Apple Macbook Air Laptop (Late 2020 Model): M1 Chip, 13.3", 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM

redfan11

Dec 21, 2022 4:39 AM

406 Comments

Joined Apr 2013

redfan11Dec 21, 2022 4:39 AM

406 Comments

Quote from Scoreracing

:

I've heard many times in these threads that the argument you put forth is just not true on the M architecture. It is true if you're talking about Intel chips. But the M architecture blows Intel away that 8GB is really like 16GB on Intel. It's that much better and 16GB on an M chip is really for like a fraction of people that edit videos, high end photos, etc. So anything else it's a waste of $.

Exactly! Been using a base m1 air for a little over a year for browsing and Citrix and office and have never felt the laptop slow down.

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screwdrive

Dec 21, 2022 4:43 AM

101 Comments

Joined Jan 2010

screwdriveDec 21, 2022 4:43 AM

101 Comments

Was eyeing on this and pulled the trigger as needed one. Thanks OP !!

1

HappySink807

Dec 21, 2022 4:56 AM

88 Comments

Joined May 2022

HappySink807Dec 21, 2022 4:56 AM

88 Comments

Quote from PopTartS2000

:

The 16GB is what gives it the longetivity. You can do legitimate software development on this machine. It's a shame that Apple still ships machines with a meager 8GB.

Not sure why ppl are down voting you. 16 GB ram should be the minimum these days.

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HappySink807

Dec 21, 2022 4:57 AM

88 Comments

Joined May 2022

HappySink807Dec 21, 2022 4:57 AM

88 Comments

Quote from Geez3877

:

Is this site legit

Yes! If you have their credit card, you save on sales tax. Just FYI.

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HappySink807

Dec 21, 2022 5:00 AM

88 Comments

Joined May 2022

HappySink807Dec 21, 2022 5:00 AM

88 Comments

Quote from mrcrazy

:

This or surface pro 9?

I only use Windows to play games and since surface pro isn't exactly a gaming machine, I would pick this for productivity.

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HappySink807

Dec 21, 2022 5:02 AM

88 Comments

Joined May 2022

HappySink807Dec 21, 2022 5:02 AM

88 Comments

Quote from gqukyo

:

It does not matter, as efficient as the M chips are, that doesn't mean the apps you use are all optimized. If one app uses 4gb of ram then it uses 4gb of ram. And that's one app. Even if the apps uses only a few hundred, end of the day, 16gb allows more apps open and running simultaneously (especially background apps). I also speak from actual experience of owning a M1 Air 8GB. I figured 8gb should be fine on a Mac especially an M1 chip but nope. That thing got slow a lot and I'm not even a power user. Traded that in for the base model 14" pro with 16GB ram. Works so much better.

This. Yes, M1 is efficient but ram is just ram. if you open up many tabs on chrome, run visual studio, and other necessary background apps, 8gb is really tight. it doens't matter if it's m1 or not. 16gb ram should be the minimum especially if you plan to own this machine for longer than 2-3+ yrs. And at this price, why would anyone pick 8gb over 16gb?

Last edited by HappySink807 December 20, 2022 at 09:22 PM.

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AlexC8510

Dec 21, 2022 5:08 AM

12 Comments

Joined Sep 2012

AlexC8510Dec 21, 2022 5:08 AM

12 Comments

Quote from gqukyo

:

It does not matter, as efficient as the M chips are, that doesn't mean the apps you use are all optimized. If one app uses 4gb of ram then it uses 4gb of ram. And that's one app. Even if the apps uses only a few hundred, end of the day, 16gb allows more apps open and running simultaneously (especially background apps). I also speak from actual experience of owning a M1 Air 8GB. I figured 8gb should be fine on a Mac especially an M1 chip but nope. That thing got slow a lot and I'm not even a power user. Traded that in for the base model 14" pro with 16GB ram. Works so much better.

This is not true. M1 can use up more ram running the SAME application compared to Intel.

Watch this video https://youtu.be/4yv2fOIJN_w

They're both running Lightroom. But on the M1 Lightroom is using 11GB of RAM. On Intel it's only using 1.87GB of RAM. Could be related to using Rosetta layer, but not sure.

However, despite the M1 using up so much ram that it requires disk swap, it still feels faster than Intel

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lordofbugs

Dec 21, 2022 5:20 AM

9 Comments

Joined Dec 2022

lordofbugsDec 21, 2022 5:20 AM

9 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank lordofbugs

Good deal, however B&H does not accept laptop returns [bhphotovideo.com]. So you can't "buy and test" then get full refund if not happy about it.

