M1 MacBook Air Review | Is It Any Good?
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I’ve been using my M1 MacBook Air for almost a year, and so I want to tell you everything about it, from its performance to the main issues I’ve encountered.
Context.
But first, I would like to give you some context to explain how I use the device, what I wanted it for, and how well it is doing.
- As some of you might know, I’m studying at a law school, so I need to do a lot of Microsoft Office stuff. My daily studying habits go from taking notes in class to reading verdicts.
- I also have a part-time job as a contributor for iDrop News.
- Lastly, I have to manage my Twitter account, chat with my sources, research everything Apple, etc. Although, I also use my phone for that.
I thought the M1 MacBook Air was the option to go with – and I couldn’t have made a better decision.
M1, performance, and temperature.
From a performance point of view, I have to say the M1 is flawless. Every app opens the moment I click on it; I’ve never had a crash, and all the programs I use run very well, no issues there.
It never gets hot. I’ve used it for hours and even entire nights, and this thing barely hits 35 degrees celsius. As it doesn’t get hot, having it in my lap for a lot of time isn’t a problem at all.
It is true that I don’t play many games on the computer apart from some occasional chess, but it’s also true that this device isn’t meant to be a gaming laptop.
Lastly, I want to point out how fast the SSD inside is. Whenever I have to transfer something, it simply flies.
Speakers, display, and keyboard.
Now I want to talk about multimedia, and I have some negative things to point out. But let’s start with the positives.
The speakers are excellent. I knew about them before buying the computer, but I was surprised once I listened to them for the first time. And, to be honest, they continue to blow my mind. I play music on the MacBook Air every day, and I love it.
The display is also great for the most part, but it has two main issues that make the experience a bit worse. Let me explain.
This display is not the brightest I’ve ever had on a computer. Occasionally, when I’m at my university campus, and the weather is good, I tend to go outside and use my laptop there. Still, sometimes this isn’t possible because the display isn’t bright enough. I wouldn’t consider this a significant issue if you don’t plan to use it outdoors, but you might face some difficulties if you ever want to do so.
The other issue I’ve encountered isn’t specific to this laptop, but its technology. If you ever watch a dark scene, you’ll see black colors aren’t very accurate, and they look more of a mix between a very dark blue and a gray. If you prefer deeper blacks, you can always opt for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, although those are about double the price of this one.
The keyboard is excellent; I haven’t got any issues with it. It’s responsive, and the backlit does fulfill its purpose.
I/O, macOS, and battery.
The I/O is poor. Two USB-C ports and an audio jack. I had to buy a hub, and I don’t think I should have to do that. After all, these computers aren’t exactly “cheap.” I’ve always asked for more ports, and it seems like Apple has delivered with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. I hope the company follows that path for future releases.
macOS is good for the most part; I’ve encountered some bugs here and there, but nothing remarkable. It’s definitely miles ahead of Windows in terms of design and performance. Hopefully, macOS Mammoth will keep improving the user experience.
Lastly, I want to talk about battery life. To put it simply, it is impressive, and it can last well over 15 hours, sometimes more than 20.
I have a funny anecdote about this. We had to use a computer for one of our final exams, so I brought the M1 MacBook Air to do the exam. I hadn’t brought any charger with me, and I had just 2% battery life when I started the test. I was terrified! I thought I was going to fail because my laptop would die. However, I finished the test and still had 1% left. I was blown away!
Summary.
The M1 MacBook Air is a light laptop with fantastic performance and mind-blowing battery life. If you need a portable device to get the job done, I definitely recommend it! I hope you found this article helpful. As always, have a nice day. Thank you for reading.Shop M1 MacBook Air Here
