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    Home Unlabelled Apple Macbook MacBook Air M1 Review (After a full week of use)

    Apple Macbook MacBook Air M1 Review (After a full week of use)

    November 25, 2020

    Apple Macbook MacBook Air M1 Review (After a full week of use)

    MacBook Air M1 Review (After a full week of use)

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:05 PM PST

    Hey, guys so I said I would make a review after using the MBA M1 (Base model) and after one week, here we are!

    Background:

    A little background about myself, I am a junior Computer Science student and as you know during these hard times I spend almost all day on my MacBook doing homework, studying, and running multiple applications at the same time. This is simply a review of how the M1 MacBook Air is on daily usage and I will be focusing less on the specs and numbers, and more on how efficiently the device works.

    Long story short, I had the 2020 MacBook Pro 13in. (Base Intel Model) and I sold it for about $1100 (I had spent roughly $1200 when I bought it). Then I used that towards the Base Model MacBook Air M1. I had posted here saying that I will find out if this was an upgrade or a downgrade since I went from the Pro lineup to the Air lineup. In terms of words, LOL, the model I had previously must surely be the superior device right? Well, I can tell you that I personally made the right choice.

    TO CUT TO THE CHASE:

    This is a superior device that gets the job done and is the best bang for your buck (personally I would be fine paying more for this LOL). Highly recommend it. (Especially for students!!!)

    ​

    Review:

    • Application Compatibility: I immediately downloaded all of the programs I initially had for my previous device and they downloaded perfectly! Even my programming editors, as well as Python and Java. Rosetta which is what makes programs compatible with the M1 chip works flawlessly and I had no issues downloading anything.
      • Just to be aware, however, some programs do not run right away and I could need to quit it and launch it again but it isn't rare.
      • Also more and more programs are releasing M1 compatibility so do not worry, everything will be fully supported and optimized for M1 (in fact Google just released Chrome for the M1, YEAH GOOGLE!)
    • Speed/ Usage: So far I been using this device with my program editor, multiple safari tabs, chrome tabs, and discord doing assignments and sometimes even on a video call with my professor AT THE SAME TIME! I have not seen any drop in performance or any beachballs popping up. For 8GB RAM, this is insanely good, and normal for my old device I would have seen slowdowns and the beachball.
      • NOTE: Some of these apps aren't even natively compatible for M1 yet it works better and much more efficiently than the Pro I had.
      • 8GB is more than enough for me, as a student who does a lot and as a programmer. I feel 8GB is more than enough for anyone who is NOT a professional and doesn't run heavy tasks for long periods of time.
    • Heat/Temperature: EXCELLENT! When I open up all my applications and do my work, I have been feeling the bottom of my MacBook to see if there is any heat and at most I felt only a little bit of heat but that was after 2 hours of heavy usage! Plus with no fans, this was a welcoming feature as I personally hated how my Pro's fans would run constantly and at times, obnoxiously loud asf.
      • Only gets hot when you do heavy tasks for a long period of time.
      • No sound at all.
    • Cons:
      • Still shitty webcam
      • Same design and keyboard
      • Running mobile apps on it sucks
      • No longer can run Bootcamps (Windows) but I don't personally use it, just something to take note of if you do!
    • This is still your basic MacBook Air, so I only wanted this review to be about how the M1 chip was, other than that this device is simply far superior than my Intel MacBook Pro. So I won't be going over any other hardware features (Wifi 6, Better Bluetooth, Thunderbolt 3) which are just MINOR improvements.

    ​

    BOTTOM LINE:

    This device is extremely powerful and is not just a bluff. I took the chance when I sold my Pro for the Air and I can confidently say that this is definitely an UPGRADE! I highly recommend this for students and anyone who is on a budget and needs something to get the job done! Only get this if you can afford it or, like me, you can sell your current device above the sale price of the Air. It is not worth getting if you have to pay extra. There will be BETTER M1 chips and this is simply the beginning! But rest assured if you invest in this device, you are in good hands as you can see even Google recognized Apple's new chip and everyday developers are optimizing their applications for M1 for how amazingly powerful it is!

    Score: 9/10. Better than my MacBook Pro, better than Intel, so much power for a small price.

