Amazon Prime Day: M1 MacBook Air Hits New Record Low Price of $749.99 ($249 Off)

[jlc1978]

That only matters for parts and service. In terms of OS support, it’s always based on launch date. macOS Sonoma for example requires iMac 2019 or newer.

True, but Big Sur from 2020 is still getting security updates until 2023, which is compatible with a number of older machines, so Macs can still run a supported Mac OS for at least 5 years. For a 2019 Mac, even if you assume Sonoma is the last OS it supports, with the typical 2 year security support, after an OS is discontinued, that Mac will have reached vintage status before it all support for its OS ends.

My point was vintage pretty much decides when hardware and OS support, for an OS a vintage machine can run, ends. Although even some obsoletes machines, in terms of hardware, still can run a supported OS in 2023. So it's a bit more complicated in terms of when support ends than just intro date, in terms of how long a computer can be repaired and or run a supported OS.

 

[azentropy]

That only matters for parts and service. In terms of OS support, it’s always based on launch date. macOS Sonoma for example requires iMac 2019 or newer.

Sonoma was a pretty big change in support in my opinion due to Apple wanting to accelerate the move away from and support of Intel. I'd bet that the first Apple Silicon macs will get far longer support (in number of years) than the last Intel ones will. Time will tell.

 

[mrat93]

Well, said ram (8) and hd (256) is working just fine for me for the last 3 years already, with plenty headroom to spare. The extra storage space I do need is covered by the clouds, and a 2TB Samsung T7 SSD external. All in, some of the best money I’ve ever spent.

Point is, if you even think you need the base model, get 1, especially for this price.

The tragedy here for me is that, while yes — $749 for this is a phenomenal value — 16gb of RAM and a larger SSD would future-proof this machine for many users. The higher-end models rarely have comparable discounts.

Nowadays, you can buy a 512gb SSD and 16gb of RAM for $100 total. But if you want that in a MacBook Air, it’s $999 base, plus $400 for a 512gb SSD and 16gb of RAM.

So, a 16gb RAM / 512gb SSD M1 Air typically runs $1,399, while the base model frequently goes on sale for $799 — now $749. That’s a $650 price difference for components which typically cost $100 total. If the higher-spec’d model were similarly discounted, I’d be less salty.

As the “tech guy” in many peoples’ lives, I hate explaining “well you can get a laptop that will be great 99% of the time and likely last several years for $800, but if you want it slightly better, you can pay $600 more.”

 

[mrat93]

I don’t think support will drop soon either, but sale status is meaningless for Apple. They were still selling Intel-based iMac and Mac Pro up until recently. Apple only cares about product intro date in terms of OS support.

And then there’s this…
Apple stops selling Watch Series 3 — eight months after its last security update

 

[Mr. Dee]

In what way is this a floodgate? More like a drip if you ask me. I have learned avoid these Amazon Days, you actually get better deals later in the year. This is just Jeff wanting more pennies for his mansion.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

In what way is this a floodgate? More like a drip if you ask me. I have learned avoid these Amazon Days, you actually get better deals later in the year. This is just Jeff wanting more pennies for his mansion.

Jeff doesn't run Amazon anymore, it's Andy Jassy.

 

[JPack]

Sonoma was a pretty big change in support in my opinion due to Apple wanting to accelerate the move away from and support of Intel. I'd bet that the first Apple Silicon macs will get far longer support (in number of years) than the last Intel ones will. Time will tell.

All I can say is, don’t rely on whether the product is still being sold at the Apple Store to determine support status.

If Apple wants, they can extend or reduce support. A good example iPadOS 16 supports A9 while iOS 16 needs A11.

 

[sw1tcher]

I don’t think support will drop soon either, but sale status is meaningless for Apple. They were still selling Intel-based iMac and Mac Pro up until recently. Apple only cares about product intro date in terms of OS support money.

Fixed.

Evidence? Selling Watch 3 when it was no longer receiving software updates.

Apple Still Sells Refurbished Apple Watch Series 3 Models, But You Shouldn't Buy One

The Apple Watch Series 3 was originally announced in 2017 and remained in Apple's lineup until earlier this year as a low-cost option. The Series...

www.macrumors.com

 

[GMShadow]

2005 era ram and hard drive, 2023 era cpu. still a good sale tho, hoping for one on the pro

You making this comment on every post about machines with 8GB of RAM is not nearly as clever as you think it is.

 

[TigerNike23]

I really hope the M3 generation is when we get higher base RAM and storage in Macs and a storage bump on iOS and iPadOS devices.

It wasn’t that long ago that Apple boosted the storage on the Apple Watch. They also doubled the storage on the Apple TV.

