It’s a question many of us ponder when eyeing a laptop upgrade: is that older, but still capable, machine still worth it? For the 2020 MacBook Air, powered by Apple's groundbreaking M1 chip, the answer is a resounding yes, even as we find ourselves in 2025.
When the M1 arrived, it felt like a paradigm shift, especially for an entry-level laptop. Suddenly, you had silent, fanless operation, battery life that seemed to stretch into infinity, and performance that made everyday tasks feel effortless. It quickly became the go-to for students, remote workers, and anyone dabbling in creative pursuits. Now, several years and a couple of chip generations later, does it still hold its own?
Performance That Endures
The M1 chip wasn't just an upgrade; it was a leap. Integrating the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and RAM onto a single chip meant incredible efficiency and speed. Fast forward to 2025, and this chip still handles the daily grind with remarkable grace. Browsing with a dozen tabs open, hopping on video calls, drafting documents, or even doing some light photo editing in apps like Lightroom? It all runs smoothly. Even with a few major macOS updates under its belt, including the latest (as of this writing) macOS 15 Sequoia, the M1 MacBook Air remains responsive for typical workloads.
What’s truly impressive is its sustained performance. Unlike many older Intel-based laptops that would start to sweat and slow down under pressure, the fanless M1 Air keeps its cool and maintains speed. Long writing sessions or binge-watching marathons won't see a dip in performance. A little tip: keeping your startup disk at least 20% free really helps macOS manage its virtual memory and cache, keeping things zippy.
Software and Longevity
One of the biggest concerns with any tech purchase is its lifespan, particularly software support. Apple has a great track record here, typically supporting Macs with major macOS updates for about six to seven years. Since the M1 MacBook Air launched in late 2020, it's expected to receive updates through at least 2027. So, running macOS 15 in 2025 is perfectly normal, and while future updates might lean into AI features optimized for newer chips, the M1 should remain compatible, perhaps with some limitations on the absolute bleeding edge.
Battery health is another factor. Most users report retaining a healthy 80-85% of their original battery capacity after three years of regular use. With good charging habits – avoiding keeping it plugged in at 100% all the time and utilizing optimized battery charging – you can easily extend its usable life well into 2026 and beyond.
As David Ng, Senior Hardware Analyst at TechPulse, put it, “Apple Silicon changed the game. The M1 wasn’t just fast for its time—it set a new standard for energy-efficient computing that still pays dividends years later.”
Real-World Scenarios in 2025
So, who is this laptop still good for?
- Students: For high school and college students, it’s still a fantastic companion. Online classes, research, note-taking, and collaborative tools like Notion or OneNote are handled with ease. Its light weight (2.8 lbs) and all-day battery are perfect for campus life. Even with multiple PDFs, browser tabs, and cloud sync services running, it stays cool and quiet.
- Remote Workers: If your daily grind involves email, spreadsheets, presentations, and communication apps, the M1 MacBook Air is more than capable. Writers, project managers, and administrative staff will likely never push this machine to its limits. The Retina display is easy on the eyes during long workdays, and the keyboard is a joy to type on.
- Casual Creatives: This is where you start to see the boundaries. While 1080p video editing in iMovie or DaVinci Resolve is generally smooth, tackling 4K timelines with complex effects, especially on an 8GB model, can lead to some stuttering. Export times in professional software like Final Cut Pro will be longer compared to M2 or M3 models. Developers compiling large codebases or running multiple Docker containers might also find themselves wishing for the extra RAM found in newer machines. However, for hobbyists and part-time creators, editing podcasts, basic graphic design in Canva or Affinity Designer, and making music in GarageBand are all well within its capabilities.
The Verdict
When you compare the M1 to its successors, the M2 and M3, you see incremental improvements. The M2 offered a brighter screen and a better webcam, while the M3 brought minor efficiency gains and graphics enhancements. These are nice-to-haves, but for the core tasks that made the M1 MacBook Air so popular, they aren't essential upgrades for everyone. If you're looking for a reliable, efficient, and capable laptop for everyday tasks, education, or light creative work, and you can find one at a good price, the 2020 M1 MacBook Air remains an excellent choice in 2025.
