Early Prime Day deal alert: Get the new MacBook Air for a record-low $899
Apple's latest laptop has a powerful M3 chip, but it's ultra-portable at just half an inch thick.
The MacBook Air — so light, so thin, so portable ... so expensive. We typically have to wait until next year's model hits the scene before we can see any sort of discount on a new Mac, so saving $200 on the 2024 MacBook Air before Amazon Prime Day even starts is pretty darn exciting. Released in March, this laptop is packed with power but remains lightweight, making it ideal for students, frequent travelers or anyone else who needs a speedy, reliable computer that won't be a pain to carry around.
The new M3 chip gives this MacBook Air a big edge over machines with similar specs.
Why is this a good deal? ??
It might not seem like a major discount, but lopping $200 off any Apple product is, quite literally, a big deal — especially if, as is the case here, this is also the record-low price. If you're holding your breath for a better price, we're not likely to see that until Black Friday at the earliest — but if you're in the market for more tech, Prime Day means deals on other Apple products too.
Why do I need this MacBook Air? ??
Without going into a lot of technical jargon, the new M3 chip is like steroids for this machine. It's 60% faster than the M1 and up to 13 times faster than an Intel-based MacBook Air. It's fast enough that it puts the 8GB of RAM on par with laptops that have larger amounts of RAM — and that's just the start. It also supports up to 512GB of storage, boasts an incredible 18 hours of battery life, and has both an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. That means this MacBook can actually handle some gaming.
Okay, so you're not a gamer. Why does this matter? Every program you use will benefit from the speed. You'll be able to open multiple tabs online without sacrificing performance. Photoshop will work a lot faster. Final Cut Pro will render videos in less time. It's an all-around improvement for this lineup of laptops.
The iconic Retina display is still there, able to display 1 billion colors across a crisp 13.6-inch screen. The laptop is also less than half an inch thick, and it weighs under 3 pounds. (Talk about portability!) The front camera supports 1080p resolution for crystal-clear video calls, while the three microphones and four speakers deliver your voice without interference.
What reviewers say ??
There aren't many reviews for this laptop yet — but most of them give it five stars.
Pros ??
Fans say the new MacBook Air is blisteringly fast and powerful. "This is better in every sense, and because I'd waited so long to upgrade, getting a 2024 MacBook Air easily outclassed my old Pro in every category. I'll for sure never miss my Pro," shared one user.
"The M3 chip is incredibly powerful," said another fan. "I haven't experienced any lag, even with multiple demanding applications open. This thing chews through everyday tasks and even handles some light photo and video editing without breaking a sweat. ... This laptop is unbelievably light. I can barely feel it in my bag, making it perfect for commuting or travel. ... The battery life is nothing short of phenomenal. I easily get a full day's work done on a single charge, and then some."
One gamer wrote, "Coming from Windows PCs, this thing eats gaming laptops for breakfast. The MacBook Air doesn’t even have active cooling, is thinner than my Samsung tablet and gets a steady 60 frames per second in World of Warcraft without breaking a sweat or heating up."
A fourth shopper raved about the display. "The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display delivers stunning visuals with vibrant colors and sharp details."
Cons ??
Some users ran into deal-breaking bugs. "Just a week old, the screen was freezing and vibrating. Rebooting did not help." (Note: in a situation like this, cash in on the warranty. While rare, manufacturing defects happen.)
Another shopper said they still could have used a little more processing oomph. "The machine is awesome, super light and comfortable to use. My only regret is not spending the little bit extra to get the 16GB RAM. Sometimes when I have too much going on and multiple open sessions on the machine, it slows down."
This laptop weighs in under 3 pounds, so the world truly is your oyster — and your office.
Looking for a bigger screen? The 15-inch MacBook Air is also available for its lowest price ever.
The specs are the same, but the spacious screen is easier to read.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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