Arch Linux on Macbook Air

18 March, 2026 · Reading time: ~3 minute(s) (561 words) linux arch macbookair

A few months back I was looking for a “beater” laptop - a cheap device that can go (almost) anywhere and take a few bumps along the way that I’m not too bothered about. Sure I have my MacBook Pro, but even after 4 years, it’s still in great condition and I’d like to keep it that way.

After the usual hunt for Lenovos, and realising they hold their value better than they used to, I needed to think outside of the box. And that’s when I saw the MacBook Airs from 2015. After a few attempts, I managed to find one on eBay that was near to home and already had a bump or two but was in good working condition. I got lucky with the spec too… a 2015 MacBook Air with an i7-5650U processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe and a battery with only 11 charge cycles.

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