 

[topmounter]

Well, said ram (8) and hd (256) is working just fine for me for the last 3 years already, with plenty headroom to spare. The extra storage space I do need is covered by the clouds, and a 2TB Samsung T7 SSD external. All in, some of the best money I’ve ever spent.

Point is, if you even think you need the base model, get 1, especially for this price.

I bought a base M1 Mac Mini refurb as my first foray into M-world and it remains surprisingly capable for everyday / productivity use (unfortunately I'm still stuck with an Intel MacBook Pro for work, but that gets replaced soonish). The base M1 Mini is capable enough that I have yet to succumb to the new M2 hotness... probably holding out now for M3 extra hotness at this point.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Tempted to get it just because, honestly, that old laptop's wedge shape was peak design in my opinion

 

[jdclifford]

Great device without an obnoxious notch (the one thing I really hate about my MBP even after seven months of using it). Still hard to believe Apple finally made a good, affordable laptop with decent enough specs for years and years of everyday use and I can actually recommend it to people without having to add "but it is a little pricey" at the end. 8GB RAM is more than enough for word processing, browsing, light gaming, photo editing etc. and we live in the era of "the cloud" and cheap ultrafast usb-c flash drives so 256GB is far from a concern.

U should try "topnotch.app" website. I'm using the app on both my M2 MBA and M1 MBPro14". They just updated the app to work with the Sonoma OS beta. No notch for me!

 

[deebinem]

Anyone have any experience with Amazon Renewed products? The same Air is almost $100 less:
Link

I'm guessing you don't get AC+ options with that one.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple is still selling new 2020 MBAs today, 2.5 years after release. They're not going to drop it from support anytime soon.

(Mac Pro users have entered the chat….)

 

[TigerNike23]

Anyone have any experience with Amazon Renewed products? The same Air is almost $100 less:
Link

I guessing you don't get AC+ options with that one.

I’d avoid it like the plague. Family member bought a renewed Series 4 watch, worked great for about 7 months, then got very hot and now shows the green/red snake of death. Cost to fix? Full Apple Watch replacement at Apple Store.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This kind of deal for one with more RAM and SSD … maybe

 

[Apple_Robert]

Excellent deal for the average consumer at large.

 

[deckard666]

Meh. It's a 2020 model, so it will probably no longer support the current MacOS in a couple of years, and you'll lose security updates a couple years after that. At this point, it has a far shorter lifespan than a cheaper newer model Chromebook.

Strange comment as

Are you running the best version of macOS for your Mac?

Find out if you can run macOS Tahoe on your Mac and which version of macOS is best for you with our macOS compatibility checklist.

www.macworld.com

As Apple unlike the Drioders normally support way beyond Samsung and Google....

Hubbys Xs is still supported by Apple and running the latest iOS and thats 5 years old....

 

[Aston441]

Apple is still selling new 2020 MBAs today, 2.5 years after release. They're not going to drop it from support anytime soon.

My 12" MacBook, purchased 2019, new, dropped from MacOS upgrades 3.7 years later. Apple does what it want$, no justification needed or given.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

My 12" MacBook, purchased 2019, new, dropped from MacOS upgrades 3.7 years later. Apple does what it want$, no justification needed or given.

It's been dropped from OS upgrades, but it still gets security updates.

I have no doubt the m1 air will get OS upgrades for another 3-4 years, but even then, it will still get security updates. That's how I got nine years out of my 2012 MBP.

 

[coolbreeze2]

I've got my eye on Prime Day to see if there is an irresistible deal on an M2 Pro mini or M2 Max studio. I doubt I will see such a deal but you never know!

 

[6787872]

The top of the line G5 tower machine from then had an upper limit of 8GB. The hard drive was 160 GB. The G5 tower certainly wasn't portable. Your memory may be a little foggy.

who said it was an apple product?

You making this comment on every post about machines with 8GB of RAM is not nearly as clever as you think it is.

and yet it bothers you enough to comment

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

As the price of the M1 Macbook Air keeps dropping more and more, it's only cementing the fact more and more that Apple should make a Macbook SE with this old wedge design. Maybe even take the old 12 inch Macbook and turn that into a Macbook SE.

 

[Aston441]

It's been dropped from OS upgrades, but it still gets security updates.

I have no doubt the m1 air will get OS upgrades for another 3-4 years, but even then, it will still get security updates. That's how I got nine years out of my 2012 MBP.

You do not have "no doubt." You are just guessing. Apple could drop the M1 Air tomorrow, there is nothing to stop them, and if they determine they can make more money by doing that, they will.