We may earn commission from links on this page.
Prices and offer availability may change after publication date.
Source: Product image courtesy of Amazon.
“Never pay full price for a MacBook Air” has been the trend of the last few months. In early March, Apple presented an updated range of MacBook Air laptops with an M3 processor, and three weeks later, all M3 models received their first discounts. The 15-inch 8GB MacBook Air is currently seeing its biggest drop yet, with a $100 cut; The 13-inch 8GB MacBook Air is also currently receiving an introductory discount of $100.
MacBook Pro M3s are also discounted by up to $300. Granted, it’s not a fire sale, but everyone A discount on a modern top-shelf MacBook is always welcome.
But you don’t need the biggest and best to get a good deal – the older M1 and M2 MacBook Airs are also seeing good sales right now.
The best deal on MacBook Air M3
The modern MacBook Air M3 fixes one of the biggest flaws of the M2 tough drive, making it 33% faster at write speeds and 82% faster at read speeds. Both the 15- and 13-inch base M3 models come with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. You also get the usual backlit keyboard, 1080p HD webcam and Touch ID, as well as dual-monitor support that was previously only available on the MacBook Pro.
The best deal on MacBook Air M2
last year’s M2 MacBook Air laptop is also on sale; Currently $849 (originally $999) for the 13.6-inch, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD model, and $1,199 (originally $1,499) for the 15-inch model with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. According to price checkers, this is the modern lowest price for which a 15-inch, 256GB SSD model has been sold. It has the same RAM and storage as the M3, but there are some key differences between the two machines that you should be aware of.
The best deal on MacBook Air M1
The price of the 2020 MacBook Air M1 has also dropped and is probably the best all-around value for an entry-level laptop right now. Walmart has M1 MacBook Air 13.3-inch laptop Down $699 (pre-launch, the M3 retailed for $999.99), which is the lowest price I’ve seen after checking price comparison tools.
This 2020 M1 has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage and about 18 hours of battery life. If you’re wondering whether the M1 will be relevant in 2024, senior technology editor at Lifehacker Jake Peterson notes that the M1 is still fantastic computer even three years after its premiere. Yes, its specifications pale in comparison to modern M3 layout and all its modern features, but the M1 is still enough for most people.