more powerful
GPU not to mention for those into Visual
Arts the 13in screen is a pretty poor
choice I get a window smaller than a
small phone screen to watch my final cut
previews on for these videos which is
kind of jarring if you can it's worth
buying at least a 15-in MacBook Air to
do this kind of thing one brief thing
you should note is that the M1 air is at
least halfway through its life cycle of
Mac OS updates at this point Apple
always supports its Max for more than
five but fewer than 10 years these days
I can confidently say this will be the
case with the M1 MacBook Air your guess
is as good as mine for the exact year
they'll drop the updates for this
machine but just know that if you buy a
newer MacBook you probably will get a
longer lifespan I wouldn't worry too
much about this personally as I've
always said Mac OS versions that are a
couple of years old are still fine to
use since they get security patches
anyway but bear in mind the 2030 Mark
will probably be a bit of a brick wall
for M1 support all right so I focused on
the limitations the M1 MacBook Air might
face so far but let's not forget this is
still the king of all MacBooks in terms
of value for money in fact it's quite
possibly the best value of all laptops
money can buy there have been four years
of improvements made to Apple silicon
with several new releases from Apple
each year in some ways though they
haven't really majorly improved on the
base series chips all that much if
you're not using your Mac for video
editing or 3D work and that sort of
thing I can't recommend picking an M1
air up enough this thing will perform
several times better than any 13-in
MacBook that came before it and has been
excellent for putting my YouTube channel
together as well as helping me with my
studies this past year yes it can leave
you wanting more at times but the M1
MacBook Air is far from old news yet
thank you very much for watching and
I'll see you all next next week
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