#MACBOOK AIR SSD UPGRADE 2020 DRIVER#
#MACBOOK AIR SSD UPGRADE 2020 PRO#
#MACBOOK AIR SSD UPGRADE 2020 WINDOWS#

External graphics cards are not supported yet (apparently it lacks an ARM driver for example from AMD, which was tested with the Mantiz Venus), and the Mantiz Titan TB Dock also worked only in parts at best and was unreliable. At this point, external Thunderbolt accessories cannot be used reliably yet. However, an Asus PB287Q only ran at 30 Hz in 4K, and you can also hear about some isolated problems in the Internet. In our test, 4K at 60 Hz worked perfectly with the Philips Brilliance 329P9H and also with an LG 4K monitor. Both ports can also be used as DisplayPort, but the M1 in the MacBook Air only supports a single additional monitor. First the positive: both ports can be used for charging and worked flawlessly in our test with various charging devices (MBP16, Anker, Philips USB-C Monitor). However, the compatibility is not at the level we are used to from Intel based notebooks. Fortunately, the two USB-C ports on the left side support Thunderbolt 3. Our entry-level test unit does not show this behavior, and we also never encountered it in the many test units of the previous generations.Īs usual, the MacBook Air offers only meager fare in terms of the connections.

#MACBOOK AIR SSD UPGRADE 2020 PRO#

Due to the case becoming slimmer, the sharp edges in front are not a problem - in contrast to the Pro models.Ī minor detail on the side: The second MacBook Air in our test (more expensive model with octa-core GPU and 512 GB SSD) produces a slight squeak when moving the hinge. The Air is not considered an icon of style for nothing and was imitated by numerous manufacturers.

It is very robust, feels high quality, and is attractive with its simple design. On the other hand, the positive characteristics of the aluminum unibody case remain. You will also look in vain for a touchscreen, which might actually be quite useful due to the adjustments of Big Sur and the compatibility of IOS apps.

#MACBOOK AIR SSD UPGRADE 2020 WINDOWS#

In the Windows world, those have already shrunk considerably (see XPS 13). Only the large display bezels strike us as out of date. Apple was only concerned about inner values, and there are no external changes compared to the 2020 refresh of the MacBook Air. To come to the point right away: there is nothing new in terms of the case. We purchased our test unit from regular commercial sources, deciding for the most affordable entry-level version with a seven-core GPU, 256 GB SSD, and 8 GB of RAM in silver color. The device that is most well-known is the Dell XPS 13, whose newest version 9310 is also available with Tiger Lake. You can find a constantly updated list of all the top competitors to the MacBook Air here.

There are numerous competitors among the Windows notebooks. As a cheaper Apple alternative, we could also mention the iPad 4 with the keyboard cover.

But it has the advantage of optional pen operation. However, with the 256-GB version you are already in a comparable price range, and an iPad Pro with keyboard is even more expensive. For example, the recently updated iPad Air 4 with a Magic Keyboard presents itself as a more compact alternative. And positioned below the Air are the iPads with the optional keyboard cover / Magic Keyboard. Two of the direct competitors come from Apple's own camp: The MacBook Pro 13 offers a fan for better performance under continuous load, a Touchbar, a larger battery (and also case), and a slightly brighter display. For a hefty premium, you can also order the Apple M1 SoC with 16 GB of RAM. Because the RAM is placed on the same board right next to the SoC, it cannot be upgraded. However, the maximum clock speeds of the GPU and CPU are comparable, and if necessary, you can get the eighth graphics core in the more expensive Air model with the larger SSD. You only have to accept a limitation of the integrated graphics card in the most affordable version, since Apple has deactivated one of the eight graphics cores. The new Air is particularly exciting. While it offers the same powerful M1 SoC as the Pro model, it is quiet with its fanless cooling, and costs significantly less. After many years of rumors and an announcement in June, the time has finally come: With the new MacBook Pro 13 and the MacBook Air, we are testing two notebooks with the Apple M1 processor.

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