2020 MBA owners, has the screen improved compared to 2018 MBA ?

[Blueberry123]

Wanting some advice from those that own or have had time with the new 2020 MBA, as I am now looking to buy a 2020 MBA (or pro) to replace a 2013 MBA 11in. The retina screen will be a big upgrade!

I have not seen last years 2019 MBA screen with true tone, but I did see the 2018 MBA when released in an apple store. Compared to the macbook pro, I noticed the colours looked washed out, somewhat faded. The pro screen was nicer, more colourful.

Reading online reviews of the MBA 2020, some are still saying the colours are muted, while others say it is improved with true tone. My eyes are now used to the oled display on an iphone x, the retina display on an ipad mini and a 4k oled tv.

How is the 2020 MBA screen quality (compared to 2018 MBA and/or a pro) ?

 

[throAU]

Coming from a 2015 Pro to a 2020 air I have no complaints?

Haven't compared side-by-side with a current pro, but I do not think there are any problems with the 2020 air screen especially for the price.

 

[Blueberry123]

Coming from a 2015 Pro to a 2020 air I have no complaints?

My wife has a 2015 MBP 13 and that is a nice retina screen. I was concerned about the new 2020 MBA screen, having seen the 2018 MBA screen, with its faded colours. Maybe the true tone improves this.

 

[cedwhatev]

I just went from a 2015 11" MBA to a 2019 MBA and the screen difference is amazing. I've only used nothing but the 11" MBA for the past 9 years.. and my eyes are now thanking me. I'll always love the 11", but I've finally moved on lol

 

[throAU]

My wife has a 2015 MBP 13 and that is a nice retina screen. I was concerned about the new 2020 MBA screen, having seen the 2018 MBA screen, with its faded colours. Maybe the true tone improves this.

I passed my 2015 pro off to the GF so I have seen the 2020 air and 2015 13" pro side by side and don't see much difference. We're both using the machines inside on the couch and you'd have to be getting out a measurement device or whatever to tell the difference (vs. 2015 Pro).

I'd suggest go test one in person if you can for yourself, and if you need pro level colour accuracy go for the pro level device. For me, it's fine and have no complaints as someone who isn't doing photo/movie work. Watching tv/movies, it's great!

 

[magbarn]

I passed my 2015 pro off to the GF so I have seen the 2020 air and 2015 13" pro side by side and don't see much difference. We're both using the machines inside on the couch and you'd have to be getting out a measurement device or whatever to tell the difference (vs. 2015 Pro).

I'd suggest go test one in person if you can for yourself, and if you need pro level colour accuracy go for the pro level device. For me, it's fine and have no complaints as someone who isn't doing photo/movie work. Watching tv/movies, it's great!

For photography, even the MBA is good enough. We don’t shoot pics in P3 color space. I went from 2020 MBA to 2020 MBP and it’s not a night and day difference.

 

[tehStickMan]

MBA 2018 - retina screen. Lower colours, lower brightness at 300 nits
MBA 2019 - added True Tone, and 400 nits
MBP 2016-2020 - P3 colour spectrum (this is why MBA colours don't look as good) and 500 nits
MBA 2020 - exact same as MBA2019 screen

 

[Blueberry123]

I just went from a 2015 11" MBA to a 2019 MBA and the screen difference is amazing. I've only used nothing but the 11" MBA for the past 9 years.. and my eyes are now thanking me. I'll always love the 11"

I'd suggest go test one in person if you can for yourself, and if you need pro level colour accuracy go for the pro

I went from 2020 MBA to 2020 MBP and it’s not a night and day difference.

Appreciate the replies. I'm hoping the Apple stores will open next month (in UK) to go and see the 2020 MBA screen. I do not need pro colour accuracy, just a nice display for browsing and videos. Reading most reviews, I expect the screen will be good and improved from the 2018 MBA.

For me to have extra choice! I am excited about the potential release of a new 12 inch Macbook ARM processor (June 22nd 2020 WWDC?) This would be the perfect replacement for my 11 inch air and come with improved battery life. However I do not think I can wait until 2021 to move to the retina display, even though my 11in MBA is still working well.
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MBA 2018 - retina screen. Lower colours, lower brightness at 300 nits
MBA 2019 - added True Tone, and 400 nits
MBP 2016-2020 - P3 colour spectrum (this is why MBA colours don't look as good) and 500 nits
MBA 2020 - exact same as MBA2019 screen

Thanks for the info. Very useful.

