Who is the M5 MacBook Air for now?

Source Domain: 9to5mac.com

I would argue that Apple currently has its best MacBook lineup it’s ever offered. Since the release of the MacBook Neo, they now have a really strong option at every price point. But at the same time, there is a slight awkward issue. The MacBook Neo is now the default recommendation for anyone who just wants a Mac laptop, and if you need Pro-level features and hardware, you go with the MacBook Pro. So where does that leave the M5 MacBook Air? Who is the target customer now? The MacBook Air is no longer the de facto entry-level computer, but it’s also not as powerful as the Pro-level MacBooks, so who should buy the MacBook Air?

Be sure to check out our latest video discussing who the M5 MacBook Air is for becuase there is still a target customer!

For years, the MacBook Air was the safest recommendation in laptops, especially after Apple introduced its own M-series chips in 2020. The MacBook Air struck the perfect balance between performance, portability, and price, and it was the cheapest laptop Apple made that let you get into the Apple ecosystem. There were even times when it hit $749 on Amazon, making it an insane deal.

But the regular retail price of a MacBook Air was $999 from Apple and for some, that was too much to even consider. So in steps the new MacBook Neo. This MacBook gave you 95% of the MacBook experience at just $599. You got the same fantastic build quality and materials, you got full-fledged MacOS, you got a great 13in display, and you got insane battery life. The MacBook Neo has become the new default recommendation for most people who just want the easiest and cheapest Apple Laptop to get into.

So not only did the entry point for a MacBook drop to $599, but Apple also updated the MacBook Air with the new M5 chip, doubled the base storage, but increased the starting price to $1099 (or $949 from…

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