San Francisco, April 18, 2026, 11:32 PDT
Amazon is already slashing prices on Apple’s new MacBook Air M5, just over a month after its launch. According to deal trackers, several current models are now $150 off their usual prices. One example: the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air, equipped with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, is selling for $1,149—down from its $1,299 sticker.
Timing is key here. Back in March, Apple rolled out the M5 Air, offering upgraded standard storage, quicker memory and a stronger chip—all in a bid to tempt buyers in a PC market that’s still on shaky ground. When the device launched, Reuters pointed out the overall PC sector was contending with patchy demand and higher memory prices.
Those discounts are shrinking the difference between prices on Apple’s latest Air and the outgoing M4 models on clearance. 9to5Mac flagged a 15-inch M4 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage at $1,099 on Amazon—a mere $50 less than the tracked M5 sale price of $1,149.
Amazon has trimmed as much as 12% off certain MacBook Air M5 models, Creative Bloq reported Saturday, pointing to a $1,149 deal for a configuration that typically sells for $1,299. Options with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage are seeing smaller discounts, but they’re still significant, according to the site. RAM handles active apps and tasks, while storage covers files and installed software.
On Thursday, MacRumors noted a drop-off in Amazon’s top M5 MacBook Air deals compared to the previous weekend. The 13-inch 512GB configuration was showing at $949, marked down from $1,099. The 13-inch with 24GB RAM and 1TB storage carried a $1,349 price tag, a cut from $1,499.
Apple is pitching the latest Air as more of a specs boost than a design overhaul. “Incredible performance and even more capability” — that’s how John Ternus, Apple’s senior VP of hardware engineering, described the new M5-powered Air. Storage now starts at 512GB, which is twice what the previous base model offered, and Apple claims battery life stretches up to 18 hours. Apple
Samuel Gibbs at The Guardian noted this week that the M5 Air clocks in about 10% to 20% quicker than its M4 predecessor, and consistently pushes past 17 hours on office tasks. But there are catches: the 13.6-inch display is still stuck at 60Hz, only two USB-C ports make the cut, and you’re out of luck if you want to boost memory or storage post-purchase.
Apple is feeling the squeeze from its own products. The MacBook Neo, introduced at $599, now stands as the company’s lowest-priced laptop. For users after extra horsepower or more connectivity, the M5 MacBook Pro is positioned above the Air.
Refurbished inventory is getting a big promotional push—Mashable, through syndication, highlighted a 2017 13-inch MacBook Air with Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, running on sale until April 19. The deal underlines how budget-focused buyers still have options in older Macs, even as the performance gap between models like this and the M5 Air remains wide.
Early markdowns aren’t always reliable. 9to5Toys reported that the $150 price drop on the M5 Air looked steady this week, but noted certain models and colors were already vanishing. The site also flagged the possibility of bigger price cuts during major sales events later this year.
For buyers, it’s less about the M5 Air’s newness and more about whether its price sticks. The $949 starting tag nudges the Air into budget range, but still offers Apple’s faster laptop chip, better base storage, and that long battery-life promise. At list price, though, comparing it with the Neo, M4 clearance stock, and Windows competition isn’t so simple.
