Best Buy Selling M1 MacBook Air for $650, a New All-Time Low Price

[webkit]

During the Jobs era, the best you'd get off a current-model Mac was $5-10. Retailers would sometimes throw in free software or a mail-in rebate, but as far as actual dollars off - a few bucks was the most you'd get.

Back in Jobs' 1980s Apple era, the company's computers (Apple II, Macintosh, Lisa) were routinely being discounted by Apple retailers and I'm not just talking a few bucks or about the rather significant education discounts.

Discounting by third party Apple retailers continued after Jobs' exit in 1985 and following his return in 1997.

Probably the most extreme examples would be the Apple Lisa in 1983-84 and the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh in 1997-98. The price reductions on the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh had been so significant that to appease customers who had paid full price, Apple gave them a free high-end PowerBook in 1998.

Apple had to do similar with the original iPhone in 2007 when they lowered the price $200 (33% to 40%) less than three months after launch. To appease early adopters, Apple gave them $100 gift cards.

 

[webkit]

Discounting on Apple.com has ceased for a long time already.

It hasn't ceased entirely as Apple still discounts (lowers the price) previous generation devices. For example, the 8GB RAM/256GB SSD M2 MacBook Air is now priced at $999 at Apple which is a $200 discount (lower price) from its original price.

Discounting from authorized Apple resellers regularly occurs.

Yes, and that was really my main point. Discounting by third party Apple retailers has been regularly going on for over 40 years. It's far from a new thing.

 

[aj_niner]

It hasn't ceased entirely as Apple still discounts (lowers the price) previous generation devices. For example, the 8GB RAM/256GB SSD M2 MacBook Air is now priced at $999 at Apple which is a $200 discount (lower price) from its original price.

That's just repositioning MSRP as older year model is being phased out.

I was pointing to discounted sales of MSRP by Apple.com itself.

 

[IG88]

for being a low valued reseller that tarnishes the brand of Apple.

LOL. How dare they allow Apple devices to be affordable by peasants!

 

[aj_niner]

Now everyone who bashed Walmart has 50 more reasons to bash Best Buy for being a low valued reseller that tarnishes the brand of Apple.

It actually does not.

It purposefully done to keep MSRP on Apple.com & Apple Stores.

 

[bgillander]

Back in Jobs' 1980s Apple era, the company's computers (Apple II, Macintosh, Lisa) were routinely being discounted by Apple retailers and I'm not just talking a few bucks or about the rather significant education discounts.

Discounting by third party Apple retailers continued after Jobs' exit in 1985 and following his return in 1997.

Probably the most extreme examples would be the Apple Lisa in 1983-84 and the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh in 1997-98. The price reductions on the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh had been so significant that to appease customers who had paid full price, Apple gave them a free high-end PowerBook in 1998.

Apple had to do similar with the original iPhone in 2007 when they lowered the price $200 (33% to 40%) less than three months after launch. To appease early adopters, Apple gave them $100 gift cards.

Yes, those would be the exact same three large discounts that I remember, and recalling three specific occasions 40, 27, and 17 years ago is obviously a sign that a company discounted quite often.

If anyone is looking for these M1 Airs at Best Buy, they still show stock in Canada… probably because the sale price is $1199 here.

 

[ericinboston]

Honest question: if you had a like new 2020 Intel i5 four thunderbolt ports MacBook Pro model 16/512GB, would you replace it with an Apple silicon model today? I am offered $725 for it today.

I love absolutely everything about it (especially its loudspeakers - its replacement must have equally good speakers if not better)…

…except 1) how hot it runs, 2) how terrible the webcam is, and 3) the sluggish 60hz screen now that I’ve gotten spoiled by 120hz.

1)It makes no sense to replace a 2020 Intel laptop with a 2020 M1 laptop. They're both 4 years old and a bunch of limitations with the specs anyway. And wow, the M1 screen looks so ancient and small compared to the M2.

2)I have an M2 Air model and love, love, love, LOVE it! I believe there are some very great deals right now for M2 Airs. The M2 and M3 Airs certainly lack the ports (which drives me crazy...can't add a 3rd port, eh, Apple?) but depending on what you're doing and how much your lugging your laptop around, you may simply use a $19 USB hub like me and everyone else.

3)I don't think you need to wait for an M4 as others suggested. I have not seen the M3 yet but it seems to be 99% the same as the M2 except a bit faster depending on exactly what you're doing. Both the M2 and M3 should be a giant upgrade as far as cpu performance, heat, and fan noise compared to your current machine. The M3 just came out...don't wait 1+ more years to save $200 and/or hope for some massive improvement over the M3 chip or M3 Air design/ports.

In short, buying the M1 now is a terrible decision for everyone. Buy an M2 or hold off a few weeks and see if there's a good deal on an M3 and future proof yourself a bit more. Remember, Apple LOVES to lock you into a laptop after a few years because you cannot upgrade the OS...even if you just want an updated Safari for features and security.

 

[bgillander]

Remember, Apple LOVES to lock you into a laptop after a few years because you cannot upgrade the OS...even if you just want an updated Safari for features and security.

Really? I thought MacOS 14 dropped support for most 2017 machines, which would be 7 years, which is a bit lower than it usually used to be, but more than a few. And I thought that the current Safari runs on MacOS 12 and 13, which would support Macs back to 2015? I never really thought of 9 years as a few before, either. You also used to be able to run Firefox or another alternative browser on the Mac, but perhaps that has changed and they no longer support farther back than Safari like they used to?

