Now is the best time ever to buy a MacBook Air – the M1 starts at $699 and the M2 at just $849

Now is quite possibly the best time ever for MacBook deals. Not only have you got the older (but still excellent) MacBook Air M1 on sale for as low as $699 at Walmart, but you can now get the newer MacBook Air M2 for just $849 at Amazon (was $999). 

While arguably the older machine remains the best bang-for-your-buck choice here, today’s deal on the M2 at Amazon beats the previous record-low price by $50. This price is even cheaper than the one from Black Friday, which makes this an incredibly solid lineup of MacBook deals.

Overall, you’ve got some superb options if you’re looking for a MacBook on a budget. Both these machines are incredibly capable, lightweight and feature battery life that’s still unbeaten amongst their piers. 

Of the two, the newer M2 model is the slicker-looking machine thanks to its slimmer bezels, but the M1 is by no means ugly as it still features the gorgeous full aluminum design that MacBooks are known for.

Today’s record-beating MacBook deals

Which model does TechRadar recommend?

Both the M2 and M1 are older machines now but they’re still exceptionally capable for most tasks in 2024. The M2 has a slight edge in performance but the M1 is still great if you’re looking to cover the basics or simply need a solid work machine.

For us, the main selling point of the M2 is the refreshed design. In particular, the display has much slimmer bezels, which lends to a much more modern look overall versus the M1’s slightly dated design. If that’s not worth $150 to you, however, then the M1’s display is still great for everyday use and content.

If you want to read about either machine in more detail, you can check out our Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review or our Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review.