The M5 MacBook Air is the best mobile computer for most people, and a deal drops the 13-inch model by $150. The sale is on the base model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD … if you pick one of the right colors.
Thanks to this 12%-off deal, you can snag the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air for just $1,149 in midnight, blue or starlight. Or you can get the 15-incher for $1,399 if you choose the starlight option. That’s $100 off.
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M5 MacBook Air is probably right for you
Apple’s March launch of the entry-level MacBook Neo once again positioned the MacBook Air in its rightful spot as a midrange notebook. It packs all the power most people need into a highly portable chassis, but offers fewer ports than the MacBook Pro. And note that the MacBook Air’s fanless design makes it less capable when it comes to power-hungry tasks like video editing or coding.
More affordable because of these deals, the MacBook Air occupies the sweet spot for users who don’t require the MacBook Pro’s power and ports but want something more capable than the MacBook Neo. (Not sure which is right for you? See Cult of Mac’s review: The MacBook Neo is the fantastic new Mac for the masses.)
Plenty of performance
The M5 chip in the MacBook Air isn’t Apple’s latest — that honor goes to the M6. But that chip just launched last month, and isn’t yet in any MacBook.
And the M5 in this notebook brings performance improvements over earlier versions, so users enjoy smooth multitasking, lightning-fast app launches and extended battery life — all in a fan-less, ultra-slim design.
With a brilliant Liquid Retina display, support for up to two external displays, and a lightweight build, the Air is ideal for students, professionals and creatives who need power on the go without sacrificing style or longevity.
The notebook comes with either a 13-inch or a 15-inch display. Currently, M5 MacBook Air deals cut the prices on both sizes, including models with increased unified memory and storage.
The laptop comes in four colors: sky blue, midnight, silver and starlight. As always, pricing varies by color and configuration.
Snag these low prices before they disappear
If these prices are higher than you remember, even for the deals, that’s because Apple hiked prices on the M5 MacBook Air in June amid the globally memory shortage dubbed RAMageddon. Still, these deals take out some of the sting.
13-inch M5 MacBook Air deals
The 13-inch M5 MacBook Pro is normally $1,299, but currently goes for as low as $1,149 from Amazon, as long as you pick a color other than silver.
The M5 MacBook Air delivers Apple’s unrivaled performance in an ultra-thin design backed by all-day use. It's the best laptop for students, professionals, and anyone looking for a reliable everyday Mac.
- Slim and lightweight design
- Superb performance
- All-day battery life
- Storage and memory upgrade options are expensive.
15-inch M5 MacBook Air deals
Want something larger? You can snag a 15-inch M5 MacBook Air for as little as $1,399.99 from Amazon. You must chose the starlight casing color for that price, though. Want better specs? Bring the 16GB base model up to 1TB of storage for $1,709 or maybe choose the 24GB RAM/1TB SSD configuration for $1,924.
The M5 MacBook Air delivers power and efficiency in an extremely portable package. This midrange model is the best Apple laptop for most people.
- 12MP Center Stage Camera
- Touch ID
- Apple N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6
- Only two Thunderbolt 4 ports
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