    ​

    Any questions, please comment and I will gladly answer them!

    ​

    ***Your current device is still MORE THAN ENOUGH and Apple still offers Intel MacBooks. The M1 is just the beginning, if you cannot afford it now, do not worry because you will definitely be glad when you get the next generation of Apple Silicone chips. No need to break a leg for it! ***

    submitted by /u/The_Great_Khal
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    My Experience using MBA M1 as a Windows/Linux User

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 01:53 PM PST

    I have used Windows for desktop gaming and Linux(Ubuntu) on my laptop, Dell XPS 15. However, I always wanted to get a Macbook for iOS development. The MBA M1 won me over with it's specs and I bit the bullet. Here's my takeway from using it.

    Main Cons:

    • Gestures or shortcuts take time getting used to. That's my main gripe as shortcuts are different than on Linux and windows.
    • No drag to screen. You can't set one app on the side unless you do full screen mode. I personally dislike full screen mode because you can't see the menu bar at top.
    • Maximize doesn't set full height & width. Maximize only makes the window set to full height but not width. Pretty annoying since the window to fill the desktop. I don't like full screen either because I want to see the menu bar.
    • The bezels are kinda big. I own the XPS 15 and the bezels on MBA are bigger. You might not notice them after a while but still quite large.
    • Apps are kinda sparse on the App store. App selection is pretty limited so if you need vital apps you might want to wait. Otherwise apps will start flooding in again or Rosetta emulated apps works pretty well.
    • Expensive. It's quite expensive for a laptop although similarly specced Windows laptops are either near or above this price point especially with the M1 chip being so fast. GPU performance could be better as it's between a 1050ti & Rx560. Fastest among integrated but slower than most discrete GPUs. (Seems like a bottleneck for how fast the M1 chip performs)
    • Supports only 1 additional display The MBA can only connect to one external monitor. You can connect your Ipad as well but that's not ideal. Mac mini will support 2 displays.

    Pros:

    • Apps run on Rosetta2 perfectly well. Besides maybe a short pause before the app fully opens, you don't even notice it's not native.
    • M1 is so blazing fast. I barely get to a quarter use even while coding, youtube and multiple browsers or apps open. I think the main bottleneck would be the gpu and ram in the future (I have only 8gb).
    • Don't need WSL2 for windows to run bash. You have native terminal (zsh) command support although Homebrew and Docker will take a while to provide a ARM version.
    • Great battery life. I estimate that I get 12~16 hours of battery life on basic web browsing or productivity work.
    • Build quality is just amazing. It just feels really premium and sturdy. It's also pretty thin and light (2.8lbs) compared to my monstrous 5lb Dell XPS 15.
    • Color accurate display out of the box. It supports P3 wide color gamut now and colors look sharp and crisp. Although I generally like IPS displays more, the MBA's glossy display is not too reflective compared to most glossy displays. The display also supports HDR which is great for consuming content.
    • Runs quiet (no fan) and cool. Honestly, I'm surprised how cool it runs. It only gets warm even when I stress it. It will thermal throttle though after a couple minutes but even then performance is superb.

    Summary

    Anyways I think MBA M1 has won me over. Apple has really outdone itself. Personally I'm not a big fan of Apple but I'm quite impressed. (My only apple devices are this ipad and this laptop)

    The MBA M1 is a great laptop that has great performance and great battery life. I personally like Linux more than MacOS but I think MacOS bridges the gap between hardcore power users and general users who interacting with UI.

    My only concern would be that the future chips M2 or M3 might just leave the M1 in the dust and M1 chips only supports 1 external display. Otherwise, for most people's use cases it's sufficient and is perfectly fine for them. I really enjoy using the MBA M1 and recommend it whole-heartedly to anyone looking for a new laptop. (I hated the MBA intel versions so it's not like I'm blinded by fanboyism)

    Edit: Some people recommended Rectangle to have Windows drag-and-snap functionality. It works pretty great as far as I can tell. Option + click on one of the edges also allows full-screen maximize too.

    submitted by /u/zetaBrainz
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    My son’s new M1 MacBook Air: super smooth, always cold, really lasting

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 03:49 PM PST

    Get. 16GB. RAM.

