This year’s version of the MacBook Air from Apple hasn’t even been out a full two months, and yet it’s already seeing a decent discount. Amazon currently has the 2026 M5-powered MacBook Air going for up to 18% off. Now that may not sound like a lot on its face, but that ends up accounting for a full $200.
That’ll take the most affordable configuration down from $1,100 to just $900. This one comes with 16GB of memory with a 512GB SSD. If we bump that up to a full 1TB, that config usually goes for $1,300, but is now down to just $1,150. Then finally there is a 24GB memory model also with 1TB. That one which is normally sold at $1,500 is now only $1,350.
Upgrade to the M5 Chip
When Apple refreshes its product line each year, its typically limited to small incremental updates. A lot of what you’ll find here on the 2026 models are the same as what’s on their 2025 counterparts. The main upgrade is with the new chipset. These MacBook Airs are pulling over its CPUs from the 2025 MacBook Pro. Doing away the the M4, these now ship with the M5 chip which packs some serious processing power.
That translates to a far smoother experience with intensive applications and multitasking workflows. If you’re the type of person who simply refuses to close your tabs 30+ Safari tabs because you “might still need them” then you will benefit greatly.
Beyond the chip, everything else is fairly similar to what we already have on last years model. The battery life is roughly the same, capable of lasting for about 18 hours on a single charge. That’ll power you through a full work day or get your through binging the entirety of Severance on a lazy Sunday.
The 2026 MacBook Air’s front facing camera is identical to that on last year’s model. It’s still 12MP and record in up to 1080p for video. It also makes use of Apple’s Center Stage functionality. This feature tracks you movement and can adjust the framing of your webcam feed to ensure you’re always in view, creating a more dynamic shot in the process. Along with the four-speaker sound system and array of three microphones, it’s an ideal device for online meeting on both the audio and video front.
At the end of the day, this is just the next model in Apple’s MacBook Air lineup, borrowing a bit more power from the chipset of last year’s MacBook Pro. Now’s a great time to make the upgrade yourself by grabbing it for $150 off.