MacBook 12” 2016 vs. M1 MacBook Air - Specs Comparison
Here is a comparison between the specifications of the MacBook 12” 2016 and M1 MacBook Air, including differences in the chip, memory, storage, display, battery, ports, and more.
January 26, 2024 10:15 am
The MacBook 12” 2016 features the 4.5W 6th Generation Intel Skylake dual-core Intel Core m3-6Y30 up to dual-core Intel Core m7-6Y75 with the boost speed up to 3.10 GHz. While the 2020 M1 MacBook Air features the 10W Apple M-Series ARM 64-bit 8-core Apple M1 (8C, 7G) up to 8-core Apple M1 (8C, 8G) with a clock speed of 3.20 GHz.
If you are in the market looking for a laptop and don't know what's the difference between the 12″ MacBook 12” 2016 and the 13.3″ M1 MacBook Air (2020), we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.
MacBook 12” 2016 vs. M1 MacBook Air: Specs Comparison
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| Key Features |
| What's new | | - Better Performance. With the new Apple M1 Chip, it is now 3x times faster in exporting a project in iMovie, 5x times faster applying 3D effects in Final Cut Pro, editing multiple streams 4K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro with no frame drop, 2x times faster in exporting photos in Lightroom, and more.
- Better battery life of up to 18 hours. The new M1 MacBook Air has the most extended battery life ever, with up to 18 hours of watching movies and 15 hours of web browsing.
- Better FaceTime HD camera. With the latest Apple Image Single Processor (ISP) in the M1 chip, image quality is better in noise reduction, has a better dynamic range, and has an improved auto white balance.
- Better display. It now supports a P3 wide color with 400 nits of display brightness.
- Improvements
- It supports the latest USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6.
- It has better security with the new Secure Enclave in the M1 chip.
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| What's missing | | - Natively supports only one external display. The new M1 chip supports only one extended 6K@60Hz display, while the older Intel version supports up to two 4K@60Hz.
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| Availability | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Release Info | - Announced on April 19, 2016
- Available on April 19, 2016
| Announced on November 10th, 2020 |
| Pricing | | |
| Display | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Size | 12 Inches | 13.3 Inches |
| Info | Retina display- 12-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
- 2304-by-1440 resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
- 16:10 aspect ratio
- Supported scaled resolutions:
- 1440 by 900
- 1280 by 800
- 1024 by 640
| Retina display- 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
- Supported scaled resolutions:
- 1680 by 1050
- 1440 by 900
- 1024 by 640
- 16:10 aspect ratio
- 400 nits brightness
- Supports wide color (P3)
- True Tone technology
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| Exterior | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Size Comparison | |
| Dimensions | 11.04” x 7.74” x 0.14 - 0.52” (280.5 mm x 196.5 mm x 3.5 - 13.1 mm) | - Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
- Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)
- Height: 0.16–0.63 inch (0.41–1.61 cm)
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| Weight | Starting at 2.03 pounds (920 g) | Starting at 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg) |
| Colors | SilverSpace GrayGoldRose Gold | GoldSpace GraySilver |
| Keyboard and Trackpad | Full-size backlit keyboard with:- 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) individual LED backlit keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys with ambient light sensor
- Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
| Backlit Magic Keyboard with:- 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement
- Ambient light sensor
- Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
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| Ports | One USB Type-C port with support for:- Charging
- USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps)
- Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output
- VGA output using USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
- HDMI video output using USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
| Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 (USB‑C) ports with support for:- Charging
- DisplayPort
- Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/s)
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
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| Internal Specs | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Processor | - 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30
2 cores, 4 threads, 0.90 → 2.20 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W - 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54
2 cores, 4 threads, 1.10 → 2.70 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W - 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75
2 cores, 4 threads, 1.20 → 3.10 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
| - Apple M1 (7 GPU Cores)
8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz, 10W - Apple M1
8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz, 10W
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| Integrated Graphics | - 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30
Intel® HD Graphics 515 24 Execution Units, 300 → 850 MHz - 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54
Intel® HD Graphics 515 24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz - 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75
Intel® HD Graphics 515 24 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz
| - Apple M1 (7 GPU Cores)
Apple M1 iGPU 7 Graphics Cores, 1280 MHz - Apple M1
Apple M1 iGPU 8 Graphics Cores, 1280 MHz
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| Memory | 8GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory | 8GB unified memory- Configurable to 16GB
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| Storage | 256GB512GB PCIe-based onboard flash storage. | 256GB512GB SSD- Configurable to 1TB or 2TB
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| Connectivity | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Wi-Fi | - 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking
- IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
| - 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 wireless networking
- IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible
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| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology | Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology |
| Battery | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Size | 41.4 Wh lithium‑polymer battery | 49.9 Wh lithium‑polymer battery |
| Battery Life | - Up to 10 hours of wireless web
- Up to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback
- Up to 30 days of standby time
| - Up to 15 hours wireless web
- Up to 18 hours Apple TV app movie playback
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| Power Supply | 29W USB-C Power Adapter | 30W USB‑C Power Adapter |
| Software | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| OS | Shipped with OS X El Capitan | Shipped with macOS Big Sur |
| Built-in Apps | PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSafariMailMessagesFaceTimeCalendarNotesApp StoreiTunesiBooksMapsContactsReminders | PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player |
| Camera & Audio | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Camera | 480p FaceTime HD camera | 720p FaceTime HD camera |
| Audio | - Stereo speakers
- Dual microphones
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
| - Stereo speakers
- Wide stereo sound
- Support for Dolby Atmos playback
- Three-mic array with directional beamforming
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
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| Misc | MacBook 12” 2016 | M1 MacBook Air |
| Sensors | | - Touch ID sensor
- Ambient light sensor
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| Security | | - Touch ID sensor
- Apple T2 Security Chip
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| In the box | - MacBook
- 29W USB-C Power Adapter
- USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
| - MacBook Air
- 30W USB‑C Power Adapter
- USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
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| Warranty | Limited Warranty and ServiceYour MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 800-823-2275. | Your MacBook Air comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase AppleCare+ to extend your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and add up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other repairable damage, plus applicable tax. |
| More | Video Support- Intel HD Graphics 515
- Dual display and video mirroring: simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz on an external display, both at millions of colors
| Video Support- Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:
- One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz
- Thunderbolt 3 digital video output
- Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
- VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)
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