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 05:44 PM PST

    Menu Bar Customizations and Tips

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 09:24 PM PST

    As an ex-Windows user and new Mac user (literally bought my MBA M1 today), the Menu Bar is driving me nuts. It makes way more sense to be at the bottom of the screen. It's a huge waste of vertical space. Auto-hide is way to sensitive that I keep activating it as I switch my chrome tabs.

    Is there any way to edit the sensitivity?

    Does any one have any cool tips to make the menu bar less cumbersome?

    How do you live with this!

    ​

    Albeit, loving the M1 and Mac. Some getting use to but so far so good. It is only the menu bar that its extremely annoying.

    submitted by /u/Koen-K
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    Is M1 Macbook Air good for programming ?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 11:37 AM PST

    Is M1 Macbook Air good for programming ? M1 CPU is ARM based so does it work fine programming related softwares and IDE's ? should I get m1 mac or intel mac ?

    EDIT : I already have a 5th gen i7 laptop and dual screen monitor PC setup with ryzen 3600. which I'm using for all coding related stuff. I just need a new portable laptop that has good battery and can develop apple apps. Can you also recommend whether I should pick up AIR or pro? And is 300$ more for 512gb model worth it?

    submitted by /u/faseihs
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    What are these strange "applications" opening themselves with Safari on my macbook pro? Every time a new one opens it goes by a different name and saves itself into my applications folder, but they always open followed directly by Safari.

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 05:47 PM PST

    My MacBook Air "System" storage bar says I have 71GB out of 121GB remaining. Any fixes?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:28 PM PST

    There should be a macbook pro without touch bar

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 02:04 PM PST

    I'd prefer to buy the pro over the air considering the better battery, speakers and screen but I just cannot get on board with that touch bar. If Apple released a pro with the same keyboard as the air, I'd have already ordered one today. Anyone feel the same way?

    submitted by /u/Siegfried6
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    Does the Space Gray finish tarnish with time & usage?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:57 AM PST

    I always take care of my stuff. Just wondering if the space gray finish on the MacBook Airs are prone to tarnishing from constantly rubbing your palm on the trackpad area or maybe due to heat (although M1 is design differently)

    Just curious has there been any discoloration or distortions with this color from users that's had it a long time like 3-5+ years. I usually get silver but the black looks nice

    submitted by /u/adminoverride
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    How accurate is Apple's shipping range?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 02:00 PM PST

    I bought an m1 MBA on a whim and am trading my MBP 2017 15 inch in to pay for it. Apple estimates delivery to be between Dec. 2 and Dec. 9th. I'm wondering if the stuff typically comes closer to the first date or the second?

    Thanks!

    submitted by /u/Satzlefraz
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    MBA M1 to 4K 60Hz via HDMI? how?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 10:41 PM PST

    All the non powered dongles I seem to find only output UHD (3840x2160) at only 30hz from the MBA. Anyone know any dongles that do this resolution at 60Hz? Preferable a non powered usb c dongle

    submitted by /u/jadesigns
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    Subjective Take: Keyboard on M1 MBA v. MBP

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 10:09 PM PST

    This is purely subjective, but I just tested the M1 MBA v. MBP. They're apparently identical, but I think the constant depth of the MBP compared to the variable depth of the MBA, provides for a slightly different experience. I use a 2010 MBP and the M1 MBP had a more similar (though not quite as nice) experience. Just my subjective 2 cents.

    submitted by /u/jfovero
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    Free youtube course on "mac for windows"?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:43 PM PST

    I just bought my mom her first macbook. I wanted to get her some videos to get her started... I see some on udemy but I was wondering if anyone knows of a free one on youtube?

    submitted by /u/foundry41
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    Bugs with new MacBook Pro 2020 M1

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 01:18 PM PST

    Is anyone experiencing any weird bugs with their new MacBook Pro? I am constantly getting the loading wheel on random times / running minuscule programs. Some days it lags on Spotify, other days I can run 3 Adobe programs at the same time and stream in 4K with no hiccups.

