The M1 MacBook Air has dropped to its lowest price ever. Thanks to the sale at Walmart. You can pick one up for just $700, which is $50 off the previous minimum price and $300 off the original asking price. If you’re looking for an entry-level Apple laptop, this is a great choice.
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Now M1 Air over the age of three and exactly two generations behind laptops equipped with the newly released M3. Although a little long in the tooth, the M1 chip is still pretty damned sloppy, so this MacBook Air is quite capable. It’s a solid machine that handles basic everyday computing tasks like streaming content and surfing the web. It will even do well with light video editing and music production. We called it “faster than most computers”. Official review in 2020.
It’s not exactly tracked anymore (progress march and all), but the M1 Air has a great Retina display, along with a great keyboard and trackpad, and no fan noise. Battery life is excellent, lasting over 16 hours before needing to be plugged in. That’s just an hour or two shorter than the new M3 MacBook Air computers.
The Apple Silicon chips are pretty impressive, but when you move beyond everyday computing tasks and into the world of serious video editing and AAA gaming, the M1 will struggle. Also, the M1 laptop still has a wedge-shaped design, while the newer models have a single flat design. Some people actually prefer wedges, but I’m not one of them.
This is the standard M1 Air with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The 720p webcam won’t win any visual clarity awards, but it’ll get the job done. It’s not the most future-proof computer since Apple recently discontinued it, but it’s also $700. The M3 MacBook Air starts at $1,100, while the M2 starts at $1,000.
Best Buy The M1 Air is available for a cheaper price, for $650. This is a great deal, but it seems to be limited to certain locations. The retailer also offers open box models.
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