Apple U.S. refurbs store 2020 Intel MBA price drops

[handle manifest]

https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/2020-macbook-air

These are the prices that I remember/see for the preconfigured (non-CTO) builds:
Dual-core i3: Previously $849 (discounted from $999 for new units), now $809 (discounted from $949 for new units)
Quad-core i5: Previously $1,109, if I'm not mistaken (discounted from $1,299 for new units), now $1,019 (discounted from $1,199 for new units)

 

[lambertjohn]

Even at those low prices, I'm not sure anyone is going to go for it with the M1s shipping as we speak--at least until real world reviews come out so we can see just how much faster the M1 is over the Intel offering. I, for one, would happily pay $999 for an M1 Air vs. $809 for an i3 Air if the speed difference and battery life gains justify it.

 

[aajeevlin]

Even at those low prices, I'm not sure anyone is going to go for it with the M1s shipping as we speak--at least until real world reviews come out so we can see just how much faster the M1 is over the Intel offering. I, for one, would happily pay $999 for an M1 Air vs. $809 for an i3 Air if the speed difference and battery life gains justify it.

Don't disagree, but I'd still like to see more real-world test. I'm not talking about all these macrumors pro users test. I mean regular things like Microsoft suite (that they only have beta), and some of the other programs that most user uses on a daily basis. At least for $800 I know FOR SURE that close to 100% of my software I use regularly will have little to no problem.

 

[deeddawg]

Even at those low prices, I'm not sure anyone is going to go for it with the M1s shipping as we speak--at least until real world reviews come out so we can see just how much faster the M1 is over the Intel offering. I, for one, would happily pay $999 for an M1 Air vs. $809 for an i3 Air if the speed difference and battery life gains justify it.

Perhaps, but if you need to retain Intel VM/ bootcamp capability right now the M1 won’t do the job.

Price drop makes sense though, technically the 2020 Intel Airs are “last year’s” model at this point.

 

[Bazza1]

Yeah, but you do have to wonder - if you're thinking of a purchase that will mean ownership over more than a couple of years - the value of such a purchase.
Not because of the physical capabilities of the units, but because (if we look at Apple's move from Motorola to Intel 'way back when') while there will be a time when software developers move their product to 'Universal' (able to be run on Intel and Silicone Macs), they will eventually bite the bullet and reduce their design load and write only for Silicone. And while Silicon-powered MacOS 11.x.x units will use the included Rosetta 2 to convert and understand apps written for Intel, there's no guarantee how long Apple will let that go on before they force the issue.
It might not be be for MacOS 12 next year, but I wouldn't be surprised for the one after that, that they gear up only for Silicon software.

So, is it worth taking the chance on a (still) overpriced Mac for that?

 

[deeddawg]

So, is it worth taking the chance on a (still) overpriced Mac for that?

That really depends on the individual's situation.

IMHO, right now isn't the best time to buy a Mac which you expect to keep for several years.

If you can't get by for a few months with what you have now, I'd look to buy an Intel mac on the used market with an expectation of replacing it in 12 to 18 months as the transition to ARM matures and you have a clearer picture of what does / doesn't work.