New MacBook Air? Should I?

[skaertus]

I am thinking of buying a new MacBook Air to add up to my ever-growing list of computers. It is not going to be my main computer by any means, but my only Mac laptop.

I currently have a Dell XPS desktop which is my main computer overall; an M4 Mac mini, which is my Mac; an Asus Zenbook S14, which is my main laptop; a Lenovo Slim 7x, which is my Windows ARM laptop; an LG Gram 17, which is my big laptop; and some other older laptops.

I was torn between the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air, but I suppose the MacBook Air is the better choice. I am thinking of going with the 13-inch M5 base version, with 16 GB and 512 GB, which should be enough for general use (MS Office, web browsing, etc.).

I am torn between sky blue and midnight.

Any thoughts? Should I proceed? With which one?

 

[Sully]

I am thinking of buying a new MacBook Air to add up to my ever-growing list of computers. It is not going to be my main computer by any means, but my only Mac laptop.

I currently have a Dell XPS desktop which is my main computer overall; an M4 Mac mini, which is my Mac; an Asus Zenbook S14, which is my main laptop; a Lenovo Slim 7x, which is my Windows ARM laptop; an LG Gram 17, which is my big laptop; and some other older laptops.

I was torn between the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air, but I suppose the MacBook Air is the better choice. I am thinking of going with the 13-inch M5 base version, with 16 GB and 512 GB, which should be enough for general use (MS Office, web browsing, etc.).

I am torn between sky blue and midnight.

Any thoughts? Should I proceed? With which one?

You should buy both blue and midnight. And for heavier jobs when the two Neo’s just won’t do, you need the Air too.

In addition, you will want to add an iPad Pro so you have the benefit of the touch screen when you need it.

 

[skaertus]

You should buy both blue and midnight. And for heavier jobs when the two Neo’s just won’t do, you need the Air too.

In addition, you will want to add an iPad Pro as well so you can the benefit of the touch screen when you need it.

Oh, my! I know I have become the freak computer buyer. Don't get me started with tablets...

 

[TechRunner]

Sure, why not? After all, it's YOUR disposable income. And go with the sky blue. Better to ward off those pesky, oily fingerprints!

 

[Bazza1]

You're clearly a collector, but as it's not your main computer - or even your only Mac - I'll suggest the M5 is overkill for your needs. Let's face it, the M5 is overkill for most folks needs - unless they are doing professional level video, audio, photo editing or CAD work (or a gamer) - and you can be served just as well (if determined to get an Air over a Neo) by getting a M4. It'll cost less - even more so if you go through Apple's Refurb store - and serve you just as well.

 

[maflynn]

I was torn between the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air, but I suppose the MacBook Air is the better choice. I am thinking of going with the 13-inch M5 base version, with 16 GB and 512 GB, which should be enough for general use (MS Office, web browsing, etc.).

Both are passively cooled laptops, and as such both machines are likely to throttle under load.

Both will be more then enough for office apps and general usage, i.e., browsing, youtube.

The Price of the Neo is 600, where as the MBA is 1,100. What you get for that 500 dollar upcharge

• Superior processor (M5 vs. A18)
• More cores
• 16GB vs. 8GB
• 512GB vs 256GB of storage
• Sharper more color accurate display
• Haptic Force Touch trackpad
• Better speakers and camera
• MagSafe
• Thunderbolt ports
• Backlit keyboard

The Neo is currently the media darling and favored amongst apple fans, but its up to you to determine the features in the MBA justify the 500 dollar price difference.

 

[retiredatty]

I am thinking of buying a new MacBook Air to add up to my ever-growing list of computers. It is not going to be my main computer by any means, but my only Mac laptop.

I currently have a Dell XPS desktop which is my main computer overall; an M4 Mac mini, which is my Mac; an Asus Zenbook S14, which is my main laptop; a Lenovo Slim 7x, which is my Windows ARM laptop; an LG Gram 17, which is my big laptop; and some other older laptops.

I was torn between the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air, but I suppose the MacBook Air is the better choice. I am thinking of going with the 13-inch M5 base version, with 16 GB and 512 GB, which should be enough for general use (MS Office, web browsing, etc.).

I am torn between sky blue and midnight.

Any thoughts? Should I proceed? With which one?

Absolutely! I just bought one at BB on sale and I love it. It is also my first MacBook. I have the base model and it is very fast and would do all you want it for imo. Best

 

[1BadManVan]

just be aware, even the base m5 MacBook Air is going to outperform all your current laptops unless you're doing some pretty heavy workloads that really need a fan. Might turn into your main laptop 😉

 

[QuantumZero]

I am thinking of buying a new MacBook Air to add up to my ever-growing list of computers. It is not going to be my main computer by any means, but my only Mac laptop.

