Compare macbook air 2019 and 2020 what is the difference

Macbook Air 2020 is currently the latest version in Apple's low-cost Macbook line. Let's compare the MacBook Air 2020 and MacBook Air 2019 versions with TipsMake to make a more suitable choice:

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Design of MacBook Air 2019 and Macbook Air 2020

Overall, Apple has not made any significant design changes to the Macbook Air versions: Still with the monolithic aluminum design and the bitten apple logo.

The MacBook Air 2020 is only slightly thicker at 0.63 inches compared to 0.61 inches of the MacBook Air 2019. This also explains the weight increase from 1.24kg to 1.27kg. So if we compare the design, in this section, the Macbook Air 2019 wins.

MacBook Air 2020 keyboard and mouse vs MacBook Air 2019

By far the most anticipated update is the MacBook Air 2020's Magic Keyboard with functional scissor switches. This replaces the butterfly keyboard of the 2018 and 2019 MacBook Air versions.

The new Magic Keyboard is not only more comfortable to type on, but also more durable. Both MacBook Airs still lack the TouchBar, only the Touch ID fingerprint reader in the upper right corner of the keyboard.

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Also returning are the inverted T arrow keys, which were removed in the 2018 redesign. This makes finding these keys by touch much easier.

The large Force Touch trackpad on the 2020 MacBook Air remains the same as its predecessor, which was already the best in the budget segment of Apple's laptops.

MacBook Air 2019 vs MacBook Air 2020 ports

With these connection port criteria, Apple has not made any changes with this new version. MacBook Air 2020 has the same dual Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and 3.5mm headphone jack as MacBook Air 2019. 

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While another USB-C port or two would have been welcome, at least Apple hasn't taken anything away.

MacBook Air 2019 vs MacBook Air 2020 display

The MacBook Air display moved to a Retina display in 2018 (2560 x 1600 pixels to be exact) and the 2019 MacBook Air introduced a 'True Tone' display that automatically adjusts the color temperature of the display in 2019. This new 2020 MacBook Air has all the same features.

However, in a test, the MacBook Air 2020 showed some clear improvements over the Air 2019. 

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Our colorimeter rated the MacBook Air's display as producing 113% of the sRGB spectrum, which is still below the premium laptop average of 129%, but up from the 100% achieved by the 2019 MacBook Air and closer to the XPS 13 (4K: 119%; 1080p: 126%).

The 2020 MacBook Air's display also increased in brightness in our tests, averaging 386 nits, which is above the 346 premium laptop average. It's still not as bright as the 13-inch MacBook Pro's 428 nits, but it's a lot brighter than the 2019 MacBook Air.

In this section, the MacBook Air 2020 version has a screen that is far superior to its previous predecessor.

MacBook Air 2020 vs MacBook Air 2019 Performance and Graphics

The 2020 MacBook Air makes a big leap with 10th-generation Intel Ice Lake processors, an upgrade from the 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors in the 2019 MacBook Air. And they're Y-series Intel processors instead of the more powerful U-series found in the Dell XPS 13.

According to Apple, the integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics result in an 80% increase in graphics performance compared to the 2019 MacBook Air. However, the base model MacBook Air 2020 only offers a Core i3 processor compared to the Core i5 of the base 2019 MacBook Air. Apple has also added a Core i7 option, so the 2020 MacBook Air has much more performance options than its predecessors. 

In our testing of the 2020 Core i3 MacBook Air, it definitely showed some improvement over the 2019 MacBook Air. In our Handbrake video editing test, the 2020 MacBook Air beat last year's model by almost 9 minutes. At 27 minutes and 10 seconds, it's still short of the 21:55 average, but a much more respectable effort. 

We also recorded an increase in SSD performance with a write speed of 1,359 MBps during the Blackmagic Disk Speed ​​Test, which is faster than the MacBook Pro 13 at 1,220 MBps and significantly faster than the 2019 MacBook Air at just 1,011 MBps.

So it's clear that the 2020 MacBook Air has outdone its predecessor in this department. While the move to a base Core i3 processor is a bit of a pain, the jump from 8th-gen to 10th-gen Intel processors along with faster SSD storage seems to make up for it based on our testing. If you opt for the higher-end processor option, the 2020 MacBook Air will be significantly faster (up to 2x according to Apple) than the 2019 MacBook Air. 

MacBook Air 2020 battery life vs MacBook Air 2019

According to Apple, despite having an upgraded processor and an identical battery size of 49.9Wh, the 2020 MacBook Air version seems to lose about 1 hour of battery life to the 2019 MacBook Air.

Should I buy MacBook Air 2020 or MacBook Air 2019?

Anyone who has owned or owns one of the butterfly keyboard MacBook models will probably find the keyboard alone a reason to upgrade to the 2020 MacBook Air. The Magic Keyboard technology will make typing more comfortable for users.

Additionally, most of the internals of the 2020 MacBook Air — the CPU, RAM, and graphics — have been upgraded, and based on our testing, they should provide a better experience even with the base Core i3 processor. The MacBook Air (2020) is a little thicker and heavier, but not by much.

TipsMake recommends choosing: MacBook Air 2020. And below is a summary table comparing the two versions MacBook Air 2019 and MacBook Air 2020

In addition, HACOM is currently selling both MacBook Air 2020 and MacBook Air 2019 versions. You can refer to some products on our website or call the hotline 19001903 for advice.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 16 January 2025