MacBook Air Retina 13″ 2020 A2179, 1.1GHz i3 8GB/256GB Space Grey

MacBook Air Retina 13″ 2020 A2179, 1.1GHz i3 8GB/256GB

The Apple MacBook Air “Core i3” 1.1 13-Inch (Retina, Scissor Keyboard, 2020) model features a 10-nm 10th Generation “Ice Lake” 1.1 GHz Intel “Core i3” processor (1000NG4) with two independent processor “cores” on a single chip, a 4 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of onboard 3733 MHz LPDDR4X SDRAM, 256 GB of onboard PCIe-based flash storage, and an “integrated” Intel Iris Plus graphics processor that shares system memory. Both the RAM and the SSD could be upgraded at the time of initial system purchase, but not subsequently.

This all is tucked in a thin wedge-shaped aluminum case with an integrated 720p “FaceTime HD” webcam, Touch ID, a new backlit “Magic Keyboard” with a “redesigned scissor mechanism”, a large “Force Touch” trackpad, and a high-resolution 13.3″ LED-backlit 2560×1600 (227 ppi) “Retina” display with True Tone technology.

The aluminum case was available in three color options — gold (pictured, left), silver, and a darker “Space Gray” (but not other colors) and weighs 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg). Apple estimates battery life at 11-12 hours depending on the task performed.

Connectivity includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB-C connector), and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Compared to its predecessor, the “2020” MacBook Air lineup looks practically the same and has the same “True Tone” display, but has a newer, significantly faster processor and architecture, more capable graphics, a new — more reliable — “Scissor Switch” keyboard, more default storage, and a lower starting price tag.