I currently have a Dell XPS desktop which is my main computer overall; an M4 Mac mini, which is my Mac; an Asus Zenbook S14, which is my main laptop; a Lenovo Slim 7x, which is my Windows ARM laptop; an LG Gram 17, which is my big laptop; and some other older laptops.

I was torn between the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air, but I suppose the MacBook Air is the better choice. I am thinking of going with the 13-inch M5 base version, with 16 GB and 512 GB, which should be enough for general use (MS Office, web browsing, etc.).

I am torn between sky blue and midnight.

Any thoughts? Should I proceed? With which one?

If I were in your shoes I wouldn't buy any, but if I really had to scratch that Macbook-itch I would get a Neo in a flashy color; it would also save you more than a couple hundreds €/$. Although it's very likely money is not an issue for you, at this point. Out of the two Air colors, I'd go for the Midnight.

Just out of curiosity, how do you choose which one of your laptops to use when, say, you want to browse the web? The thought of being able to choose a PC like it is a t-shirt is so strange to me. 🙂

 

[FrozenDarkness]

I have the sky blue one and I find it quite boring of a color tbh. I wish I went starlight or midnight.

 

[Chevyguy2021]

Ive been on the fence too. Love Mac since I got my first one a neo about a week ago.
Decided to upgrade to the 13', then changed my mind to the 15'. once the 15' arrives I'll be all set. It's my only device so I wanted a bigger screen. Can't wait to get it next week.

 

[1BadManVan]

Ive been on the fence too. Love Mac since I got my first one a neo about a week ago.
Decided to upgrade to the 13', then changed my mind to the 15'. once the 15' arrives I'll be all set. It's my only device so I wanted a bigger screen. Can't wait to get it next week.

And you’re the exact target audience Apple was going for with the Neo release lol. Get you in the door wanting more

 

[Chevyguy2021]

And you’re the exact target audience Apple was going for with the Neo release lol. Get you in the door wanting more

basically. It's a trap haha.

 

[1BadManVan]

basically. It's a trap haha.

for sure, but a trap I don't mind being in lol

 

[romanof]

Bazza1 has it right. The M5 Air (or any M5, actually) is overkill for almost anybody, but the new Air with 25gb is a fine machine. Fully loaded and working, I probably use 2 percent of the capability on the average. As to color, who cares? Anybody who actually carries one out of the house should put a cover on it and with that the rainbow is the limit.

 

[Biro]

Both are passively cooled laptops, and as such both machines are likely to throttle under load.

Both will be more then enough for office apps and general usage, i.e., browsing, youtube.

The Price of the Neo is 600, where as the MBA is 1,100. What you get for that 500 dollar upcharge

• Superior processor (M5 vs. A18)
• More cores
• 16GB vs. 8GB
• 512GB vs 256GB of storage
• Sharper more color accurate display
• Haptic Force Touch trackpad
• Better speakers and camera
• MagSafe
• Thunderbolt ports
• Backlit keyboard

The Neo is currently the media darling and favored amongst apple fans, but its up to you to determine the features in the MBA justify the 500 dollar price difference.

Finding the $599 256GB Neo is getting a bit tough. Amazon is offering the 512GB model with fingerprint ID for $689 (a $10 discount off MSRP). But Amazon is also offering the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and a faster 512GB SSD for $999. About a $300 difference. Unless you can find a better deal on a refurb directly from Apple, I’d go with Amazon’s MBA.

EDIT: If you’re not particularly picky, Costco has the M4 version of the MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD for $699. I’d get that before the base 256GB Neo.

 

[Chevyguy2021]

Finding the $599 256GB Neo is getting a bit tough. Amazon is offering the 512GB model with fingerprint ID for $689 (a $10 discount off MSRP). But Amazon is also offering the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and a faster 512GB SSD for $999. About a $300 difference. Unless you can find a better deal on a refurb directly from Apple, I’d go with Amazon’s MBA.

Last week they had the air m5 13' for $950. Now were talking a $250 difference which to me makes the air the best choice

 

[BSDnostalgia]

I am thinking of buying a new MacBook Air to add up to my ever-growing list of computers. It is not going to be my main computer by any means, but my only Mac laptop.

Definitely you should get the Air. My suggestion is to get it with 24GB memory and 1 TB SSD. That way, when it becomes your main computer, everything will fit. Because once you have it, you won't be able to resist making it your main computer.

The Price of the Neo is 600, where as the MBA is 1,100. What you get for that 500 dollar upcharge

(List omitted.) Definitely a useful list, especially the Thunderbolt ports, which will help make it the main computer. Also, something not on the list: the M5 Air has Apple MIE, which will help make the Air the least-compromised device in the upcoming security free-for-all. This may turn out to be like Toy Story where the other computers get jealous.