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HappySink807

Dec 21, 2022 5:20 AM

88 Comments

Joined May 2022

HappySink807Dec 21, 2022 5:20 AM

88 Comments

Quote from AlexC8510

:

This is not true. M1 can use up more ram running the SAME application compared to Intel.

Watch this video https://youtu.be/4yv2fOIJN_w

They're both running Lightroom. But on the M1 Lightroom is using 11GB of RAM. On Intel it's only using 1.87GB of RAM. Could be related to using Rosetta layer, but not sure.

However, despite the M1 using up so much ram that it requires disk swap, it still feels faster than Intel

I used intel mac machines in the past for work and I do not miss them a bit. they overheated so easily. Fans were loud. Battery life was a joke. Oh and the infamous butterfly keyboard. I've been using my m1 mbp for about 6 months now and boy the grass is much greener lol this is my first mba and i hope the experience is similar.

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gqukyo

Dec 21, 2022 5:26 AM

307 Comments

Joined Mar 2015

gqukyoDec 21, 2022 5:26 AM

307 Comments

Quote from AlexC8510

:

This is not true. M1 can use up more ram running the SAME application compared to Intel.

Watch this video https://youtu.be/4yv2fOIJN_w

They're both running Lightroom. But on the M1 Lightroom is using 11GB of RAM. On Intel it's only using 1.87GB of RAM. Could be related to using Rosetta layer, but not sure.

However, despite the M1 using up so much ram that it requires disk swap, it still feels faster than Intel

Exactly what I said, not all apps are optimized. 😂
Still lagged for me when I had the 8gb version.

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therealslimshady

Dec 21, 2022 5:37 AM

12 Comments

Joined Oct 2014

therealslimshadyDec 21, 2022 5:37 AM

12 Comments

Quote from Geez3877

:

Is this site legit

B&H is one of the best stores, been shopping from them for over a decade.. They're known more for camera stuff but their service is top notch.

1

Neel007

Dec 21, 2022 5:39 AM

210 Comments

Joined Nov 2017

Neel007Dec 21, 2022 5:39 AM

210 Comments

This or M1 Pro for extra 500 for coding web apps and tensor flow

2

HappySink807

Dec 21, 2022 5:47 AM

88 Comments

Joined May 2022

HappySink807Dec 21, 2022 5:47 AM

88 Comments

Quote from Neel007

:

This or M1 Pro for extra 500 for coding web apps and tensor flow

Do you have an external monitor? If so, then this is a great deal. No doubt about it. The only difference between this and m1 mbp is that the cpu throttles when the usage is high and it doesn't have a fan. So mbp runs smoother at peak and cooler.

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carbonfiber

Dec 21, 2022 5:51 AM

8.9K Comments

Joined Mar 2004

carbonfiberDec 21, 2022 5:51 AM

8.9K Comments

8GB in the new M architecture is efficient enough for 99% of the users out there, there has been plenty test videos on YouTube can attest to this.
don't put out false information if you don't own one

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bikerbandito

Dec 21, 2022 6:05 AM

979 Comments

Joined May 2010

bikerbanditoDec 21, 2022 6:05 AM

979 Comments

Quote from Scoreracing

:

I've heard many times in these threads that the argument you put forth is just not true on the M architecture. It is true if you're talking about Intel chips. But the M architecture blows Intel away that 8GB is really like 16GB on Intel. It's that much better and 16GB on an M chip is really for like a fraction of people that edit videos, high end photos, etc. So anything else it's a waste of $.

I just bought the 16" M1 Pro for video editing and some After Effects (rotoscoping,l and integration with Blender). I got it on a Slickdeal but it was still 700 more than this. Do you think I can do video editing and some vfx on this MBA and be okay?

Product Description:	The Apple 13" MacBook Air features Apple's first chip designed specifically for Mac. The Apple M1 integrates the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, I/O, and more into a single system on a chip (SoC). Tackle your projects with the fast 8-Core CPU and take on graphics-intensive apps and games with the 8-core GPU. Accelerate machine learning tasks with the 16-core Neural Engine. Complete with a silent, fanless design and up to 18 hours of battery life, the MacBook Air is still portable, but now a lot more powerful. It also has 16GB of unified RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Product SKU:	1604865
133_2560_x_1600_retina_ips_display:	8-Core GPU \| 16-Core Neural Engine
apple_m1_8-core_cpu:	16GB Unified RAM \| 1TB SSD
aspect_ratio:	16:10
color_gamut:	100% DCI-P3
finish:	Glossy
maximum_brightness:	400 cd/m2
panel_type:	IPS-Type LCD
resolution:	2560 x 1600
size:	13.3"
touchscreen:	No

Apple Macbook Air Laptop (Late 2020 Model): M1 Chip, 13.3", 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM

$1,199

$1,649

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