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If you're thinking about investing in a MacBook Air, you may want to consider all the available model variations too. Luckily, we've developed the perfect MacBook Air buying guide to help you decide on which MacBook Air to buy!

From the shiny new MacBook Air M2 to the older MacBook Air Intel 2020, the model variant you choose really matters. Keep reading to compare MacBook Air specs such as MacBook Air storage, battery life, processor and more!

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In this blog:

• Specs
• MacBook Air (Intel, 2020)
• MacBook Air (13-inch, M1)
• MacBook Air (13-inch, M2)
• MacBook Air (15-inch, M2)

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Specs

There are four main contenders when it comes to buying a MacBook Air: the MacBook Air 13-inch (Intel, 2020), MacBook Air 13-inch (M1, 2022), MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) and MacBook Air 15-inch (M2, 2022). Here's a run-down of all the major specs to of each MacBook Air model:

	MacBook Air 15-in. (M2)	MacBook Air 13-in. (M2)	MacBook Air 13-in. (M1)	MacBook Air Intel 2020
Display	15.3-inch Liquid Retina display	13.6-inch Liquid Retina display	13.3-inch Retina display	13.3-inch Retina display
Processor	Apple M2	Apple M2	Apple M1	Up to Intel Core i7
CPU	8-core	8-core	8-core	Up to 4-core
GPU	10-core	10-core	7-core	Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Memory	Up to 24GB (unified)	Up to 24GB (unified)	Up to 16GB (unified)	Up to 16GB
Storage	Up to 2TB	Up to 2TB	Up to 2TB	Up to 2TB
Battery life	Up to 18 hrs	Up to 18 hrs	Up to 18 hrs	Up to 12 hrs

 

MacBook Air (Intel, 2020)

While the MacBook Air 2020 (Intel) may be a few years old, it's still a good choice if you want to keep costs down. It's almost identical to the newer MacBook Air (M1), but there are a few differences to consider.

This model offers a 13-inch Retina display, a 720p camera and a 10th Gen Intel Core i3 (or the Core i7, if you choose to upgrade).

The 2020 MacBook Air (Intel) was the first in the Air series to feature the new Magic Keyboard in replacement of Apple's prior Butterfly Keyboard. The Magic Keyboards are backlit and include a Touch ID sensor and a Force Touch trackpad.

MacBook Air (13-inch, M1)

If you'd rather splash some extra cash to get a newer MacBook Air model, the MacBook Air (M1) is worth considering.

The MacBook Air specs on this model include a 720p webcam, the M1 chip, and MacBook Air RAM of up to 16GB. The M1 chip isn't Apple's newest processor, but it's a step up from the MacBook Air 2020's Intel chip.

Thanks to the M1 chip, this MacBook model can instantly wake up from sleep with a simple tap of the keyboard or trackpad.

Unlike the MacBook Air 2020 (Intel), you won't find any fans on this model. Instead, the MacBook Air (M1) has a thermal heat spreader to dissipate heat with the noise of any fans.

MacBook Air (13-inch, M2)

For those looking into the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2), you'll be glad to know that it has plenty of upgraded features compared to the previous MacBook Air model.

Apple has ditched its signature wedge design and replaced it with a boxier chassis, along with giving us two new colours – midnight and starlight. You'll notice that the display is slightly bigger than its predecessor (a whole 0.3 inches, to be precise), thanks to its thin borders.

Sporting an upgraded 1080p camera and a display with a brightness of 500 nits, it's definitely an improvement to the 13-inch MacBook Air (M1).

Other MacBook Air specs for this model include MagSafe compatibility, fast charging (if you purchase the 67-watt USB-C power adapter) and of course, the new M2 chip. The M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Air is perfect for those who need a reliable, everyday laptop that can withstand several open tabs at once.

MacBook Air (15-inch, M2)

The 15-inch MacBook Air is Apple's first ever large-screen option for the Air series and is a perfect option if you like the 13-inch MacBook Air (M1) but require a larger screen.

This model has all the same MacBook Air specs as the 13-inch version, including the M2 chip, 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU and a MacBook Air memory of up to 24GB of unified memory.

The 15-inch MacBook Air isn't all the same as its smaller sibling though. This model boasts a new six-speaker system with two tweeters and two sets of force-cancelling woofers. Compared to the previous model's quad-speaker setup, the new speakers are far superior.

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