 

[throAU]

Appreciate the replies. I'm hoping the Apple stores will open next month (in UK) to go and see the 2020 MBA screen. I do not need pro colour accuracy, just a nice display for browsing and videos.

It's more than fine for that. I'm not sure why anybody has been complaining about it to be honest. I use mine for exactly that, along with general work stuff and have had zero complaints. It's still way better than most PC laptops and likely most "regular" 4k TVs (i.e., anything similar price to the MacBook Air itself)

Blacks are great, no significant backlight bleed, etc.

 

[Blueberry123]

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Matt Hanson for Techradar reviewed the 2019 MBA and said the screen is great and also reviewed the 2020 MBA and said the colours are muted (yet this is the same screen used in 2019 and 2020). To be fair he may be judging the screen quality differently this year, no HDR and colours muted compared to the pro.

He also reviewed the 2018 MBA and said the retina screen is beautiful. Maybe an unfair comparison compared to the pro because of the lower price point, but once my eyes saw the washed out colours, I did not want to buy the 2018 MBA.

I do love the design of the retina macbook air and prefer the lighter wedge shape and function keys compared to the pro. The MBA price is great value again at £999. Occasionally on the UK apple refurbished store, 2019 MBA sells for £769 (128gb) and £809 (256gb), but they go quick. Waiting patiently to be able to enter an Apple store again (or John Lewis/Currys) and see the new 2020 MBA. Fingers crossed for this June!

 

[shenfrey]

Put simply, the screen isn’t as good as the pros. The pros screen looks better, and you can tell instantly. Colours are sharper and more vivid. I still love my air tho.

 

[TorontoSS]

I don't know if this helps at all. When I was buying a new laptop in 2014, I tried to weigh between the MBA and Pro at the time. Because I'm a pretty basic user but also I don't carry my computer anywhere since I have a separate work laptop. At the time I went with the Pro because there was a significant difference between the screen quality of both. And the screen is one of the most important things for day to day things.

I upgraded from my late 2013 MBP and this time around I went for the Air because as I said, I'm not a pro user, but now the difference in screen quality is not significant. I think you can notice it side by side but not otherwise.

Given the differences in keyboard and the fact that you can get the base model with 256GB, I think there's some good value with the new one. Particularly if you can get a work or student discount. Also amazon has some discounts too in the UK?

 

[Blueberry123]

The pros screen looks better, and you can tell instantly. Colours are sharper and more vivid. I still love my air tho.

the screen is one of the most important things for day to day things. Also amazon has some discounts too in the UK?

I expect the pros screen looks better but also agree the screen is one of the most important for daily viewing. I can accept a lower quality but will need to see what the difference is. Hopefully not faded colours like the 2018 MBA screen.

There are some discounts available online, not student or work. The base 2020 MBA is £949 (£50 saving).

 

[throAU]

I'm confused as to how suddenly the screen is an issue on the MBA, when for a decade between 2008 and 2018 or thereabouts it was some garbage non-retina TN panel.

Sure, times change, but this is a budget laptop and in that context the screen is pretty amazing.

 

[Blueberry123]

I'm confused as to how suddenly the screen is an issue on the MBA, when for a decade between 2008 and 2018 or thereabouts it was some garbage non-retina TN panel.

So true. It took a really long time for Apple to finally give the MBA a retina screen. Reading the MBA forum, the issue is not the screen, but the thermals and performance.

For me, the MBA form factor is the biggest influence to wanting to buy the new 2020 MBA. If I was buying in 2018, I personally would have chosen the Macbook 12 inch, for the better display, and a natural replacement for my old 11 inch MBA.

If I could wait, the choice should become more interesting in 2021, with likely redesigns, different size options, maybe 12, 13 and 14 inch. The MBA could become lighter, get better performance and battery life with the switch from intel to arm if it happens and hopefully a usb c port on each side!

However, my eyes want to move to a retina display in 2020. The new MBA looks like the best option for me.