M1 MacBook Air in Hindsight: Was It Worth Buying?
Updated September 2026: in 2021 I listed four reasons to buy the 2020 M1 MacBook Air to replace my slow, unsupported older MacBook Pro: performance, five years of future-proofing, reliability and battery life. I have rewritten it to look at how those reasons held up.
For a long time I wanted to replace my older MacBook Pro, which had become slow and could no longer run newer versions of macOS. The M1 MacBook Air looked like the answer. It was topping benchmarks, I expected it to be supported for at least five years since it launched in late 2020, reviewers praised its reliability, and its battery life was said to be excellent.
Did the M1 MacBook Air's performance hold up?
Largely, yes. For browsing, office work, photo editing and light video work, the M1 Air still feels quick. It shows its age with heavy video editing, large projects and many apps open on 8 GB of memory.
Was it really future-proof for five years?
That prediction held. More than five years after launch, M1 Macs were still supported by current macOS releases. Apple does not publish end dates, so check the latest macOS compatibility list if you are buying one now.
What about battery life and reliability?
Battery life was one of its strongest points, and the fanless design means no fan to wear out. Like any laptop, the battery ages. On a second-hand unit, check the battery's cycle count and condition in System Settings.
Should you buy an M1 MacBook Air today?
- Yes, second-hand or refurbished, if the price is well below a new Air and you do everyday tasks.
- Choose 16 GB of memory if you can find it, since memory cannot be upgraded later.
- Consider a newer model if you want it to last another five years or more.
What should you check on a used M1 Air?
Battery condition, screen for marks or pressure damage, keyboard and ports, and that it has been removed from the previous owner's Apple ID and Find My. Ask for the original purchase receipt if possible.
Was switching from an old Intel MacBook Pro worth it?
For most people who made that move, yes. The jump in speed, silence and battery life was far larger than typical upgrades between laptop generations.