Quad-core Core i5 processor is a big boost for 2020 MacBook Air
Apple's refreshed MacBook Air is considerably more powerful than its predecessor, initial benchmarks reveal, with the Core i5 version of the latest models offering a significant performance boost over its older counterpart.
Launched on March 18, the 2020 MacBook Air introduced a number of changes to the lightweight Mac, with a key difference being the option to choose a more powerful processor. While the previous 2019 model shipped with a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with no alternate options, the 2020 edition offers versions equipped with Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors.
While the old model used an 8th-generation dual-core Core i5 with a base clock of 1.6GHz, the Core i5 in the 2020 iteration is a quad-core 10th-generation model with a base clock speed of 1.1GHz. On paper, the processor changes would be an upgrade in general, but early benchmarks by Six Colors reveals the 2020 is much more powerful than the previously-sold version, despite the lower base clock speed.
In Geekbench 5 single-core tests, the MacBook Air with the Core i5 processor achieved a score of 1,047, while the previous MacBook Air reached just 790. For multi-core testing, the older dual-core model managed a score of 1,628, but the quad-core chip helped bring the 2020 model up to 2,658.
Jason Snell's results are in the same ballpark as others recorded in Geekbench, indicating they are accurate. The results also show the benefits of newer iterations of processor, along with simply moving from dual-core chips to quad core.
Along with the processor changes, the 2020 MacBook Air also includes higher storage capacities of 256GB at the lowest and 2TB at its highest, support for a 6K monitor at up to 60Hz, and a keyboard replacement bringing it in line with the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The 2020 MacBook Air starts at $999 and is available for pre-order. Deals are already available on 2019 MacBook Air models.
Launched on March 18, the 2020 MacBook Air introduced a number of changes to the lightweight Mac, with a key difference being the option to choose a more powerful processor. While the previous 2019 model shipped with a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with no alternate options, the 2020 edition offers versions equipped with Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors.
While the old model used an 8th-generation dual-core Core i5 with a base clock of 1.6GHz, the Core i5 in the 2020 iteration is a quad-core 10th-generation model with a base clock speed of 1.1GHz. On paper, the processor changes would be an upgrade in general, but early benchmarks by Six Colors reveals the 2020 is much more powerful than the previously-sold version, despite the lower base clock speed.
In Geekbench 5 single-core tests, the MacBook Air with the Core i5 processor achieved a score of 1,047, while the previous MacBook Air reached just 790. For multi-core testing, the older dual-core model managed a score of 1,628, but the quad-core chip helped bring the 2020 model up to 2,658.
Jason Snell's results are in the same ballpark as others recorded in Geekbench, indicating they are accurate. The results also show the benefits of newer iterations of processor, along with simply moving from dual-core chips to quad core.
Along with the processor changes, the 2020 MacBook Air also includes higher storage capacities of 256GB at the lowest and 2TB at its highest, support for a 6K monitor at up to 60Hz, and a keyboard replacement bringing it in line with the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The 2020 MacBook Air starts at $999 and is available for pre-order. Deals are already available on 2019 MacBook Air models.
Comments
Pretty remarkable when you think about the relatively cost of these machines. (And that the iPad Pro's performance is rapidly catching up to these hallmark machines.)
The computer department should be able to set up Boot Camp, so he’ll have Windows if needed. Some schools will do that for free.
With the capability and flexibility of the MacBook Air, it blows the iPad Pro out of the water, and is cheaper.
In my mind, the Air is more of mass-market machine that’s aggressively priced to take market share and grow its user base. The i5 is the sweet spot. My concern with the i7 (Air) is battery life and the ability to sustain higher speeds without overheating.
edit
The new Air isn’t actually available yet. We’ll probably get an i7 review/comparison later...
BTW, unless you're doing video or high end audio, the 13" MBP's integrated graphics are just fine for normal professional use (Adobe CC apps, etc.). The usual performance bottleneck is between the user's ears.
I'm surprised to read that you prefer the old trackpad.
I've been using a Touch Bar MacBook Pro for the last couple years and just picked up a used 2017 Air. I've found using the old trackpad very frustrating and disappointing compared to the new one. With the old one it's harder to register a click when pressing anywhere but the middle. With the new one you can click anywhere. It's also comparatively much harder to make precise cursor movements with the old one because it's smaller than the new ones.
I question many of Apple's choices over the last few years, but the trackpad isn't on that list. I think the new ones are a huge leap forward.
Intel's 10 nm fab is still broken, and this low performance, low end laptop chips is all that they can manage. So the clocks on these chips are one part due to segmentation, another part due to their fab issues.
The i7's specs don't exactly line up with any Intel part I've seen, but might be the 1060G7 (9W) in cTDP Up (12W) or the 1065G7 (15W) in cTDP Down (12W). In either case, the 2020 MacBook Air probably has a better cooling solution to keep up with the extra power.
The 2 TB max SSD size also suggests to me it has four flash pads. The 2018 had three and the 2019 dropped to two. It's possible the max SSD capacity is done with two 1 TB chips, but I think it's more likely to be four 512 GB. The 16" has 16 flash pads, and there's no 16 TB storage option for it.
A teardown would be interesting.
This, btw, is why I am bullish about the 13 bumping to 14" later this year, needs more to distinguish itself from the Air…
I agree.
Yup. The 2018+ MacBook Pro 13" have had had quad core i5s with hyperthreading.