2020 MacBook Air With Quad-Core i5 is Up to 76% Faster Than 2018-2019 Model Based on Benchmarks

[Amethyst]

The 1035 is a 15W 'U' CPU, whereas Apple is using Y CPUs in the MacBook Air. It is not "nearly identical". It's not fully clear yet what exact part Apple is using, but it looks like their TDP is around 10W (there are announced 9W parts, but Apple gives higher clockrates, so they may have cTDP'd those up to 12W; someone said they are instead using more recently-announced 10W parts). So the Surface would have 50% more thermal headroom.

And it's not like the Surface Laptop 3 isn't known for heating problems…

If anything, it's Microsoft that put too hot a CPU in there, not Apple.

That TDP numbers confirm my post.

Let's say you have 15w vs 10w TDP in almost identical dimensions.
(MacBook Air 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches, Surface Laptop 3 is 12.1 x 8.8 x 0.57 inches)

While quad mba have a serious temperature problem (as shown in many review),
microsoft thing doesn't known for overheating. (except when charge ;])

 

[Jury]

That TDP numbers confirm my post.

Let's say you have 15w vs 10w TDP in almost identical dimensions.
(MacBook Air 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches, Surface Laptop 3 is 12.1 x 8.8 x 0.57 inches)

While quad mba have a serious temperature problem (as shown in many review),
microsoft thing doesn't known for overheating. (except when charge ;])

Agreed. There are some things genuinely wrong if the Macbook Air 7-12w CPU experience such high temperatures.

 

[chucker23n1]

That TDP numbers confirm my post.

Let's say you have 15w vs 10w TDP in almost identical dimensions.
(MacBook Air 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches, Surface Laptop 3 is 12.1 x 8.8 x 0.57 inches)

While quad mba have a serious temperature problem (as shown in many review),
microsoft thing doesn't known for overheating. (except when charge ;])

Wha?

Apple put a chip in there that generates less heat, according to the TDP. Therefore, Microsoft would have the bigger heating problem.

 

[smulji]

Uh

Apple needs to fix the entry-level 13” MBP with terrible 128gb/8GB RAM. The new 14” MBP base model needs to offer double the storage and RAM with 120Hz starting at $1299

The new MBA is on the same performance level now as the low-end 13" MBP. So maybe there won't be an update to the 13" MBP and it'll just get completely replaced by the 14" MBP. It would make for a clean lineup;

13" rMBA
14" / 16" MBP

 

[Amethyst]

Wha?

Apple put a chip in there that generates less heat, according to the TDP. Therefore, Microsoft would have the bigger heating problem.

Apple-side put a lower heat generates, lower performance chip in same chassis dimension but come with overheat problem.

While Microsoft-side haven't. (the link you give is all about surface pro 3)

 

[chucker23n1]

Apple-side put a lower heat generates, lower performance chip in same chassis dimension but come with overheat problem.

While Microsoft-side haven't. (the link you give is all about surface pro 3)

So the Air is less prone to heating issues. Glad we agree.

You're right, I linked the wrong article. Feel free to Google "Surface Laptop 3 overheating" yourself, though…

 

[PaladinGuy]

You could sell your 2019 for $700 easy.

Wow. You got that 2019 for a really good price. If I had gotten that good of a discount on my 2019 13” MBP, I’d start thinking about this new MBA or the probably soon to release 13” MBP. I’d really love to have that new keyboard.

 

[AdamNC]

Can anyone answer why laptops stopped having fans? If it is noise only that’s dumb. I mean the tech is there to make silent small fans. Keep the temps down performance would be I think significantly higher. Or at least vent them or something.

 

[Amethyst]

So the Air is less prone to heating issues. Glad we agree.

You're right, I linked the wrong article. Feel free to Google "Surface Laptop 3 overheating" yourself, though…

I have been google before my very post, and all i have found is all about overheat while charging.

Let me say, if apple doing just fine job on temperature control. They must be able to maintain the performance of 2020 quad core MBA in the level of comparative product such as surface laptop 3.

I'm not tell that they should be better, I just want something in level of (~3800-3900 CB15)

That's my point.

 

[Jury]

So the Air is less prone to heating issues. Glad we agree.

You're right, I linked the wrong article. Feel free to Google "Surface Laptop 3 overheating" yourself, though…

There is no evidence it generates less heat and the temperature can heat up to 90C.

 

[PeterJP]

Woah, it's 2x faster than my late 2013 13" MBP! Gives me more sense of urgency to upgrade, but I'll still be waiting for the rumoured 14" scissor keyboard update.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

The new Air is very tempting - great machine, good value.

But I think I may wait for the refreshed MBPs and wait to see if it moves to a 14” screen - I’d be more inclined that way.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Very interesting from a price v performance point of view - I suspect the i5 one will make quite a few people think about whether or not they really need a MBP.

feels like 2011 all over again with the MBA vs MBP.

 

[dukebound85]

about on par with my 2015 15in mbp 2.8ghz quad core i-7

 

[EvilMonk]

Low voltage cpu's are still going to be slow.

Let's put this macbook in comparison with the venerable, and 5-year old 2015 macbook pro 15" using the H-series higher wattage cpu:

2020 air:
- 1047 single threaded / 2568 multi-threaded

2015 15" pro:
- 864 single threaded / 3200 multi-threaded

So a 5 year old MBP 15" will run 20% slower on single threaded but about 20% faster on multithreaded.

