Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M1, 2020)
A famously durable machine, but buying one new in 2026 means 8GB of RAM and a macOS support clock with little left on it. The MacBook Neo or M5 Air is the correct cheap-Mac answer.
Consolidated from 6 independent outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 6 positive sources
3 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. A trap is a product buyers genuinely cross-shop but should not buy, ranked honestly alongside the real picks rather than dropped to the bottom. Why the boards include them
Pros & cons
- ✓ Famously durable hardware
- ✓ Cheapest Mac still on shelves
- ✗ Base config still ships with 8GB of RAM, which 2026 buyer guidance says to avoid
- ✗ Six years old with little macOS support left on the clock
- ✗ Fits the exact cheap-outdated-model risk profile Which? warns against
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
6 positive sources
Finally, we finished off with League of Legends x86 Rosetta 2 emulated gameplay on the M1 MacBook Air compared to the Intel model, and the difference is nuts! The battery life differences will blow your mind at the end!Watch C Created Tech Created Tech · 294K subscribers · May 2026
Now, after using both of these MacBooks side by side for the last few weeks, I've just got to say it, the M1 MacBook Air was the superior laptop in almost every way.Watch T TechnicallyAlex TechnicallyAlex · 284K subscribers · Aug 2025
It's been 5 years and three MacBook Air generations since the M1 MacBook Air, but this is still the best bang for your buck MacBook that I recommend for most peopleWatch J Jack Woodhams Jack Woodhams · 20.2K subscribers · Feb 2024
Should you buy the M1 Macbook Air released in 2020 in 2024? Is it still worth buying even with the M2 and M3 chips released? I think it is, and here's why!Watch J Justin Tran Justin Tran · 9.4K subscribers · Sept 2025
Currently, the MacBook M1 Air for $300 is the best budget or cheap productivity laptop for students or workers. Whether you're in high school, college, or do light workloads, this laptop that Apple designed is still good todayWatch N Nimrovv Nimrovv · 713 subscribers · May 2025
So, as a student, should you get the M1 MacBook Air? For me, it is an absolute yes. I think that this device can handle more than just your daily task. For regular usage and a few intensive tasks, this can handle it more than well.Watch
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #22 of 22 on our laptops tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 6 independent outlets.
None of the 6 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Base config still ships with 8GB of RAM, which 2026 buyer guidance says to avoid. Six years old with little macOS support left on the clock. Fits the exact cheap-outdated-model risk profile Which? warns against.
Ranked nearby in Laptops
S tier #1 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
S tier #2 1 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)
A tier #3 Apple MacBook Neo
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F tier #21 1 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.