Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The new M1 Air is just unbelievably cool

Mitthrawnuruodo

Mitthrawnuruodo

Moderator emeritus
Original poster
Mar 10, 2004
14,711
1,587
Bergen, Norway
Got the new MacBook Air on Monday, the 8/8 with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, and after a really bad attempt to use migration assistance over wifi, over night, I just gave up set it up from scratch yesterday.

It's so effing cool (conceptually, of course, but here I'm referring to temperature). I downloaded all my Photo Library from iCloud, installed several apps (including the mastodont Xcode), and started first Time Machine backup, played Music, and more, all at the same time, while running MS Outlook and Teams plus the abomination that is Discord.app for work. The machine barely exceeded room temperature at any time.

I've always used a wooden cutting board under my laptops, to keep them from overheating (themselves and my lap/whatever surface they stand on) and I see no need for that, any more. Since the initial "stress" the machine has been cool to the touch at all time. It's unbelievable.

I love this machine.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: uller6, wnorris, Quackers and 8 others
Thanks! I ordered the base M1 Air about a week ago to replace my 2018 Air, and I'm pretty fired-up to get it. Unfortunately, it won't be here for another week, so I have to just feed off of reviews like yours until then.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Starfia and Mitthrawnuruodo
Yep, that's due to the fact that it has unbelievable computing power for such machine and hence rarely gets stressed to 100%.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haruhiko
Yes - I LOVE this new MBA. I haven't been this excited about a laptop since my 2013 MBA (I think it was that year - the first MBA with incredible battery life). I even got this one in silver to recreate the magic!

Just a small example - a few weeks ago I became addicted to this strategy game (RimWorld). On my 2019 MBP, the fan would be continuous and the thing would be smoking hot, eating up my battery in about 2.5 hours. I halved the resolution and disabled the environmental effects to improve things but it was still super hot.

On my M1 MBA, I can use it full resolution, all effects and it is just barely warm! I played for two hours last night and my battery went from 69% to 55%!

Silent, cool, fast, incredible battery - I'm not sure what more I would want!
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: wnorris, Suzatlarge, haruhiko and 5 others
I got my base air a few days ago and I am loving it. Its got some quirks because of Big Sur but nothing I cannot live with or work around.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Starfia
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Got the new MacBook Air on Monday, the 8/8 with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, and after a really bad attempt to use migration assistance over wifi, over night, I just gave up set it up from scratch yesterday.

It's so effing cool (conceptually, of course, but here I'm referring to temperature). I downloaded all my Photo Library from iCloud, installed several apps (including the mastodont Xcode), and started first Time Machine backup, played Music, and more, all at the same time, while running MS Outlook and Teams plus the abomination that is Discord.app for work. The machine barely exceeded room temperature at any time.

I've always used a wooden cutting board under my laptops, to keep them from overheating (themselves and my lap/whatever surface they stand on) and I see no need for that, any more. Since the initial "stress" the machine has been cool to the touch at all time. It's unbelievable.

I love this machine.
Click to expand...
Man, you have me salivating! My early 2017 MacBook Air is no speed demon, although I am not having issues with it. But even the base M1 model (that configuration will easily satisfy my needs) sounds enticing!

I am primarily waiting for 1) Big Sur to become more stable, 2) the remainder of my third party apps to become compatible with Big Sur, and 3) reports on the temperature of the machine, since it has no fan. But for #3, your experience sounds so, so encouraging.

Thanks for the review.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mitthrawnuruodo
I’ve had my base M1 model since Saturday and I’m running some test renders in Davinci Resolve right now. Given that it’s fanless the max temp I’m getting at the top of the keyboard, and on the back by the screen hinge, is around 41 degrees. Given that it’s silent I’m very happy with that.

This is my first macOS machine, having used iPads since the first one (best tablet by a mile) and have had a couple if iPhones (can’t get on with them), and I’m impressed with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haruhiko
So far I am very happy with the Air with 512 and and 8mgs. No slowing, no issues, everything operating just as promised or better! Glad to be back on the Mac after 6 years away!
 