Congratulations, your $1500+ MB Air is now about as fast as a 5 year old 15".

I realize a more fair comparison is a 13" pro for the form factor, but felt that it was worth comparing laptops in general if you don't travel around a lot with them.

I have a 2013 8 core Mac Pro let’s compare stuff that’s not relevant 😂

Low voltage cpu's are still going to be slow.

Let's put this macbook in comparison with the venerable, and 5-year old 2015 macbook pro 15" using the H-series higher wattage cpu:

2020 air:
- 1047 single threaded / 2568 multi-threaded

2015 15" pro:
- 864 single threaded / 3200 multi-threaded

So a 5 year old MBP 15" will run 20% slower on single threaded but about 20% faster on multithreaded.

Congratulations, your $1500+ MB Air is now about as fast as a 5 year old 15".

I realize a more fair comparison is a 13" pro for the form factor, but felt that it was worth comparing laptops in general if you don't travel around a lot with them.

you realize you compared an Ultrabook to a mobile Workstation right? I can also compare a Mac Pro since it make as much sense at that point 🙄 I own the 2018 13” 1.5Tb/16 retina MacBook Air and a 15” 2015 MacBook Pro quad core i7... I love my little retina even if it’s underpowered... that battery life is amazing and I can work all day without recharging it

 

[SRLMJ23]

I’m currently looking for my wife, I want her to get at least the i5 with 16gb of RAM. But what does this do to the battery life? I’m thinking of the MBP which now has the largest battery allowed by the TSA, would the base model of that be better than upgrading the MBA? She is not a power user but battery life is always a factor!

That is obviously up to you, however, in my opinion if she is not a power user...the MacBook Air would be perfect.

The battery life between the new MBA vs. the 16" MBP is exactly the same. Both are rated UP TO 11 hours, and the new MBA beats out the current 13" MBP.

I still say upgrade to the i5, and 16GB RAM and save yourself $1,300 (vs. the base model 16" MBP) or $900 (vs. base 13" MBP) in the process.

The upgraded MacBook Air to the specs I listed above costs $1,499 and that is without doing any SSD upgrade.

The base model 16" MacBook Pro is $2,799 and the base model 13" MacBook Pro is $2,399.

Unless your wife needs powerful dedicated graphics, I just do not see why you would buy a MacBook Pro for her when she is not going to use anywhere close to the max power of that machine. I think the New MacBook Air will be perfect for her!

Obviously just my opinion, but let me know what you finally decide! Have a good one, be safe, and God bless during this global pandemic!

 

[AdamNC]

I want to see a 2020 MBA i7 with 16 gig of ram benchmark test.

 

[Jury]

I want to see a 2020 MBA i7 with 16 gig of ram benchmark test.

It won't be much faster but definitely faster.

 

[nill1234]

I want to use XCode to program some apps but i csnt justify the 250€ extra for 16 gb of ram. Is 8gb enough to code? I would get the 512 i5 8gb. I can afford it but not justify it, i still have a gaming pc with windows on it if i need windows.

 

[hans1972]

yes but it throttles REALLY bad. Macbook pro even 2019 is much better, sadly. This throttles really, really bad, 1.4GHz at 99C which is ****ing ridiculous. And fans run only like 40% but even with 100% they don't cool ****. I was almost ready to buy it but this is HORRIBLE.

If it is rated for 1.1 or 1.2 GHz running it at 1.4 GHz will cause throttling. But that is not a problem since it is only rated for 1.1 or 1.2 GHz?
[automerge]1584880113[/automerge]

Agreed. There are some things genuinely wrong if the Macbook Air 7-12w CPU experience such high temperatures.

The TDP is only average over time. It can use much more power at shorter intervals.

 

[Galve2000]

I want to use XCode to program some apps but i csnt justify the 250€ extra for 16 gb of ram. Is 8gb enough to code? I would get the 512 i5 8gb. I can afford it but not justify it, i still have a gaming pc with windows on it if i need windows.

I’m not a programmer but I would get a minimum of 16 gigs of ram if you want this machine to run smoothly for years and years. Honestly your $$ is better spent on the ram than the 512 gig NVME.

Just my $0.02

 

[chucker23n1]

I’m not a programmer but I would get a minimum of 16 gigs of ram if you want this machine to run smoothly for years and years. Honestly your $$ is better spent on the ram than the 512 gig NVME.

Just my $0.02

Agreed.

Get the i5 ($100) and the 16 GB ($200). Then, instead of the internal, pricey storage upgrade, get a cheaper external one.

(Of course, you'll still have a relatively low-end development machine. swiftc and clang eat cores for breakfast, so even four cores aren't that much for them.)

 

[nill1234]

Agreed.

Get the i5 ($100) and the 16 GB ($200). Then, instead of the internal, pricey storage upgrade, get a cheaper external one.

(Of course, you'll still have a relatively low-end development machine. swiftc and clang eat cores for breakfast, so even four cores aren't that much for them.)

Thanks just ordered this configuration for 1350€

 

[Galve2000]

Thanks just ordered this configuration for 1350€

very nice! What color did you get?

 

[nill1234]

Got the Spacegrey, i think its more prone to visible scratches but i like the colour.