10/30/2026
Start with the chip name before you request a quote for your MacBook Air. That sounds obvious until you discover that two different MacBook Air models carry a 2020 model year.
If you have a working M1 Air that you no longer use, a few minutes spent checking its configuration and condition can make the selling process much easier. You do not need to become a computer technician. You need to describe the laptop in front of you accurately, save the information you will need, and prepare it after your files are safe.
Apple introduced both an Intel MacBook Air and an M1 MacBook Air in 2020. A receipt that says “MacBook Air 2020” does not settle which one you own. Neither does the year you bought it: a model can remain on sale after its introduction year. Apple lists the two models separately in its MacBook Air identification guide.
While the Mac is running, open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. Look for the chip or processor information. An M1 machine should identify the chip as Apple M1; an Intel machine will name an Intel processor.
Write down the model name as well. If you are comparing old receipts, a box, and the computer itself, prioritize what the running computer reports. Boxes can get mixed up, especially in a household with several Macs.
Two M1 Airs can look almost identical while having different configurations. Apple offered this model with 8GB or 16GB of unified memory and with different storage and graphics configurations, including seven or eight GPU cores. You cannot identify those details from the enclosure color. Apple’s M1 MacBook Air specifications describe the available options.
Make a short note with the details the quote form requests:
Storage capacity deserves a careful look. If your Mac reports that 180GB is available, that number is the space currently free, not the size of its drive. Look for total capacity instead. Similarly, memory and storage are separate fields; a 16GB memory configuration does not tell you how much storage it has.
If you need help finding those screens, use GoRoostr’s guide to checking MacBook specifications. Keep your notes somewhere other than the Mac you plan to erase.
The M1 Air has two Thunderbolt and USB 4 ports that support charging. It does not use the MagSafe charging connector found on later Air designs. Apple’s specifications show the M1 Air’s port arrangement.
That makes it worth checking both ports while you still have the laptop set up. A computer that charges through one port can still have a problem with the other. Use appropriate equipment you already have and describe anything you cannot confirm rather than guessing.
Then try the things you normally expect a laptop to do. Type a sentence, move and click the trackpad, connect to Wi-Fi, play audio, and open the camera. Look at the display against both a light and a dark background. Pay attention to any keys you have learned to avoid or a charging connection you routinely have to adjust.
Familiar workarounds are easy to forget when answering a condition questionnaire. They still belong in the description.
Look over the lid, bottom, corners, palm rest, and screen in good light. A small dent, a scratch, and a display fault are different things. Describe what you can see instead of deciding that a laptop is “basically perfect” because it still does your daily work.
Take a few clear photos for your records before packing. They can also help you explain an uncertain issue when asking for guidance. Avoid filters, flattering angles, or a case that hides the corners.
Do not buy accessories or arrange a repair simply because you assume the expense will come back in a higher offer. First find out what information is needed for your particular Mac. A clean description is more useful than spending money without knowing how it affects the sale.
Check your exact model and condition in the live MacBook quote process, and ask GoRoostr before shipping if your configuration or condition is unsupported or unclear.
Once you decide to proceed, back up what you want to keep, verify that you can access it elsewhere, and follow the device preparation guide. Record the configuration first and erase later. That order leaves you with the details needed for the sale and the files you need for whatever comes next.