    Laptop was purchased on Saturday so I'm really disappointed with the product so far. Curious if it may just be something with the M1 and Rosetta translation? Expensive product for it to work like my 2014 MacBook Air at times.

    submitted by /u/cowboyn842
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    Considering switching from windows to mac

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 11:31 AM PST

    Hello! Wanted to ask if anyone here switch from windows to mac and was the transition fluid? I've used windows and android devices all my life and am tempted as heck with the new macbook air M1. The macbook doesn't drop til next month in my country and wanted to ask if its ideal for a university student:

    • to get the 8gb ram
    • to get the 256 or 512 ssd
    • is the M1 chip worth the risk as its 1st gen
    • will Microsoft word run on it? (Heard something bout rosetta 2, i got lost in translation there)
    • is the gold color option ideal (scared of discolouration)

    I m only considering ios due to its durability and less problemd as i m having alot of problems with window update glitches that made me lost all my uni notes..

    Thank you!

    submitted by /u/CNisme
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    Hoping m1 MBP comes earlier than expected!

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:42 PM PST

    My 16gb m1 MBP that I ordered through Apple is now expected to come Dec 21-29th. They moved it back a couple days.

    Really hope that it comes early because I have to return my current intel Mac to Costco by Dec 30th! I have faith in the Apple supply chain.

    Anyone else anxiously waiting!?

    submitted by /u/TheSalvadoria
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    Why is Chrome faster and more ram efficient on my M1 MacBook Air?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 04:30 PM PST

    Basically what the title says. I don't want to use Chrome, it does a lot of tracking and I don't condone Google's politics, however, they've done a great job with ARM based Chrome, it's buttery smooth and doesn't eat RAM as Safari. Why can't Safari be like that on Apple's own platform? Just a rant.

    submitted by /u/alexgreen771
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    Fan on my 2020 mba going CRAZY ever since upgrading to big sur

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 03:51 PM PST

    I can't watch most YouTube videos or stream a movie without the fan turning on. Why is this happening and how do I fix it? I know chrome is notoriously shitty on macbooks, but I never had this issue while running the previous OS (Catalina).

    I already tried to reset the SMC and the problem never went away. What steps can I take from here? My boyfriend has the same model (i3) and he doesn't have this issue after upgrading. Could it be that I have a faulty computer?

    submitted by /u/Forward-Main-3249
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    Should I buy the M1 MacBook Pro as a programmer?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 12:02 PM PST

    So my typical usage would include eclipse, sts/intellij, vscode, running servers of redis, postgres, mongo etc., browsing. I would also need to use docker but not for another 6 months (have a DevOps course next semester). I am hoping that docker would start working in 6 months and hence am considering going for the M1 MacBook Pro.

    submitted by /u/shahrk97
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    For how much should I sell my MacBook Pro?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 03:44 PM PST

    Extreme pristine condition. Still has amazing battery life.

    $1,700 new | Mid-2014 | 13" | Dual-Core i5 | 16GB RAM | 256GB SSD

    submitted by /u/dandy_andy_1
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    CS student

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST

    Is the 8 GB memory good or should I spend the extra 180 for 16 GB. Also when do you estimate the optimized versions of the new apps will be released ?

    I use eclipse, virtual studio, matlab so any advice would be appreciated.

    submitted by /u/CheggMasterofRutgers
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    Can I play GTA 4 on Macbook Pro 13 2020?

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 01:23 PM PST

    I don't plan to "game" on it, just want to spend time with it. I have 10th gen i5 model with 4 tb ports. I think I can play it but I'm not sure about the integrated graphics. I don't know about anything about it except it is "Iris Plus Graphics". Can anyone inform me about it? Thanks.

    submitted by /u/mrdhuxy
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    Warm display color

    Posted: 25 Nov 2020 01:19 PM PST

    Hello since i got mac i've been having the same problem and nothing works, it's the same situation as here https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/317239/macbook-air-display-color-temperature-changes-after-logging-in i have no idea how to fix it, what to try and it' really annoying. i also have nightshift permanently off and the colors are set to colour LCD. I never saw any working solution to this online and was hoping reddit can help. I don't have the option 'true tone' in settings. It's been this way since i bought it and just now started using it for design it's really troubling that i need to send myself screen shots to check what the colors look like:/

    I have macbook air

    OS Mojave

    submitted by /u/dachya
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