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For those who still prefer Intel-based Macs or just want a straightforward, portable laptop without spending four figures, this refurbished 2020 MacBook Air might be the right fit. It’s listed at $479.99 and comes in near-mint condition, making it a practical choice for students, light users, or folks who want a macOS device as a secondary machine. You’re not getting the M-series chip here, but the dual-core i5 still holds its own for browsing, office work, and creative tasks that don’t push hardware to the edge. And it comes with 1TB SSD and has 8GB of RAM.
The 13.3-inch Retina display still holds up well, offering sharp text, good brightness, and balanced colors thanks to True Tone adjustments based on your environment. It’s also got a solid keyboard and decent speakers, along with a headphone jack—something not guaranteed these days. The battery, while not class-leading by today’s standards, still manages around 11 hours of light use, which is more than enough for a day of work or school.
Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 3 ports, so you’ll likely need a hub if you’re plugging in multiple accessories. The Intel Iris Plus graphics won’t blow you away, but can easily handle video streaming, light photo edits, and even external display support for those who need more screen space. One important note: It supports macOS Sequoia but will not be eligible for macOS Tahoe or any future updates beyond that. Still, if you’re looking for a cost-effective Mac with a solid display, a reliable keyboard, and more internal storage than most base models at this price, this one could be a smart pickup.
