Laptops 10 February 2026 - 18 April 2026

Apple’s MacBook Air M5 Is Already $150 Off — Why the New Laptop Deal Matters
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Apple’s MacBook Air M5 Is Already $150 Off — Why the New Laptop Deal Matters

Amazon has cut prices on Apple’s new MacBook Air M5 by up to $150 just weeks after launch, with a 15-inch model at $1,149, down from $1,299. The discounts bring the M5 Air close to last year’s M4 clearance pricing, with a 15-inch M4 at $1,099. Some M5 configurations are seeing reductions of up to 12%. MacRumors noted fewer deals on the M5 Air compared to the previous weekend.
April 18, 2026
Intel Just Put Its 18A Bet Into Cheaper Laptops. Here’s Why It Matters
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Intel Just Put Its 18A Bet Into Cheaper Laptops. Here’s Why It Matters

Intel launched its Core Series 3 mobile processors, built on its 18A process in the U.S., for lower-cost laptops and edge devices, with systems available from April 16. The top Core 7 360 chip features six CPU cores, two Xe graphics cores, and a 17 TOPS NPU. Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs require at least 40 TOPS, above the Core Series 3’s maximum. Over 70 device designs are expected this year.
April 18, 2026
Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo Could Double Mac User Base Over a Decade, Analysts Say
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Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo Could Double Mac User Base Over a Decade, Analysts Say

Apple shipped 6.684 million Macs in the first quarter, up 12.7% from a year earlier, driven by demand for the $599 MacBook Neo, according to Gartner. The company’s global PC market share rose to 10.6%, but it remained behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Analyst Horace Dediu estimates Apple’s Mac installed base at 260 million and says it could double in a decade as Apple targets lower-priced laptops.
April 14, 2026
Snapdragon X2 Elite vs Apple M5: Early Windows laptop benchmarks show surprise wins — and some red flags
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Snapdragon X2 Elite vs Apple M5: Early Windows laptop benchmarks show surprise wins — and some red flags

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite outperformed Apple’s M5 in early multi-core and real-world benchmarks, including Cinebench and Blender, according to tests on pre-production Asus laptops. Apple’s M5 kept a single-core lead and outpaced the X2 Elite in gaming stability, while battery life remains untested. Reviewers used early firmware and drivers, with first X2 Elite laptops expected in February and March.
February 10, 2026