 

[uacd]

Good deal, EXCEPT 8MB of RAM and 256GB drive is complete garbage! What can you do with that? I boot up my MBP and 7+ GB of RAM is consumed right off the bat with Safari opened with no webpages loaded

well, kinda. For 650$ there are not so many Windows laptops with similar specs and with aluminum chassis.

Also Safari has become a hog in recent years. On iOS it is bearable but not on Mac. Switched to Firefox alltogether. Theming, proper and full adblocking and speed got me there

 

[webkit]

That's just repositioning MSRP as older year model is being phased out.

I was pointing to discounted sales of MSRP by Apple.com itself.

While Apple does try to avoid the "discounter look" in its stores and website by repositioning MSRPs instead, whether they market a product in a "Was $1,199.....NOW $999" style or simply show the price as $999, the net result is essentially the same as discounting.

 

[tonywalker23]

It actually does not.

It purposefully done to keep MSRP on Apple.com & Apple Stores.

I was joking

 

[stealthytolkien]

1)It makes no sense to replace a 2020 Intel laptop with a 2020 M1 laptop. They're both 4 years old and a bunch of limitations with the specs anyway. And wow, the M1 screen looks so ancient and small compared to the M2.

2)I have an M2 Air model and love, love, love, LOVE it! I believe there are some very great deals right now for M2 Airs. The M2 and M3 Airs certainly lack the ports (which drives me crazy...can't add a 3rd port, eh, Apple?) but depending on what you're doing and how much your lugging your laptop around, you may simply use a $19 USB hub like me and everyone else.

3)I don't think you need to wait for an M4 as others suggested. I have not seen the M3 yet but it seems to be 99% the same as the M2 except a bit faster depending on exactly what you're doing. Both the M2 and M3 should be a giant upgrade as far as cpu performance, heat, and fan noise compared to your current machine. The M3 just came out...don't wait 1+ more years to save $200 and/or hope for some massive improvement over the M3 chip or M3 Air design/ports.

In short, buying the M1 now is a terrible decision for everyone. Buy an M2 or hold off a few weeks and see if there's a good deal on an M3 and future proof yourself a bit more. Remember, Apple LOVES to lock you into a laptop after a few years because you cannot upgrade the OS...even if you just want an updated Safari for features and security.

Thank you. Aside from the lack of ProMotion, my 13.3” MBP screen is vibrant and bright enough for my needs. But perhaps the 14” model screen is even better. Either way, I’d not be going with the M1 / M1 Pro as they’re also almost 3 years old now. I’d likely opt for the M2 Pro to your point.

 

[JustAnExpat]

You can get a better deal at BB. Just picked up a Mac Mini M2 for $499.

Mac mini isn't a MacBook Air :O

 

[ric22]

1)It makes no sense to replace a 2020 Intel laptop with a 2020 M1 laptop. They're both 4 years old and a bunch of limitations with the specs anyway. And wow, the M1 screen looks so ancient and small compared to the M2.

2)I have an M2 Air model and love, love, love, LOVE it! I believe there are some very great deals right now for M2 Airs. The M2 and M3 Airs certainly lack the ports (which drives me crazy...can't add a 3rd port, eh, Apple?) but depending on what you're doing and how much your lugging your laptop around, you may simply use a $19 USB hub like me and everyone else.

3)I don't think you need to wait for an M4 as others suggested. I have not seen the M3 yet but it seems to be 99% the same as the M2 except a bit faster depending on exactly what you're doing. Both the M2 and M3 should be a giant upgrade as far as cpu performance, heat, and fan noise compared to your current machine. The M3 just came out...don't wait 1+ more years to save $200 and/or hope for some massive improvement over the M3 chip or M3 Air design/ports.

In short, buying the M1 now is a terrible decision for everyone. Buy an M2 or hold off a few weeks and see if there's a good deal on an M3 and future proof yourself a bit more. Remember, Apple LOVES to lock you into a laptop after a few years because you cannot upgrade the OS...even if you just want an updated Safari for features and security.

Respectfully disagree. Differences between M1 and M2 Air are pretty tiny. The M1 at such low prices is a far better buy than the price Apple is currently charging for the M2.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Respectfully disagree. Differences between M1 and M2 Air are pretty tiny. The M1 at such low prices is a far better buy than the price Apple is currently charging for the M2.

Agreed
I thought MKBHD cover this well in his latest M3 Air video
The whole thing was basically a recommendation to "go buy the M2 or M1 instead" - lol

 

[ric22]

Whether it's the M4 or M5 that finally boost both RAM and storage, that'd provide stronger future proofing. The M3 Air is running some very old specs, SoC aside.

 

[ric22]

The M2 and M3 Airs certainly lack the ports (which drives me crazy...can't add a 3rd port, eh, Apple?)

I wonder how many more years before we finally earn a 3rd USB port? Especially on the 15" Air it is very stingy. Not having ports on both sides of the device annoys me with my M1 Air, and makes me like my work Pro more for not being handicapped.

 

[hoodafoo]

well, kinda. For 650$ there are not so many Windows laptops with similar specs and with aluminum chassis.

Also Safari has become a hog in recent years. On iOS it is bearable but not on Mac. Switched to Firefox alltogether. Theming, proper and full adblocking and speed got me there

you wanna know why I stuck with Safari? I can use my trackpad to swipe backwards. that's like the smartest UI design ever!

 

[ZipZap]

Pretty sure the M1 will continue to be made by Apple but sold through Walmart.

 

[aj_niner]

Pretty sure the M1 will continue to be made by Apple but sold through Walmart.

That's my thinking.

On Apple.com sub-$999 MBAs do not exist but 3rd party dealers can do $650 SKUs.