We repair the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch (2020) at our workshop in Bermondsey, from cracked screens and worn batteries to board faults and data recovery. It is a 13.3-inch laptop from 2020, identified by model number A2179. Storage and memory are both fixed to the board, which shapes what can be upgraded and how data is recovered.
- Model number
- A2179
- Model identifier
- MacBookAir9,1
- Released
- 2020
- Type
- Laptop
- Screen
- 13.3-inch
- Storage
- Soldered to the board
- Memory
- Soldered
MacBook Air Retina 13-inch repairs and upgrades
Screen replacement
The 13.3-inch display is replaced as a complete lid assembly, which also renews the hinges and camera.
Price confirmed before work starts
Charging port and power repair
We test the charger, the port and the charging circuit separately. A Mac that will not charge is often a port or a single failed component on the logic board.
Storage
Storage on the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch is soldered and cannot be upgraded. We can help with external storage, clearing space, or moving to a new machine.
Memory
Memory in the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch is soldered and cannot be upgraded. It is worth knowing this before paying anyone for a memory upgrade.
macOS reinstall and repair
We reinstall macOS, migrate data, and can revive or restore the firmware in DFU mode from a second Mac when an update has left the machine unresponsive.
Battery replacement
The battery is bonded into the top case. We release it with adhesive remover, fit a new one and check the cycle count and charging afterwards. A battery of this age that swells should be replaced before it damages the trackpad or casing.
Price confirmed before work starts
Keyboard and trackpad repair
Individual keys and keycaps can often be repaired. A keyboard with liquid damage or several dead keys is replaced, which on this model means the top case.
We also carry out logic board repair, liquid damage repair, overheating and fan repair, hinge and casing repair, macOS reinstallation on the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch, along with USB, HDMI and audio port repair, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card replacement, webcam and speaker faults and data transfer to a new machine.
Notes from the workshop
- The 2018 to 2020 Retina models have Apple’s T2 security chip, which encrypts the soldered SSD. Files can only be read back with the original logic board working.
- The 2018 and 2019 models use the butterfly keyboard, which is replaced together with the top case and battery.
- Older A1466 and A1465 machines have a removable Apple-format SSD, so storage upgrades and straightforward data recovery are both possible.
Data recovery from the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch
The SSD in the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch is soldered and hardware-encrypted, so there is no drive to remove. If the Mac is dead, data recovery means repairing the logic board far enough to start it and copy the data off. If you have a Time Machine or iCloud backup, tell us, as that may be the quicker route.
Estimate the cost with our data recovery calculator, or read about recovering files after a ransomware attack.
Where the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch sits in the range
Its nearest relatives in the MacBook Air (Intel) range are the older MacBook Air Retina 13-inch (2018). It is the most recent 13.3-inch model of the range that we list.
Questions
Can the SSD or memory in the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch be upgraded?
The storage is soldered and cannot be upgraded. Memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded.
My MacBook Air Retina 13-inch will not turn on. Is my data lost?
Not necessarily, but the storage is on the main board, so the board has to be repaired far enough to read it. Do not keep trying to power it on, and tell us about any backups you have.
Is a 2020 MacBook Air Retina 13-inch still worth repairing?
It depends on the fault. A battery, SSD or charging socket is usually worth doing. A major board repair on an older machine may cost more than the machine is worth, and if that is the case we will say so.
Where do I find the model number on my Mac?
The model number, an A followed by four digits, is printed in small text on the underside. Apple menu > About This Mac shows the year. For this model, look for A2179.