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.