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Should I upgrade my MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)?

6 years old · Not on the current macOS; last is macOS Sequoia

MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)1MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Air against MacBook Air M5
FigureMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Price£9993launch price£1,2994Apple UK store
ChipCore i31.1GHz dual-core IntelM5chip
CPU2-coreCPU10-coreCPU
GPUNot available5GPU8-coreGPU
Memory8GBmemory, base16GBunified memory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base512GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to12 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to18 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released18 March 20206Available online; Apple gave no in-store day11 March 20267ReleasedIn Apple Stores; pre-order from 4 March 2026.
Security updatesNot available8Security updatesNot available8Security updates

Software support

Security updates
Not available8
macOS
macOS Sequoia, not the current macOSThe MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) is not on the current macOS (macOS 27 Golden Gate); the newest it runs is macOS Sequoia. Apple has historically shipped security updates to the two releases before the newest, which would put the end of its updates around autumn 2027; that is Apple’s past pattern, not a commitment.

MacBook Air and the MacBook Air M5

The newest base-tier Mac in this line that Apple still sells.

Specifications

Body

Body: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Dimensions4.1–16.1 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm11.3 x 304.1 x 215 mm
Weight1.29 kg1.23 kg
ColoursGold, Space Gray, SilverSky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jackTwo Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports922
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 4
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.10No USB-A ports.11
HDMINo HDMI port.12No HDMI port.13
SD card slotNo SD card slot.12No SD card slot.13
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.12Yes
KeyboardBacklit Magic KeyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Touch IDYesYes

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Display size13.3 in13.6 in
Resolution2560 x 16002560 x 1664
Pixel density227 ppi224 ppi
Display typeRetina displayLiquid Retina display
BrightnessNot available5500 nits
Wide colour (P3)Not available5Yes
Nano-texture optionNot available5No nano-texture display option.13

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Chip1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3Apple M5 chip
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.10Yes
CPU cores210
Super coresNot available14415
Efficiency coresNot available14615
GPU coresNot available58
GraphicsIntel Iris Plus Graphics8-core GPU, 10-core GPU16
Neural Engine coresNot available1716
Chip options1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3; 1.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5; 1.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7M5 with 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU or 10-core GPU
Memory (base)8GB16GB
Memory (maximum)16GB32GB
Memory options8GB or 16GB16GB, 24GB or 32GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents18No, as Apple documents18
Memory bandwidthNot available19153 GB/s
Storage (base)256GB512GB
Storage (maximum)2TB4TB
Storage options256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB512GB, 1TB, 2TB or 4TB
Media engineNot available17Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginevideo encode engineProRes encode and decode engineAV1 decode

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Battery capacity49.9 Wh53.8 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles201,000 cycles20
Video playback (claimed)2112 h18 h
Wireless web (claimed)11 h15 h
Included power adapter30 WNo power adapter in the box.13
Fast chargingNo fast charging.12Yes

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-FiWi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth5.06
EthernetNo Ethernet port.12No Ethernet port.13
External displays (base)22

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Camera resolutionNot available2212 MP
SpeakersStereo speakersFour-speaker sound system
MicrophonesThree-mic array with directional beamformingThree-mic array with directional beamforming

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Shipped withmacOS Catalina23Not available24
Newest macOSmacOS Sequoia25macOS 27 Golden Gate26
Model identifierMacBookAir9,125Mac17,327
Model year20202026

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook Air1MacBook Air M52
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)972283,57628
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)1,6472817,06228

The rest of the range at the price

Macs from other lines with a price read from Apple’s UK store, released within a year of the MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) and priced within a quarter of its £1,299 at Apple’s UK price as read on 22 September 2026, nearest price first. Each links to its side-by-side table, with your MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) or, where that pair is not one this site indexes, with the MacBook Air M5 (13-inch).

Trade-in and used prices

No used or trade-in figures for the MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020): we have not matched it to a CeX listing we can confirm is this exact Mac, and we would rather show nothing than a near miss.

The MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) is £1,299 new at Apple’s UK price as read on 22 September 2026; we hold no trade-in figure for the MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) yet.

More

Sources

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

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Air M5 · Apple’s figure · read 14 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 UK store — 13-inch MacBook Air M5, 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU — From £1,299 · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  5. Not published by Apple. 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

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  6. 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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  7. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5 · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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  8. Apple publishes no date for the end of updates, and this site does not guess one. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  9. Different Thunderbolt generations. MacBook Air: Thunderbolt 3. MacBook Air M5: Thunderbolt 4.

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  10. 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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  11. MacBook Air (13-inch, M5): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs. Read 14 Sep 2026

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  12. 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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  13. MacBook Air (13-inch, M5): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No nano-texture display option. No power adapter in the box. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  14. Doesn’t apply: this is an Intel processor, and Apple lists a total core count only

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  15. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  16. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 14 Oct 2026

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  17. Doesn’t apply: Apple silicon feature; this Mac has an Intel processor

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

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  19. Doesn’t apply: Apple publishes it only for Apple silicon

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

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  21. Two different Apple tests. MacBook Air: Apple TV app movie playback. MacBook Air M5: Video streaming.

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  22. Not published by Apple (Apple states resolution: 720p FaceTime HD camera)

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  23. 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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  24. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5; Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers. Read 9 Oct 2026

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

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  26. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  27. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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  28. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Air. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, 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 M5. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5; Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers, read 9 Oct 2026.

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