Apple's new M5 MacBook Airs are more powerful with double the base storage, but start at a $100 higher price. However, retailers are offering launch incentives like a $50 gift card from Best Buy.
For those seeking a better deal, last year's 15-inch M4 MacBook Air with upgraded RAM is available at a record-low price, matching the cost of the new base 13-inch model.
The core experience between the M4 and M5 Airs is expected to be very similar, with both offering excellent battery life and performance for everyday tasks. Key upgrades in the M5 model include support for newer wireless standards like Wi-Fi 7.
The main topics covered are the launch and pricing of the new M5 MacBook Air, current deals and discounts on new and previous models, and a comparison of the specifications and value between the M4 and M5 generations.
Powered by the new M5 chip, Apple’s latest MacBook Airs are more powerful than ever with double the base storage (512GB), but they also cost $100 more than their predecessor. Fortunately, though, we’ve found a few ways to save. Best Buy is offering the new 13-inch M5-powered MacBook Air for $1,099 with a $50 gift card and the 15-inch for $1,299 with the same perk ahead of their March 11th release date. That said, if you’d rather spend less and don’t mind buying last year’s model, Amazon’s also selling the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM for an all-time low of $1,099, matching the price of the new 13-inch Air.
The new MacBook Air debuts with a $50 gift card as the M4 model hits its best price
The new MacBook Air now costs more, but you can still save with gift cards or a big discount on last year’s model.
The new MacBook Air now costs more, but you can still save with gift cards or a big discount on last year’s model.
Before Apple announced the new MacBook Air on Tuesday, the M4-powered MacBook Air was the model we recommended for most people. Even with the introduction of the cheaper MacBook Neo, the Air is still the better choice if you want more power. We haven’t tested the new M5 version yet, but the changes between the two Air models appear relatively minor on paper, so the overall experience is likely to feel very similar. No matter which MacBook Air you choose, you’ll get a thin, lightweight laptop that’s more than powerful enough to handle everyday work and play, and even some light gaming or video editing. Both also offer excellent battery life that should easily last well over a full workday, along with a 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam.
Aside from the newer chip, the biggest differences between the M4 and M5 models largely come down to connectivity. The newer models support faster wireless standards like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Both M4 and M5-powered 15-inch models also feature a larger display and a six-speaker sound system instead of the four-speaker setup on the 13-inch Air.
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