Why Buying Apple’s MacBook Air Isn’t a Good Idea Right Now.
For years, the MacBook Air has been the best Apple laptop for most users. And even though Apple’s budget MacBook Neo is challenging that title, that statement remains largely true today. The Air offers advantages the Neo lacks, such as an M-series processor, additional RAM, and a larger, higher-quality display. But to keep the price down, it also loses some MacBook Pro features that most users won’t notice, such as additional ports, a high-refresh-rate mini-LED display, and professional-grade hardware. For those who need more power than the Neo offers but don’t want to overpay for a “pro” version, the Air is the perfect choice.
With all this in mind, you might be considering a MacBook Air as your next laptop. Unfortunately, fate may have decreed otherwise. According to Bloomberg , the MacBook Air appears to be the latest Mac to be affected by ” RAMageddon “—a global memory shortage affecting both large and small companies. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has sources reporting that Apple simply doesn’t have enough MacBook Airs in stock to deliver them to customers in a timely manner. If you try to order one today, the estimated delivery date will likely push your order back to the end of August. You might even see a disclaimer: “MacBook Air subject to availability.” In short, it may be difficult to buy a MacBook Air from Apple right now.
While Apple is happy to take your money, it appears the company also wants to steer customers away from the MacBook Air for a while. Gurman says Apple stores and its website are urging users to consider the base model MacBook Pro, which is, of course, likely the best MacBook Pro for most people, but it also costs $700 more than the base model MacBook Air. The expression “add insult to injury” comes to mind, as Apple recently raised the MacBook Air’s suggested retail price by $200 . Apple appears to be offering you two options: buy the now-expensive MacBook Air and wait a while, or buy the $2,000 MacBook Pro today.
You have other MacBook options too.
To buy a MacBook Air right now, you don’t have to play by Apple’s rules. In fact, it might be best to hold off on purchasing through Apple for now . Other retailers, like Amazon and Best Buy , are currently offering the latest MacBook Air models. If you’re looking for the M5 Air at the suggested retail price, these are the places to shop.
But that could change, especially if Amazon and Best Buy start selling out of their devices—Apple isn’t likely to be supplying them with many new units anytime soon. In that case, buying refurbished devices might be your best option. You can pick up a slightly older MacBook Air model at a significant discount, spending less than $1,000 and getting all the benefits you were looking for in a $1,300 device. For example, this refurbished MacBook Air M4 is currently on sale on Amazon for $900. You’re missing out on one M-series generation, but since Apple’s latest chips are so powerful, you likely won’t notice the difference—and you’ll save a significant amount of money.
You can also take advantage of the refurbished market to upgrade your laptop’s specs, especially options like RAM and storage. This M1 MacBook Pro , despite being five years old, is still more than capable of handling tasks in 2026 and comes with a 1TB hard drive for just over $900. If you’re interested in the benefits of a MacBook Pro but are put off by the price, this model could be a good option.
What’s next for Apple?
Apple won’t stop releasing new computers, even despite the ongoing memory crisis. Therefore , I expect the “M6” era to arrive sometime early next year —though the company’s plans could change depending on market conditions. Regardless of when Apple releases the Air with the M6 processor, the M5 will be the best value model—especially if the company raises prices again.
I’d love to say you’ll be able to simply survive RAMageddon and buy a new laptop once the crisis is over, but it’s unclear when that will be. Memory manufacturers are openly reporting difficulties scaling up production to meet demand, meaning the situation may not stabilize until next year, if not later. Therefore, Apple product prices may remain high, while supply may remain low. If you don’t need a new MacBook, I’d recommend holding on to your current computer for as long as possible; if you do, compare prices. Sometimes the latest machine simply isn’t the best value.