The MacBook Air (M1, 13-inch, 2020) is powered by Apple’s M1 chip, which features an 8-core CPU (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), a 7-core or 8-core GPU depending on the model, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It comes with either 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, which is integrated into the chip for faster performance and is not user-upgradable. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of SSD, offering fast read/write speeds.

The laptop has a 13.3-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600, P3 wide color gamut, and True Tone technology for more natural viewing. It features a fanless design for silent operation and delivers excellent battery life—up to 15 hours of web browsing or up to 18 hours of Apple TV app video playback.

In terms of connectivity, it includes two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0. The device also includes a Magic Keyboard with scissor-switch keys, Touch ID for secure login and purchases, and a Force Touch trackpad. The 720p FaceTime HD camera is enhanced by the M1's image signal processor, resulting in better video quality. The MacBook Air weighs just 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg) and originally shipped with macOS Big Sur, though it supports newer macOS versions.