Is the 2020 MacBook Air M1 still worth using?
I've seen them going for around 600,000 won used, and I'm wondering if it's still up to the task for coding. Will it lag if I run two or three Docker containers and use VS Code?
What I'm using now is a 2017 Intel MacBook Pro, and the fan noise sounds like a plane taking off.
5 answers
M1 Air is still going strong, I agree. If you're coming from Intel, it's a whole new world.
Intel Mac Pro fan noise lol that’s definitely takeoff. Once you switch over, your ears will thank you.
I bought an M1 Air 16GB in 2021 and I'm still using it. Running 3 Docker containers + VS Code + 20 Chrome tabs is no problem. It only gets a bit sluggish when doing big builds. The fanless part feels unsettling at first, but the fact that the noise stress disappears is really huge. If you're buying used, be sure to check whether it has 16GB RAM, the battery health, and the remaining AppleCare period.
But at 60, isn't it a bit of a gray area? With the 8GB version, even running just two Docker containers causes swapping and lag. I wouldn't recommend it unless it's the 16GB model. If the battery cycle count is over 500, you should also factor in the replacement cost.
Well, now that the M4 Air is out, I don't think a used M1 at 600,000 won is worth it. For 700,000–800,000 won, you can even find near-new ones, so why bother? If you're going to run Docker, RAM is key, so it's better to just filter out 8GB listings altogether.