At its November event, Apple unveiled the first Mac models to be powered by Apple silicon. With all-new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models entering the product lineup, we're outlining the absolute best places to place your order and maybe even score a discount.
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(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Though the new machines all look almost identical to the now previous-gen iterations, they have seen some dramatic changes on the inside with the move to Apple silicon and the M1 chip.
Though Apple is well versed in chip design from its phone and tablet lines, the Apple M1 is described as "the most powerful chip" it has ever created. It's the first personal computer chip built using 5-nanometer process technology and comes packed with 16 billion transistors. As a result, the M1 delivers up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, up to 6x faster GPU performance, and 15x faster machine learning. Perhaps better still, the M1 provides battery life up to twice as long as previous-generation Macs.
The first two M1-based portable Mac models are the 13-inch MacBook Air (late 2020) and 13-inch MacBook Pro (late 2020). Both arrive on the scene just a few months after Apple last updated both models. Apple has also taken the wraps off the first M1-powered desktop Mac in the updated Mac mini.
Since the new M1-powered Macs have only just gone up for order, there aren't many price drops to be found yet, but there are some savings to be had. Check out the best places to buy below.
Best Cheap M1 MacBook Air 2020 Deals
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Apple's latest MacBook Air retains the same form factor as its predecessor while adopting Apple's own silicon for improved performance better battery life. It's also fanless so runs silently.
Its 13-inch display offers plenty of room for web browsing, email, documents, and more. While it isn't as well-suited to powerful photo or video-editing tasks as its Pro counterparts, it's still a solid device and is much cheaper.
Best Cheap M1 MacBook Pro 2020 Deals
Similar to the 13-inch MacBook Air, the smaller MacBook Pro model was upgraded in late 2020 with the new M1 Apple silicon chipset. It's also got a 256GB or 512GB SSD (upgradeable to 2TB), 8GB or 16GB of RAM, Touch Bar, and two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. Its battery life of up to 20 hours is the best of any Mac to date.
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Best Cheap M1 Mac Mini 2020 Deals
If you're hoping to buy an Apple computer this holiday season but hoping to spend closer to $500 than $1,000, the Mac mini could be a stellar pick. The latest model features Apple's M1 Chip which is designed exclusively for use on Mac and integrates the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, I/O, and more into a single system for a boosted Mac mini unlike any that have come before it. With a regular price starting at $699 for the model with 8GB RAM and 256GB, this remains one of the best ways to score yourself a more affordable Mac.
Learn more about the 2020 M1 Macs
Not sure which 2020 Mac is the right device for you? Take a look at our Apple M1 Mac Event coverage for all you need to know about the latest model. If it's not the right version for you, take a look at our list of the best MacBook deals for the best prices on all of Apple's laptops.
