Our M1 MacBook Air review, plus stereo HomePod minis bring the BOOM! - #468

This week: Here’s our one week review of the M1 MacBook Air! TDLR; it's ridiculous.

Then: how do the new M1 Macs perform with 8GB vs 16GB of RAM? The differences are surprising!

Plus: Apple’s about to do their best Black Friday sale yet, we discuss. And we’ll wrap up with a hands-on review of Stereo HomePod minis.

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On the show this week

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This week's stories

M1 MacBook Air is an instant classic [Review]

• I just opened more than 650 tabs in Safari on a new M1 MacBook Air. I would have opened more, but I got bored. The MacBook Air is just humming. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Video Demos Performance Differences Between 8GB and 16GB Apple M1 MacBook Pro

• All of the M1 Mac models use the same M1 chip, so the upgrade options are limited to SSD storage space and RAM. We haven't seen many comparisons that demonstrate the difference between a machine with 8GB RAM and the upgraded 16GB RAM option, but Max Tech today shared a video highlighting the performance between an 8GB MacBook Pro and a 16GB MacBook Pro.

Apple offers gift cards of up to $150 in new Black Friday promotion

• Apple today unveiled its four-day shopping event that kicks off on Black Friday. The company is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you buy select products, including iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. The event runs through Monday, November 30, but it excludes some of Apple’s newest products — such as iPhone 12 and the new iPad Air.

Apple Watch, MacBook tipped for big redesigns in late 2021

• Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities expects Apple’s next-generation Apple Watch to bring “innovative health management functions.” No details, but could be the long-rumored blood glucose monitor. And while the M1 Macs looks exactly the same as previous models, new form factors are coming, Kuo says. Again, no details. He also told investors iPhone 12 is off to a strong start.

6 reasons an M1 Mac might not be right for you