Which is better for schoolwork and video calls?

The MacBook Air M1. Its M1 chip, sharper webcam output and Retina screen make Zoom calls and document work smooth. The MD760LL/B can handle documents but stutters with many browser tabs and modern apps.

The M1 by a wide margin. It gets current macOS updates and its battery and components are newer. The MD760LL/B is a 2014 design that no longer receives major macOS releases.

Is the M1 worth stepping up to?

Yes for most people. The M1 is several times faster, has a far better screen and much longer battery life, and it will stay usable for years longer.

Does the older Air have ports the M1 lacks?

Yes. The MD760LL/B has USB-A, an SD card slot, Thunderbolt 1 and MagSafe 2. The M1 has only two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, so you may need a hub.

Can the MD760LL/B still run current apps?

Many current apps require newer macOS than it supports. Browsers and some apps still work, but expect compatibility limits and no security updates.

The M1 Air is fanless and completely silent. The MD760LL/B has a fan that spins up under load.

Apple MacBook Air 2020 vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014)

The MacBook Air M1 is the better laptop for almost everyone. Its M1 chip runs circles around the 2014-era Core i5 in the MD760LL/B, and the 2560x1600 Retina screen, Touch ID, Wi-Fi 6 and 15-hour battery are a different class. The MD760LL/B is only worth considering if you need a cheap Mac for basic browsing and documents and nothing more. Owners of the M1 praise the silent fanless design and battery life; the older Air is widely seen as past end of life for macOS updates.

Choose the MacBook Air M1 if you want a fast, quiet, long-lasting Mac for real work, video calls and everyday multitasking.
Choose the MacBook Air MD760LL/B if you only need a basic Mac for browsing, email and documents and want the least expensive way in.

Prices

Apple MacBook Air 2020: $237.00 at vipoutlet.com (last seen Nov 9)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014): $239.99 at metroprime shop (last seen Nov 9)
Difference: the Apple MacBook Air 2020 is $2.99 cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014) at the latest prices (Nov 9)

	Apple MacBook Air 2020	Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014)
Processor	Apple M1, 8-core (4 performance + 4 efficiency), 5nm	Intel Core i5-4260U dual-core at 1.4GHz, 2014 era
Display	13.3-inch Retina, 2560x1600, 227 ppi, 400 nits, True Tone	13.3-inch, 1440x900, non-Retina
Memory and storage	8GB or 16GB unified memory, 256GB or 512GB SSD	8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
Battery life	Up to 15 hours wireless web, 49.9Wh	54Wh battery but far shorter real runtime on old hardware
Ports	Two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 (USB-C) plus headphone jack	Two USB-A, Thunderbolt 1, SDXC, MagSafe 2
Security and keyboard	Touch ID, backlit Magic Keyboard with scissor switches	No Touch ID, older backlit keyboard
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5	802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
Software support	Runs current macOS and gets updates	Stuck on old macOS, no current updates

Spec	Apple MacBook Air 2020	Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014)
Resolution	2560 x 1600	1440x900
Weight	2.8 lb	2.96 lbs.
Screen Size	13.3 inches	13.3"
Processor	1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3, Turbo Boost up …	Intel Core i5 Processor 1.4GHz
Storage	256GB PCIe-based SSD	128GB Flash Storage
Model	Apple MacBook Air M1 Gold 8GB/256GB (MGND3FN/A)…	—
Operating System	Mac OS	—
With Retina Display	Yes	—
Drive Type	Solid State Drive	—
Number Of Cores	Octa Core	—
Color	Silver, Space Gray, Gray, Gold, Blue, Clear, Go…	—
Language	English / North America	—

Spec	Apple MacBook Air 2020	Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014)
Available Ports	USB-C	—
Biometric Security	Fingerprint Scan	—
Installed Memory	8 GB RAM, 16 GB RAM	—
Battery Life	15 hours battery life	—
Display size	13.3-inch (diagonal)	—
Native resolution	2560-by-1600	—
Pixel density	227 pixels per inch	—
Memory	8GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X onboard memory	—
Wireless web battery	Up to 11 hours	—

Apple MacBook Air 2020 vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014)

Prices

Apple MacBook Air 2020 vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014)

Prices

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2014)

What separates them

Price history

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