Apple Releases New MacBook Air (2020 model)

Adds New Magic Keyboard, Doubles Storage, Drops Price

Apple just updated MacBook Air for 2020. The new 13.3-inch sized laptop keeps the same ultra-thin design, but now comes with a new Magic Keyboard, twice the storage and a new lower starting price of $999, and $899 for education.¹ The new MacBook Air delivers up to two times faster CPU performance² and up to 80 percent faster graphics performance.³ In addition 256GB of storage now comes standard, double the previous model. With its brilliant 13-inch Retina display, Touch ID for easy login and secure online purchases, spacious trackpad, and all-day battery life combined with the power of macOS Catalina, Apple continues the tradition as claiming the best MacBook Air ever made.

Faster Everyday Performance

Offering quad-core processors for the first time, MacBook Air now delivers even more speed across everyday activities, from organizing photos and creating presentations to editing videos. Featuring the latest 10th-generation Intel Core processors up to 1.2GHz quad-core Core i7 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.8GHz, MacBook Air delivers up to two times faster performance when compared to the previous generation. And with Intel Iris Plus Graphics, MacBook Air now delivers up to 80 percent faster graphics performance, so graphics-intensive activities like playing games and editing video are faster than ever. Bluetooth has improved as well, now with Bluetooth 5.0 (previous generation Bluetooth 4.2).

New Magic Keyboard

MacBook Air now features the new Magic Keyboard, first introduced on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. A redesigned scissor mechanism delivers 1mm of key travel for a comfortable and stable key feel, while the new inverted-“T” arrangement for the arrow keys makes them easier to find without looking down. MacBook Air features a stunning unibody wedge design made from 100 percent recycled aluminum and comes in three finishes — gold, silver and space gray. The 13-inch Retina display delivers over 4 million pixels and millions of colors, so whether customers are reading an email, enjoying a movie or editing their photos, text is razor sharp and images are more true to life.

Double the Storage

MacBook Air now starts with 256GB of storage, double that of the previous generation, so customers can store even more movies, photos and files. And for those who need even more storage capacity, MacBook Air offers up to a 2TB SSD, double the previous maximum storage.

Built-in Security and Privacy

MacBook Air comes with the Apple T2 Security Chip, Apple’s own custom-designed second-generation silicon, which checks that software loaded during the boot process has not been tampered with and provides on-the-fly data encryption for everything stored on the SSD. This allows MacBook Air and any Mac with the T2 chip to deliver the most secure boot process and storage of any notebook. The T2 also protects Touch ID information, so whether customers are unlocking their Mac, entering an online password or making online purchases, their information stays safe.

Additional Features

• A three-mic array for more clear voice capture for FaceTime calls with friends and family.
• The industry-best Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and multi-touch navigation.
• Thunderbolt 3 ports for data transfer, charging and video output in a single connector.
• Support for up to a 6K external display, a first for MacBook Air.
• Advanced stereo speakers for immersive, wide stereo sound for activities like watching Apple TV+ content or playing games in Apple Arcade.

macOS Catalina

Every new MacBook Air comes with macOS Catalina, the latest version of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system. macOS has always been at the core of the Mac experience, and with apps like Safari, Mail, Photos, Pages, Numbers and Keynote, customers have powerful tools to do amazing things. macOS also makes MacBook Air the perfect companion device to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch with built-in Continuity features that allow users to make and receive phone calls without picking up their iPhone; automatically unlock their Mac with Apple Watch; copy and paste images, video and text straight from iPhone or iPad to a nearby Mac; and in macOS Catalina, extend the workspace of their Mac using an iPad and Sidecar. Security features keep users better protected and Voice Control lets users control their Mac entirely with their voice. Updates coming to Pages, Numbers and Keynote offer a variety of new features aimed at unleashing creativity, improving productivity and enhancing collaboration. A wide selection of gorgeous new templates in Pages and Keynote gives users a head start on creating beautiful documents and, for the first time in iWork, users can add a drop cap to make a paragraph stand out with a large, decorative first letter. Collaboration will also become easier than ever with support for iCloud folder sharing and the ability to edit shared documents while offline.

“From students and consumers buying their first computer to customers looking to upgrade, everyone loves the Mac, and they especially love MacBook Air. Today we’re giving it a huge update, with two times faster performance, the new Magic Keyboard, double the storage, a new lower price of $999 and an even lower price of $899 for education,” said Tom Boger, Apple’s senior director of Mac and iPad Product Marketing. “With its stunning, thin and light design, brilliant Retina display, all-day battery life and the power and ease-of-use of macOS, MacBook Air is the world’s best consumer notebook.”

Price & Availability

The new MacBook Air is priced from $999 to $2,099 depending on the configuration and is available to order starting today (March 18, 2020) on apple.com and in the Apple Store app. Educational pricing starts at $899. and MacBook Air will be available in stores starting next week. 

Here are the specifications for the two preconfigured 2020 models:

$999 – 1.1GHz Dual-Core Core i3 Processor

• 256GB Storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• 1.1GHz dual-core 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor
• Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
• Intel Iris Plus Graphics
• 8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory
• Magic Keyboard
• Touch ID
• Force Touch trackpad
• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports

$1,299 – 1.1GHz Quad-Core Core i5 Processor

• 512GB Storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• 1.1GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor
• Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz
• Intel Iris Plus Graphics
• 8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory
• Magic Keyboard 
• Touch ID
• Force Touch trackpad
• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports

¹ Education pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff and homeschool teachers of all grade levels. For more information, visit: apple.com/us-hed/shop.
² Testing conducted by Apple in February 2020 using preproduction 1.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-based MacBook Air systems with Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 16GB of RAM and 2TB SSD, as well as shipping 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based MacBook Air systems with Intel UHD Graphics 617, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. Simulation of dynamical systems tested with MATLAB and Simulink R2019b Update 4 and Parallel Computing Toolbox using a vehicle dynamics model. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of MacBook Air.
³ Testing conducted by Apple in February 2020 using preproduction 1.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-based MacBook Air systems with Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD, as well as shipping 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based MacBook Air systems with Intel UHD Graphics 617, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. 3D title render speed tested with Final Cut Pro X 10.4.8 using a 10-second project with Apple ProRes 422 video at 3840×2160 resolution and 30 frames per second. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of MacBook Air.