Apple Raises MacBook Air M5 Starting Price Amid Global Memory Crisis
Apple has raised the starting price of its M5 MacBook Air models by $200, attributing the change to a global memory crisis. The 13-inch version now begins at $1,299 and the 15-inch model starts at $1,499. Reviewers praise the device's high performance, thin design, and AI-supporting Neural Accelerators, but note the higher cost alters its overall value proposition.
Key points
- Apple, the multinational technology company, increased the baseline price for its M5 MacBook Air lineup due to a global memory crisis.
- The starting price for the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air rose from $1,099 to $1,299, while the 15-inch model increased from $1,299 to $1,499.
- Earlier in late May, the laptop was briefly discounted to $899 at Amazon before the price adjustments took effect.
- Reviewers highlight the device's technical specifications, including a speedy M5 chip, Neural Accelerators for AI workloads, and an HDR Liquid Retina Display in a 2.7-pound chassis.
- Industry analysts and reviewers suggest that owners of existing M3 or M4 MacBook Air models may want to skip this generation given the increased pricing.
Apple has updated its pricing structure for the M5 MacBook Air lineup, raising starting costs by $200 across models. The adjustments bring the new base price for the 13-inch laptop to $1,299, up from its original $1,099 tag. Meanwhile, the larger 15-inch variant now starts at $1,499, compared to the previous $1,299 baseline. According to reports, these increases are driven by an ongoing global memory crisis affecting hardware production costs.
Despite the price hike, the device has earned positive reviews for its hardware engineering and performance capabilities. Weighing 2.7 pounds and measuring 0.44 inches thick, the laptop features an HDR Liquid Retina Display, Touch ID, and built-in Neural Accelerators designed to handle intensive artificial intelligence workloads. The machine runs on macOS 26 Tahoe and is available in midnight black, sky blue, silver, and starlight color options.
Reviewers noted that while the hardware represents a near-perfect engineering achievement—having briefly dropped to a promotional price of $899 at Amazon during late May—the higher baseline shifts the consumer value proposition. Experts currently advise users who already own an M3 or M4 generation MacBook Air to hold off on upgrading, as the performance gains may not outweigh the increased entry cost in the current market environment.
Sources
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