Apple MacBook Air 2020 vs Apple MacBook Air M5
Verdict
Our overall take, at a glance
Key takeaways
- Apple MacBook Air 2020 and Apple MacBook Air M5 are closely matched overall (within 4 points).
- Apple MacBook Air 2020 stands out on Memory Technology: Unified, Display Screen-to-body ratio: 84.4%, Webcam resolution: 2560 × 1600 px.
- Apple MacBook Air M5 counters with Memory capacity: 16 GB, Storage capacity: 512 GB, Display Brightness: 500 nits.
Apple MacBook Air 2020 and Apple MacBook Air M5 are closely matched
$999 at launch
Apple MacBook Air 2020
58
Apple MacBook Air M5
54
Where Apple MacBook Air 2020 stands out
- Memory Technology: Unified
- Display Screen-to-body ratio: 84.4%
- Webcam resolution: 2560 × 1600 px
Where Apple MacBook Air M5 stands out
- Memory capacity: 16 GB
- Storage capacity: 512 GB
- Display Brightness: 500 nits
In-depth analysisAI
AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Jun 2026.
Apple MacBook Air 2020
The 2020 Apple MacBook Air is a thin-and-light 13.3-inch laptop designed primarily for everyday productivity and general consumer use. This model year represents a major transition point, featuring an early-year release with 10th Gen Intel processors and a late-year version powered by Apple's custom fanless M1 system-on-a-chip. Key features include a high-resolution Retina display, a robust physical construction, and a silent internal design.
Best for working in quiet environments like libraries or officesBest for all-day battery life at moderate display brightness settingsBest for lightweight travel and everyday multi-tasking
Pros
- Completely silent operation thanks to a fanless thermal design
- Highly responsive system performance driven by the custom M1 chip
- High-quality display featuring a wide P3 color gamut and True Tone technology
- Comfortable typing experience with the updated keyboard design
Cons
- Restricted physical connectivity with only two USB-C ports
- Limited external display support, allowing only one external monitor
- Lower-resolution 720p FaceTime webcam
- Permanently soldered storage and memory that cannot be upgraded by the user
Apple MacBook Air M5
AI analysis isn't ready yet
We haven't generated an in-depth write-up for Apple MacBook Air M5 yet. The specs, scores and strengths profile above still cover it — check back later for the AI summary.
Value for Money
Which is the better deal for the price
Pre-filled with launch prices where known — enter today's price for an up-to-date check. Use the same currency for both.
Apple MacBook Air 2020
Apple MacBook Air M5
Performance
Higher benchmark score = faster
Apple MacBook Air 202015,000
Apple MacBook Air M526,857
Benchmark score — a measured indicator of raw performance, not a guarantee of real-world speed.
Battery capacity
Larger cell — a hardware spec, not battery life
Apple MacBook Air 202049 Wh
Apple MacBook Air M553.8 Wh
Capacity is the raw battery size. Real-world battery life depends just as much on the processor, software and display.
Physical Comparison
Weigh them up, then compare real dimensions in 3D
Apple MacBook Air 2020Apple MacBook Air M5
Apple MacBook Air 2020 is 0.06 kg (5%) heavier than Apple MacBook Air M5.
Review Videos
Hand-picked expert reviews for each product
Detailed Specifications
The full spec sheet, side by side