M1 MacBook Air vs. MacBook 12” 2017 - Specs Comparison
Here is a comparison between the specifications of the M1 MacBook Air and MacBook 12” 2017, including differences in the chip, memory, storage, display, battery, ports, and more.
January 26, 2024 10:15 am
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. While the MacBook 12” 2017 features the 4.5W 6th Generation Intel Skylake dual-core Intel Core m3-7Y32 up to dual-core Intel Core i7-7Y75 with the boost speed up to 3.60 GHz.
If you are in the market looking for a laptop and don't know what's the difference between the 13.3″ M1 MacBook Air (2020) and the 12″ MacBook 12” 2017 , we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.
M1 MacBook Air vs. MacBook 12” 2017: 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 | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| Released | 2020 | 2017 |
| Release Info | Announced on November 10th, 2020 | - Announced on June 5, 2017
- Available on June 7, 2017
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| Pricing | | |
| Display | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| Size | 13.3 Inches | 12 Inches |
| Info | 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
| 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
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| Exterior | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| Size Comparison | |
| Dimensions | - 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)
| 11.04” x 7.74” x 0.14 - 0.52” (280.5 mm x 196.5 mm x 3.5 - 13.1 mm) |
| Weight | Starting at 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg) | Starting at 2.03 pounds (920 g) |
| Colors | GoldSpace GraySilver | SilverSpace GrayGoldRose Gold |
| Keyboard and Trackpad | 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
| Full-size backlit keyboard with:- 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) individual LED backlit keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys
- 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 | 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)
| 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)
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| Internal Specs | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| Processor | - Apple M1 (7 GPU Cores)
8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz, 10W - Apple M1
8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz, 10W
| - 7th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-7Y32
2 cores, 4 threads, 1.10 → 3.00 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W - 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-7Y54
2 cores, 4 threads, 1.20 → 3.20 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W - 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7Y75
2 cores, 4 threads, 1.30 → 3.60 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
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| Integrated Graphics | - Apple M1 (7 GPU Cores)
Apple M1 iGPU 7 Graphics Cores, 1280 MHz - Apple M1
Apple M1 iGPU 8 Graphics Cores, 1280 MHz
| - 7th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-7Y32
Intel® HD Graphics 615 24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz - 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-7Y54
Intel® HD Graphics 615 24 Execution Units, 300 → 950 MHz - 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7Y75
Intel® HD Graphics 615 24 Execution Units, 300 → 1050 MHz
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| Memory | 8GB unified memory- Configurable to 16GB
| 8GB Configurable to 16GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory |
| Storage | 256GB512GB SSD- Configurable to 1TB or 2TB
| 256GB512GB PCIe-based onboard SSD. |
| Connectivity | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| Wi-Fi | - 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 wireless networking
- IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible
| - 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking
- IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
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| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology | Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology |
| Battery | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| Size | 49.9 Wh lithium‑polymer battery | 41.4 Wh lithium‑polymer battery |
| Battery Life | - Up to 15 hours wireless web
- Up to 18 hours Apple TV app movie playback
| - Up to 10 hours of wireless web
- Up to 12 hours of iTunes movie playback
- Up to 30 days of standby time
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| Power Supply | 30W USB‑C Power Adapter | 29W USB-C Power Adapter |
| Software | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| OS | Shipped with macOS Big Sur | Shipped with macOS High Sierra |
| Built-in Apps | PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player | PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewiTunesBooksApp StoreTime Machine |
| Camera & Audio | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| Camera | 720p FaceTime HD camera | 480p FaceTime HD camera |
| Audio | - Stereo speakers
- Wide stereo sound
- Support for Dolby Atmos playback
- Three-mic array with directional beamforming
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
| - Stereo speakers
- Dual microphones
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
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| Misc | M1 MacBook Air | MacBook 12” 2017 |
| 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 Air
- 30W USB‑C Power Adapter
- USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
| - MacBook
- 29W USB-C Power Adapter
- USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
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| Warranty | 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. | 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. |
| More | 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)
| Video Support- Intel HD Graphics 615
- Dual display and video mirroring: simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz on an external display, both at millions of colors
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