If you're a macOS fan who primarily uses a laptop to write and browse the web, the 2020 Apple MacBook Air's redesigned keyboard and lower price make it easy to recommend.

Improved keyboard action and feel; Sleek; lightweight design; Multiple color options; Long battery life; Reasonably priced; for a Mac

As ever; no touch screen; Limited port selection; Lackluster raw computing performance; No support for Wi-Fi 6

Apple’s MacBook Air has experienced some extreme peaks and valleys over the past decade: the second-generation design introduced in 2010 was, for years, the standard by which all midsize laptops were judged. The Air was Apple’s most popular Mac and one of the best and most popular laptops ever made.

New keyboard; Faster processors; Lower price

Middling battery life if you don’t use Apple’s apps; Not suited for intense workloads; Average-at-best webcam

“The MacBook Air is a great choice for Mac fans on a budget.”

New keyboard is an improvement; More affordable; Better graphics; Excellent build quality

Performance still lacking; Bezels are outdated

The MacBook Air is easier to recommend than before, thanks to a lower starting price, double the base storage and, most importantly, a redesigned keyboard that’s actually pleasant to type on.

Finally: a good keyboard! Double the base storage; Sharp Retina display; Excellent trackpad; Touch ID works well and is easy to set up

Port selection still feels too skimpy; The battery life is good but not best in class; The lack of full-size USB ports is still a pain

So far, we’re liking the MacBook Air 2020 as it can handle our tasks given the limited hardware. If you’re a long-time Apple user, you can make this work and already understand the compromises.

Apple MacBook Air (2020): A gorgeous little laptop with a great screen and decent performance for the price

Trademark MacBook Air build; Competitive performance for price; Colour-accurate display

Middling battery life; Only two Thunderbolt 3 ports

The 2020 model takes what was great about its predecessor and enhances it with a much better keyboard, double storage as standard, and a price drop. It's a win-win.

Retina display is bright and detailed; Keyboard is so much better to use; Storage starts at 256GB (larger capacity also available); Sub four-figure price point is key

Still only two USB-C ports; No SD card slot; No Face ID login; Screen bezel is large compared to many Windows alternatives; Some fan noise - even with the i3 model

The 2020 MacBook Air is, once again, the best MacBook for most people. Its return to a scissor switch keyboard is the star of the show here and an update that makes it so much more comfortable to use for hours a day for days in a row. Battery life is very good but not as good as Apple claims, and the cheapest Core i3 model won’t be enough power in the long run if you want to edit photos or videos. The webcam is also naff. But for most undemanding folks out there who need a new laptop for work and media streaming that should last for several years and has an outstanding keyboard, display and software support, then this is the laptop to buy.

Superb keyboard; Cheaper than before; Great speakers;

Battery life is not all-day; Core i3 model a little underpowered; Webcam is only 720p;

Don't call it a comeback—Apple just finally fixed the broken things....

The keyboard is not terrible; Superb design; Great battery life

Upgrades are expensive; Keyboard is still a bit shallow

The MacBook Air 2020 is a great laptop. If you’re a student or just someone who want a thin and light Mac that can be had for under a grand, then I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in the slightest.

New keyboard is a huge improvement; The most affordable Mac; Design still holds up; Great speakers and fast Touch ID;

Performance not as good as Windows rivals; Little improvement to battery life; Terrible webcam; Port layout is a bit annoying;