The 2020 version was released during a transition period for Apple hardware. Adobe After Effects 2020 review | TechRadar
Adobe After Effects CC 2020 (version 17.x) for Mac focused heavily on rather than just adding "flashy" features. This version introduced significant optimizations for preview playback and the expression engine, making the overall interface feel more responsive than previous iterations. Key Features and New Tools Adobe After Effects CC 2020 (MAC)
: The JavaScript-based engine was further refined to avoid recalculating values that don't change over time, freeing up CPU cycles for other tasks. Performance on Mac Hardware The 2020 version was released during a transition