A 5-year-old laptop is considered pretty dated. Still, there is a big difference between buying a 5-year-old Dell Inspiron or a 2020 Apple MacBook Air today. Meaning that a basic home-use Inspiron from 2020 is more or less rendered obsolete. At the same time, the M1 MacBook Air is still a serviceable laptop that can serve you for a few more years.
Essentially, buying a 2020 MacBook Air in 2025 depends on your needs and budget. Let’s review all the factors to consider when purchasing an older Mac model.
Apple MacBook Air 2020 Features
Before we jump into assessing all considerations, let’s quickly review the specs of the 2020 MacBook Air from today’s perspective:
- Display: 13.3-inch Retina with 2560 x 1600 resolution, 400 nits, True Tone and IPS technology.
- Processor: Apple M1 (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine).
- Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0.
- Camera: 720p FaceTime HD.
- Speakers: Stereo speakers with wide stereo sound.
- Portability: At only 2.8 pounds, this model is easy to carry and will beat modern portable classics like the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 G5 (3.15 lbs).
By now, we know that Apple chips are ultra-fast and outperform their Intel Core counterparts, so there is no doubt that the M1 processor can handle most, if not all, of the average user’s workload even today. Pair it with the vivid Retina screen and long-lasting battery—the 2020 MacBook Air can compete with plenty of the newer models out there.
Pros of Buying a 2020 MacBook Air
- Lower Cost: Older used Apple models are significantly cheaper.
- Decent Performance: The M1 chip in the 2020 MacBook Air is still powerful for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and office work. And you will likely be surprised to discover that there is still plenty of life left in your 5-year-old Apple notebook.
- Fanless Design: Silent operation of the 2020 Mac Air will blow many of the modern Windows-based laptops out of the water.
Cons of Buying a 2020 MacBook Air
- As good as the hardware is, it is outdated: The latest 2025 MacBook Air features the M4 chip, which delivers major performance improvements.
- Limited RAM and Storage size: Up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD is comparable to a modern smartphone. While the model was configurable to up to 2TB SSD at the time of purchase, in reality, no one really wanted to spend this kind of money on essentially a MacBook Pro Lite version, so finding one with 1TB or 2TB today would be close to impossible.
- Limited Support: Apple typically provides software updates for several years, but the 2020 model will inevitably lose support sooner.
What Users Say About the 2020 M1 MacBook Air in 2025?
The model still has plenty of fans. But some will tell you that buying the M1-based Mac in 2025 is a mistake.
What users like in a 2020 MacBook Air:
This laptop is most commonly praised for the following:
- Comfortable Magic keyboard with great key travel.
- Long-lasting battery.
- Still works great without any slowdowns and declined performance (as long as it is maintained properly).
- Travels easily due to lightweight, thin profile.
- Good sound volume and image quality.
What users don’t like about the M1 MacBook Air:
- Limited port selection that requires purchasing and carrying around adapters.
- The 720p camera is not enough for video conference calls anymore.
- While it works well for general use and work-related tasks like basic data processing or even coding, anything more than that (video editing or light gaming) hinders performance.
Resale Value of a 2020 Apple MacBook Air in 2025
This model presently holds a considerable salvage value, especially compared to most PC counterparts. Visit GadgetSalvation.com to calculate an instant estimate on your specific model and configuration if you are contemplating an upgrade or simply want to get rid of your older computer in an eco-friendly, sustainable, and budget-friendly manner.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly MacBook and don’t need cutting-edge performance, the 2020 MacBook Air is still a viable option. However, if you want Apple support, full battery capacity, and improved performance, the 2025 MacBook Air M4 is a smarter investment. Finally, if you need a good laptop to get by for a year or two, know that you can sell your MacBook down the line as long as it works and has no significant cosmetic flaws. So yes, the 2020 MacBook Air M1 can be a smart investment today!
Olena is an operations manager at Gadget Salvation, wearing many hats and navigating the intersections of efficiency and innovation. With a deep passion for tech and sustainability, they thrive on exploring solutions that drive progress while protecting our planet.
