Apple’s M5 MacBook Air Sees First Discounts Just Days After Launch
As of March 12, 2026, the newly released Apple MacBook Air with the M5 chip is available for purchase with a discount at Amazon. The 13-inch model is priced at $1,049.99, reduced from its original price of $1,099, while the 15-inch model is available for $1,249.99, down from $1,299. This represents a $49.01 savings on both sizes.
M5 MacBook Air: What’s New?
Apple announced the new MacBook Air with M5 on March 3, 2026, highlighting improvements in performance and AI capabilities [Apple Newsroom]. Key upgrades include:
- M5 Chip: The M5 chip offers a faster CPU and a next-generation GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core, enhancing performance for creative tasks and AI applications.
- Increased Base Storage: The base models now come standard with 512GB of storage, double the previous generation, and are configurable up to 4TB.
- Enhanced Wireless Connectivity: The inclusion of Apple’s N1 wireless chip provides support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Familiar Features Remain
Despite the upgrades, the M5 MacBook Air retains many of the features that made its predecessor popular, including:
- Liquid Retina display
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
- Immersive sound system with Spatial Audio
Is the Upgrade Worth It?
While the M5 MacBook Air represents an incremental improvement over the M4 model, it offers significant value, especially for users with older MacBooks. The combination of the M5 chip, increased storage, and enhanced connectivity makes it a compelling option for students and creative professionals. The current discount further sweetens the deal.
Pricing and Availability
The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is available for $1,049.99 and the 15-inch model for $1,249.99 at Amazon. Both models are available in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver [Apple Newsroom]. Pre-orders began on March 4, 2026, with general availability starting on March 11, 2026.