That didn't take long: Apple unveiled its updated lineup of M3-powered MacBook Air laptops on March 4. Three weeks later, the 8GB 15-inch MacBook Air dropped $95, and now, the 8GB 13-inch MacBook Air is $100 off. Amazon is currently selling the powerful machines for $1,204 (down from $1,299) for the 15-inch and $999 (originally $1,099) for the 13-inch. True, it's not exactly a fire sale, but that amount will cover the sales tax in most places, and any discount on a new, top-shelf MacBook is always welcome.
The new M3 MacBook Air has corrected one of the biggest complaints about the M2's hard drive, ultimately making the M3 33% faster at write speeds and 82% faster at read speeds. Both the 15-inch and 13-inch M3 base models come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You'll also get the usual backlit keyboard, 1080p HD web camera, and Touch ID, along with dual monitor support, which used to be a MacBook Pro-only feature.
The M2 MacBook Air
Last year's M2 MacBook Air laptop is also on sale; currently $1,199 for the 512 GB model, it's only $5 less than the M3. This matches the lowest price Best Buy has sold the M2, according to price-checking tools. It has the same RAM and storage as the M3, but there are some key differences between the two machines.
The M1 MacBook Air
The 2020 M1 MacBook Air has also dropped in price and is perhaps the best all-around value for an entry-level laptop right now. Walmart has the M1 MacBook Air 13.3-inch laptop for $699 (it cost $999.99 prior to the launch of the M3), which is the lowest price I've seen after checking price comparison tools.
This M1 from 2020 has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage with about 18 hours of battery life. If you're wondering if the M1 is relevant in 2024, Lifehacker's Senior Technology Editor Jake Peterson notes the M1 is still a fantastic computer even three years after its release. Yes, its specs pale in comparison to the new M3 chip and all of its new features, but the M1 is still enough for most people.