  • Like
Reactions: haruhiko
Macrumorsss said:
Hi, I actually did not know there was an update already. I am on 11.0.0. I will update the software right now and see if some of the issues I am running to are fixed or not.
Click to expand...
The update right now would be a beta version of OS 11.1:

www.macrumors.com

Apple Seeds First Beta of Upcoming macOS Big Sur 11.1 Update to Public Beta Testers

Apple todays seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Big Sur 11.1 update to public beta testers, with the beta coming a day after the developer...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com

I don't use beta versions. If you do, hopefully everything will be OK.
 
Last edited:
honestone33 said:
The update right now would be a beta version of OS 11.1:

acrumors.com/2020/11/18/apple-seeds-first-macos-big-sur-11-1-public-beta/

I don't use beta versions. If you do, hopefully everything will be OK.
Click to expand...
Hi, I did not install the Beta Version which is 11.1.0 I installed the actual update for 11.0.0 which was 11.0.1. So far so good.
 
honestone33 said:
But as I mentioned, a beta version of OS 11.1 is available now, and OS 11.1 will be out shortly.

Oh, and I corrected that link above in my post.
Click to expand...
Does Apple actually make Beta Versions accessible via their Software Update function? Not sure why they would release a Beta via Software Update which is where I always check, but if they do please let me know so I can keep an extra keen eye out for that since I most definitely do not want to install any Beta versions.
 
Macrumorsss said:
Does Apple actually make Beta Versions accessible via their Software Update function? Not sure why they would release a Beta via Software Update which is where I always check, but if they do please let me know so I can keep an extra keen eye out for that since I most definitely do not want to install any Beta versions.
Click to expand...
Probably not. I just looked at the Software Update Preference, and it says that V11.0.1 of Big Sur is available. I have an Intel-based machine, so that is why it says V11.0.1. From what I understand, for M1-based Macs, that would be V11.0.

Thus, I was originally mistaken. Sorry about that. Also, forgot about the different versions of Big Sur for Intel-based and M1-based Macs. I wonder if V11.1 will be available for both? (I am still running Catalina, but plan on testing Big Sur on an external SSD "soon", most likely after V11.2 is released).
 
So when i tried the base air earlier in the year it got hot and was no faster than my 5 year old 27" iMac fusion drive with 24gb ram, will this M1 be better or better with the new MacBook pro?
 
I also am completely in love with this MBA too. It’s a beast of a machine yet it barely even gets warm. Don’t have to worry about blocking the air intakes. The battery life is insane. I haven’t charged it in 2 days and I’m at about 50% battery. Got the 512/16 8 core configuration. Massive upgrade from my early 2015 MBA.
 
  • Like
  • Love
  • Wow
Reactions: Suzatlarge, RoadCyclistID, haruhiko and 3 others
I got a 8GB/512 M! Air last week. I love it, but have had a few slowdowns with a few Safari tabs open, Photos, Mail and Evernote running while editing a video in iMovie. Im also at 340GB of storage. Im returning this one. I just ordered a 16GB/1TB Air. I'm thinking it should be much speedier.
 
bluewooster said:
Yes - I LOVE this new MBA. I haven't been this excited about a laptop since my 2013 MBA (I think it was that year - the first MBA with incredible battery life). I even got this one in silver to recreate the magic!

Just a small example - a few weeks ago I became addicted to this strategy game (RimWorld). On my 2019 MBP, the fan would be continuous and the thing would be smoking hot, eating up my battery in about 2.5 hours. I halved the resolution and disabled the environmental effects to improve things but it was still super hot.

On my M1 MBA, I can use it full resolution, all effects and it is just barely warm! I played for two hours last night and my battery went from 69% to 55%!

Silent, cool, fast, incredible battery - I'm not sure what more I would want!
Click to expand...
This really outlines the big leap forward Apple has taken.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haruhiko
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back