{"id":15732,"date":"2023-07-07T16:41:53","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T15:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/?p=15732"},"modified":"2025-02-17T15:00:50","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T15:00:50","slug":"macbook-air-buying-guide-how-to-choose-your-storage-ram-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/2023\/07\/07\/macbook-air-buying-guide-how-to-choose-your-storage-ram-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"MacBook Air buying guide: How to choose your storage, RAM, and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re thinking about investing in a MacBook Air, you may want to consider all the available model variations too. Luckily, we\u2019ve developed the perfect MacBook Air buying guide to help you decide on which MacBook Air to buy!<\/p>\n<p>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!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">In this blog:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#specs\">Specs<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#2020\">MacBook Air (Intel, 2020)<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#m1\">MacBook Air (13-inch, M1)<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#m2\">MacBook Air (13-inch, M2)<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#15\">MacBook Air (15-inch, M2)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"specs\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Specs<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/air-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15733 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/air-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/air-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/air-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/air-1-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s a run-down of all the major specs to of each MacBook Air model:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>MacBook Air 15-in. (M2)<\/td>\n<td>MacBook Air 13-in. (M2)<\/td>\n<td>MacBook Air 13-in. (M1)<\/td>\n<td>MacBook Air Intel 2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Display<\/td>\n<td>15.3-inch Liquid Retina display<\/td>\n<td>13.6-inch Liquid Retina display<\/td>\n<td>13.3-inch Retina display<\/td>\n<td>13.3-inch Retina display<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Processor<\/td>\n<td>Apple M2<\/td>\n<td>Apple M2<\/td>\n<td>Apple M1<\/td>\n<td>Up to Intel Core i7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CPU<\/td>\n<td>8-core<\/td>\n<td>8-core<\/td>\n<td>8-core<\/td>\n<td>Up to 4-core<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>GPU<\/td>\n<td>10-core<\/td>\n<td>10-core<\/td>\n<td>7-core<\/td>\n<td>Intel Iris Plus Graphics<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Memory<\/td>\n<td>Up to 24GB (unified)<\/td>\n<td>Up to 24GB (unified)<\/td>\n<td>Up to 16GB (unified)<\/td>\n<td>Up to 16GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Storage<\/td>\n<td>Up to 2TB<\/td>\n<td>Up to 2TB<\/td>\n<td>Up to 2TB<\/td>\n<td>Up to 2TB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Battery life<\/td>\n<td>Up to 18 hrs<\/td>\n<td>Up to 18 hrs<\/td>\n<td>Up to 18 hrs<\/td>\n<td>Up to 12 hrs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"2020\" style=\"text-align: center;\">MacBook Air (Intel, 2020)<\/h2>\n<p>While the MacBook Air 2020 (Intel) may be a few years old, it\u2019s still a good choice if you want to keep costs down. It\u2019s almost identical to the newer MacBook Air (M1), but there are a few differences to consider.<\/p>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<p>The 2020 MacBook Air (Intel) was the first in the Air series to feature the new Magic Keyboard in replacement of Apple\u2019s prior Butterfly Keyboard. The Magic Keyboards are backlit and include a Touch ID sensor and a Force Touch trackpad.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"m1\" style=\"text-align: center;\">MacBook Air (13-inch, M1)<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_15735\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/m1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15735\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15735\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/m1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/m1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/m1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/m1-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-15735\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kiev, Ukraine &#8211; May 02, 2022: Laptop Apple MacBook Air M1 13-inch on white background<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you\u2019d rather splash some extra cash to get a newer MacBook Air model, the MacBook Air (M1) is worth considering.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019t Apple\u2019s newest processor, but it\u2019s a step up from the MacBook Air 2020\u2019s Intel chip.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to the M1 chip, this MacBook model can instantly wake up from sleep with a simple tap of the keyboard or trackpad.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the MacBook Air 2020 (Intel), you won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"m2\" style=\"text-align: center;\">MacBook Air (13-inch, M2)<\/h2>\n<p>For those looking into the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2), you\u2019ll be glad to know that it has plenty of upgraded features compared to the previous MacBook Air model.<\/p>\n<p>Apple has ditched its signature wedge design and replaced it with a boxier chassis, along with giving us two new colours &#8211; midnight and starlight. You\u2019ll notice that the display is slightly bigger than its predecessor (a whole 0.3 inches, to be precise), thanks to its thin borders.<\/p>\n<p>Sporting an upgraded 1080p camera and a display with a brightness of 500 nits, it\u2019s definitely an improvement to the 13-inch MacBook Air (M1).<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"15\" style=\"text-align: center;\">MacBook Air (15-inch, M2)<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/mac-air.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15736 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/mac-air.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/mac-air.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/mac-air-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/mac-air-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The 15-inch MacBook Air is Apple\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The 15-inch MacBook Air isn\u2019t 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\u2019s quad-speaker setup, the new speakers are far superior.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Looking for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/computers-and-accessories\/laptops\/macbook\/\">cheap MacBook<\/a>? Why not switch to refurbished to save on cash? Here at musicMagpie, we have great deals on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/computers-and-accessories\/laptops\/macbook-pro\/\">refurbished MacBook Air,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/computers-and-accessories\/laptops\/macbook-air\/\">refurbished MacBook Pro<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/computers-and-accessories\/desktop-pcs-and-imacs\/imac\/\">refurbished iMac<\/a> models! You can also grab a great saving on a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/category\/mobile-phones\/apple\/\">refurbished iPhone<\/a> models and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/store\/mobile-phones\/\">refurbished phones<\/a> too.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re thinking about investing in a MacBook Air, you may want to consider all the available model variations too. Luckily, we\u2019ve 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 &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":15734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2244,2154,4],"tags":[2350],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15732"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15732"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18043,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15732\/revisions\/18043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}