So with all that in mind, why wouldn’t you buy a MacBook Air if you need a new Mac laptop? This Mac doesn’t suddenly keel over with simpler challenges and remains fast and responsive. If you’re wondering about more basic fare – web browsing text editing media consumption – don’t be concerned. All this on a machine that’s silent, given that it lacks a fan. But it also impressed with tasks you wouldn’t normally associate with an entry-level MacBook: playing tracks loaded with virtual synths in Logic and Korg Gadget video editing and encoding. This was especially apparent in apps optimised for the M1, such as Pixelmator Pro, where the MacBook Air blazed with frightening speed through photo edits utilising machine learning. WIRED's test MacBook Air M1 (from £999) had 8GB RAM yet with the M1 scythed through most tasks – often at a speed that made a nearby MacBook Pro 16in flagship sweat. With this being Apple’s entry-level MacBook, you might have trouble processing the previous sentence – but the hype surrounding the Apple-designed M1 chip is real. No, the shock comes when you turn it on and discover the raw power inside.