Apple’s upgraded M5 MacBook Air has arrived and we are now tracking straight up $50 price drops across the entire lineup. But the question is whether or not the upgrades on the new model warrant the cost even at $50 off, especially when you can land a perfectly capable M4 MacBook Air in brand new condition straight from Amazon at a giant $320 off right now.
Now clearly, anyone who already has an M4 model isn’t likely going to pivot to another M4 machine, even if it’s a RAM/storage upgrade at a giant discount. But for those upgrading from an older machine, landing a 16GB M4 at $320 off its original price might be a very compelling option:
- 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,079 (Reg. $1,399) – Amazon all-time low
- 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,299 (Reg. $1,599) – Amazon all-time low
While Apple did upgrade the new M5 lineup with higher-tier specs in the RAM and storage departments, and thereby reducing the cost for those upgraded machines, they will still cost you significantly more than the M4 model deals above – the comparable 15-inch is still $170 more than the M4:
- 13-inch M5 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,050 (Reg. $1,099)
- 13-inch M5 MacBook Air 16GB/1TB $1,250 (Reg. $1,299)
- 13-inch M5 MacBook Air 24GB/1TB $1,450 (Reg. $1,499)
- 15-inch M5 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,250 (Reg. $1,299)
- 15-inch M5 MacBook Air 16GB/1TB $1,450 (Reg. $1,499)
- 15-inch M5 MacBook Air 24GB/1TB $1,650 (Reg. $1,699)
This also brings up the question of timing. If you’re more than happy to wait it out, there is a very good chance we see the newer M5 models dip down to prices much closer to what we are seeing on the M4 model right now.
When that might be is anyone’s guess, but it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the 16GB/512GB 15-inch M5 drop from its new $1,299 list price down to $1,149 for Prime Day or Black Friday. A full $200 off is very possible as well and could happen as soon as July if the M5 goes the way of the M5, but $1,079 is a bit of a stretch – we didn’t see the M4 drop this low until after the M5 released.
And with all of that said, prices considered, and potential future deals on the M5 on the table, the most important remaining questions here might be: What’s the difference between the M4 MacBook Air and new M5 model?
They look essentially identical, they come in the same four colors, and they will be supported by Apple for as long almost anyone will need them to be – it by and large comes to three main things in my opinion:
The M5 chip – it is simply more faster, leaner, and more powerful. I’d argue most users would barely be able to tell the difference on a day to day, but it is definitely faster.
The N1 wireless chip – the new M5 model carries Apple’s in-house wireless chip instead of the third-party solution in the M4 and this enables Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) support you won’t get on the M4 as well as Bluetooth 6 instead of Bluetooth 5.
There’s a better, faster charger for the M5 – Apple has upgraded the included charger for the M5 model from the 30W USB-C that shipped with the M4 to the more powerful40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max. You can scoop one of these up for under $30 anyway, and this perhaps not all that big a deal, but it is a thing.
In the end, if you’re not going to wait for a better deal on the M5 and you’re a relatively casual user, the M4 at $320 off is easily one of the best deals we have tracked on a modern MacBook Air this soon after the release of the next-gen in, maybe, years. If you’re willing to wait or already have the M4 model, wait, or just trade up for the M5 instead.
M5 MacBook Air vs M4 MacBook Air: What’s actually changed?
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