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MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) vs MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)

MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
FigureMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Price£9993launch price£1,1994launch price
ChipCore i31.1GHz dual-core IntelCore i51.6GHz dual-core Intel
CPU2-coreCPU2-coreCPU
Memory8GBmemory, base8GBmemory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base128GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to12 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to13 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released18 March 20205Available online; Apple gave no in-store day7 November 20184ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 30 October 2018.
Security updatesNot available6Security updates14 September 20267Security updates ended
Price
The MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) is £999 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) is £1,199 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).

True to scale

MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) · 304.1 × 212.4 mm footprintMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) · 304.1 × 212.4 mm footprint

Footprints from above, from Apple’s published dimensions, drawn to one scale and superposed. Corner rounding is our drawing convention, not a measurement.

Specifications

Each figure is from the source marked by its Mac’s name unless it carries its own small number, which links to where that figure was read.

Body

Body: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
SpecificationMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Dimensions4.1–16.1 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm4.1–15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm
Weight1.29 kg1.25 kg
ColoursGold, Space Gray, SilverGold, Silver, Space Gray
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jackTwo Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports22
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 3
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.8No USB-A ports.9
HDMINo HDMI port.10No HDMI port.11
SD card slotNo SD card slot.10No SD card slot.11
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.10No MagSafe port.11
KeyboardBacklit Magic KeyboardFull-size keyboard with LED-backlit keys
Touch IDYesYes

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
SpecificationMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Display size13.3 in13.3 in
Resolution2560 x 16002560 x 1600
Pixel density227 ppi227 ppi
Display typeRetina displayRetina display

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
SpecificationMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Chip1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i31.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.8Intel processor, not Apple silicon.9
CPU cores22
GraphicsIntel Iris Plus GraphicsIntel UHD Graphics 617
Chip options1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3; 1.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5; 1.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i71.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i512
Memory (base)8GB8GB
Memory (maximum)16GB16GB
Memory options8GB or 16GB8GB or 16GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents13No, as Apple documents13
Storage (base)256GB128GB
Storage (maximum)2TB1.5TB
Storage options256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1.5TB

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
SpecificationMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Battery capacity49.9 Wh50.3 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles141,000 cycles14
Video playback (claimed)1512 h13 h
Wireless web (claimed)11 h12 h
Included power adapter30 W30 W
Fast chargingNo fast charging.10No fast charging.11

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
SpecificationMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth5.04.2
EthernetNo Ethernet port.10No Ethernet port.11
External displays (base)22

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
SpecificationMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
SpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakers
MicrophonesThree-mic array with directional beamformingThree microphones

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
SpecificationMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)2
Shipped withmacOS Catalina16macOS Mojave17
Newest macOSmacOS Sequoia18macOS Sonoma18
Model identifierMacBookAir9,118MacBookAir8,118
Model year20202018

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — New MacBook Air has more to love and is now just £999 · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  4. Apple Newsroom (UK) — All-new MacBook Air takes flight · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  5. Apple Newsroom (UK) — New MacBook Air has more to love and is now just £999 · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  6. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  7. endoflife.date — Apple macOS · third-party figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  8. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020): No USB-A ports. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  9. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018): No USB-A ports. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  10. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No MagSafe port. No fast charging. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  11. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No MagSafe port. No fast charging. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  12. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  13. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  14. Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops · Apple’s figure · read 15 Oct 2026

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  15. Two different Apple tests. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020): Apple TV app movie playback. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018): iTunes movie playback.

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  16. Apple Newsroom (UK) — New MacBook Air has more to love and is now just £999 · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  17. Apple Newsroom (UK) — All-new MacBook Air takes flight · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  18. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020). Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: brightness, refresh rate, wide colour (P3), nano-texture option, GPU cores, storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7 Metal: the Mac chart has no Metal score for this Mac (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) - Technical Specifications; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — New MacBook Air has more to love and is now just £999, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018). Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: brightness, refresh rate, wide colour (P3), nano-texture option, GPU cores, storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7: the Mac chart has no entry for this Mac, so no figures are shown (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — All-new MacBook Air takes flight, read 9 Oct 2026.

If you own one of them

Whether to move is a different question from which is better. Each Mac has a page on it: what its successor changes (the newest Mac in its line where Apple sells one, otherwise the Mac this site treats as its replacement, which can be in another line), what it fetches and whether it still gets updates. Should I upgrade my MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)?

The pairs a buyer of either Mac would also weigh. Any two Macs in the catalogue can be compared from the chooser.