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Upgrade from the M1 MacBook Air: MacDiff index jumps
Starting point: MacBook Air 13″ 2020 M1 8c/7g 8GB/256 = CPU 100 / GPU 100 — the MacDiff baseline. This guide maps ownership upgrade paths (Air→Air, Air→Pro, Air→mini). For pure chip-generation math, also read M1 vs M4.
The MacDiff origin is the M1 (8-CPU/7-GPU), 8GB, 256 — CPU 100, GPU 100. Everything else on the site is a multiple of that machine.
The latest Air in the catalog (MacBook Air 13″, M5 (10-CPU/8-GPU)) is CPU 203 (×2.03) and GPU 220 (×2.20). That is the cleanest like-for-like notebook step up from the M1 Air.
A current 14-inch Pro base (M5 Pro (15-CPU/16-GPU)) is CPU 300 / GPU 411. GPU is the larger jump because Pro bins carry more GPU cores than Air bins.
/vs/m1-vs-m4 is the generation comparison. This page is what to buy next from an M1 Air.
Bottom line
Stay on M1 if the machine is stable and RAM is enough. Air→Air (M4/M5) for a thin laptop with a clear index jump. Air→14″ Pro when you need Pro/Max bins. Air→Mac mini when you can dock a display: mini M4 matches Air M4’s 167/192 bin class at a desktop price.
Representative configs
| Side | Config | Chip | CPU | GPU | Mem | Storage | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air | M1 (8-CPU/7-GPU), 8GB, 256 | M1 (8-CPU/7-GPU) | 100 | 100 | 8 GB | 256 GB | $999 |
| MacBook Air | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512 | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU) | 167 | 192 | 16 GB | 512 GB | $1099 |
| MacBook Air | M5 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512 | M5 (10-CPU/10-GPU) | 203 | 253 | 16 GB | 512 GB | — |
| MacBook Pro | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512 | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU) | 167 | 192 | 16 GB | 512 GB | $1599 |
| MacBook Pro | M4 Pro (14-CPU/20-GPU), 24GB, 512 | M4 Pro (14-CPU/20-GPU) | 255 | 375 | 24 GB | 512 GB | $2399 |
| MacBook Pro | M5 Max (18-CPU/40-GPU), 48GB, 2TB | M5 Max (18-CPU/40-GPU) | 337 | 776 | 48 GB | 2 TB | — |
| Mac mini | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 256 | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU) | 167 | 192 | 16 GB | 256 GB | $599 |
Related hubs
FAQ
Is M1 Air still “100” in 2026 on MacDiff?
Yes — the baseline is fixed by definition.
Biggest MacDiff CPU jump from M1 Air in-catalog?
Toward M5 Max 18-core on current Pro configs. See /cpu.