MacBook Air M1: Still a popular choice in 2025

Why you can trust this MacBook Air M1 review

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MacBook Air M1 specifications

Apple’s MacBook Air has been a staple for years, a favorite among super-thin ultraportables. In the earlier models of the MacBook Air, performance has always been secondary to its price and size, but with the introduction of the M1 chip, the paradigm shifted dramatically. Yes, it still has the same iconic tapered design and is now several years old, but it remains one of the best laptops you can buy today. This is primarily thanks to the Apple M1 processor it was launched with, which gives it the boost that still makes it a popular choice in 2025. Here’s an overview of the MacBook Air M1 specifications:

• Chip: Apple M1 8-core CPU

• Graphics: Integrated 7-core GPU

• RAM: 8GB Unified 

• Storage: 256GB SSD

• Screen: 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology, 2,560 x 1,600 Retina True Tone display 

• Camera: 720p FaceTime HD camera

• Keyboard: Backlit Magic Keyboard

• Battery: Built-in 49.9‑watt‑hour lithium‑polymer battery

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0

• Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack

• Operating system: macOS

• Size: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 in

• Weight: 2.8 lbs

The performance of the MacBook Air M1 has aged like fine wine. The laptop comes with the M1 chip, featuring 8 CPU and 7 GPU cores, with up to 16 GB of RAM. It handles daily tasks like word processing, light gaming, and casual browsing easily and can even tackle heavier tasks, such as rendering 4K videos. If you need a laptop for everyday use, the M1 MacBook Air is an excellent choice. The M1 isn’t the newest chip on the block but its performance is better than most Windows laptops in its price range. Word processing doesn’t require much power, and streaming high-resolution videos isn’t a problem for the Mac Air M1. Performance-wise, the Air M1 has some real staying power, and we don’t see it slowing down anytime soon.

The MacBook Air M1 retains the elegant design of the late 2010s MacBooks. It features a premium build with a durable machined aluminum body available in space grey, silver, or gold. Weighing only 2.8 lbs and measuring 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 in, the M1 Air lives up to its ‘Air’ nickname by being light and slim. While newer models are slimmer and lighter, the M1 Air won’t weigh you down either. Although the tapered design might be somewhat dated, the MacBook Air M1 is still great-looking. In fact, you shouldn’t be surprised to see many others using the same notebook in 2025.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the M1 MacBook Air set a new standard for battery life. This laptop lasts, and no competitors offer anything close to it within the same price range. According to Apple, the M1 Mac Air can provide up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing or up to 18 hours of video playback. This means you should easily manage an entire workday and more without charging your laptop. This is seriously impressive for a laptop that has been around for several years. The M1 Air just keeps going, making it ideal for school, work, and long trips where you can’t be tethered to an outlet.

Once again, Apple’s 13.3-inch Retina Display is utilized in the M1 MacBook Air, delivering 2,560 by 1,600 pixels in a 16:10 aspect ratio. This resolution is higher than the full HD resolution of most laptops in this price range, although still short of 4K. Even though it’s not 4K, the display holds its own incredibly well, offering crisp visuals and vibrant colors that make editing photos and videos a breeze. While the display bezels could be much slimmer, that’s hardly a deal-breaker. There is no HDR support nor an OLED option, but the M1 Air features Apple’s very own True Tone technology, which adjusts the display to match the ambient lighting.

MacBook Air M1 pros and cons

The MacBook Air M1 holds the top spot for laptops in its price range. The price alone is tempting, but there are many reasons why the M1 Air is still worth considering in 2025. 

At Back Market, we specialize in verified refurbished devices that deliver like-new performance at only a fraction of the price of new. In addition, every purchase comes with free standard shipping, a 1-year warranty, and a 30-day return period. Choose Back Market for premium tech at a lower cost – without the compromise.

At Back Market, we sell pre-owned devices refurbished by the best in the industry. Before any device makes it to our product pages, it undergoes a thorough refurbishing process. The process begins with a 25-point check for any external damages or defects before an internal check, where all faulty parts are repaired or replaced. After the checks, the devices are cleaned, sanitized, and polished before a final round of tests is done to ensure all devices work properly. All our devices come with a minimum of 80% battery health and 100% charging capacity, and after repackaging, they are sold as verified refurbished. Plus, buying refurbished devices helps reduce electronic waste, making it a budget-friendly and eco-friendly choice.

Upgrade your tech the smart way with Back Market’s Trade-in program. You can trade in your old devices for cash in just three simple steps. The easy process ensures you get a fair price while giving your gadgets a second life through refurbishment. Start with an online assessment and get a quote from our professional refurbishers, then ship your device to us for free. Once your device is verified, you get paid. Here’s the latest Trade-in values for a MacBook Air M1:

*Trade-in value taken at date of publication - these are subject to change.

Price and availability

The MacBook Air M1 made its debut in November 2020. Apple no longer sells the M1 Air on their online store, and retailers like Walmart have the base model, with an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD, priced at $699, with a $50 discount during sales events. However, you can get the same verified refurbished device with double the storage space from Back Market for only $545.

Final thoughts: Unbeatable value from the timeless classic

After reviewing the MacBook Air M1, we have concluded that it is an outstanding device. It offers outstanding performance even without a fan and features an excellent keyboard, Retina Display, trackpad, and sleek design. Its exceptional battery life means you can get up to 15 hours of work out of the Air M1, and macOS is fast and responsive. The Air M1’s impact on MacBooks and laptops cannot be underestimated, and currently sitting at an all-time low price, it offers excellent value. The main drawbacks of the MacBook Air M1 are the webcam, which isn’t great, the limited port selection of two USB Type-C ports, and the M1’s tapered design, which feels a bit dated compared to the modern, sleeker M2 and M3 models. However, because of what it offers in everyday usability at such a low price, the M1 MacBook Air is hard to top.