Heads up, tech enthusiasts! If you’ve been eyeing a new Apple MacBook Air M5, now might be your last best chance to snag one at an incredible price. A recent, significant price hike from Apple means these current Amazon Prime Day deals are more crucial than ever. Before we dive into the savings, let’s talk about why you can trust our recommendations at ZDNET.
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The Apple Price Shock: Why These MacBook Air M5 Deals Are Crucial
Right now, during Amazon’s Prime Day event, both the 13-inch and 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M5 models are on sale. The 13-inch variant starts at just $949, while the more expansive 15-inch model begins at an attractive $1,149. These prices are particularly noteworthy given recent market shifts.
In a surprising move, Apple recently implemented a blanket price increase across its entire MacBook and iPad lineup due to rising component costs. This means consumers are now paying anywhere from 15% to 25% more for the same device than they would have just yesterday. While Apple’s official prices have climbed, Amazon has not yet adjusted its Prime Day sale prices.
This creates a rare window of opportunity where the MacBooks on sale for Prime Day remain at their lower, pre-hike prices. For example, the 15-inch MacBook Air M5 is currently available for $1,149, saving you $150 compared to Apple’s new official pricing. This is a significant advantage you won’t find directly from Apple.
The primary driver behind this increased cost is unprecedented demand for RAM and NAND flash storage from AI infrastructure companies. These firms are scooping up vast quantities of these vital components, leading to a shortage for consumer electronics. Apple CEO Tim Cook had even warned of an impending price hike in an interview, stating that higher prices had become “unavoidable.”
Why the MacBook Air M5 Remains a Top Pick (Act Fast!)
If you’ve been contemplating a new MacBook Air, Amazon Prime Day truly might be your final opportunity to secure these kinds of prices. The MacBook Air M5 earned our Editor’s Choice award, celebrated for its exceptional features relative to cost, its refined design, and a thoroughly enjoyable user experience. It continues to be the versatile, jack-of-all-trades laptop we recommend to most users.
This model boasts a thin-and-light build, phenomenal battery life, and — compared to its M4 predecessor — offers more memory and faster storage. It strikes a perfect balance of portability, performance, and everyday usability that makes it ideal for students, professionals, and casual users alike. Its blend of power and efficiency is hard to beat in its category.
We’ve rated this particular deal a 4/5, primarily because these prices are significantly cheaper than Apple’s new official store prices. While they might not be the absolute lowest prices we’ve ever observed historically, they represent the best value you’re likely to find now. Unfortunately, these prices might be as low as they can possibly go for the foreseeable future as companies grapple with ever-rising component costs.
Maximize Your Savings: ZDNET’s Commitment to Prime Day Deals
Amazon’s Prime Day event for 2026 runs from Tuesday, June 23, to Friday, June 26, having been shifted up from its usual July timeframe. It’s important to remember that deals are subject to selling out or expiring at any time, especially with the current market dynamics. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable, but acting quickly is often key.
At ZDNET, we are committed to finding, sharing, and continuously updating the best product deals to help you score maximum savings. We understand that missing out on a deal can be frustrating, but don’t fret — we’re constantly discovering new chances to save and sharing them with you daily at ZDNET.com. Our aim is always to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter and with confidence.
With 33 years of experience, a team of 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of dedicated lab space, ZDNET has a robust infrastructure to bring you the best in tech. In 2025, we further refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable and transparent system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our distinctive editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it simple to interpret our expertise and confidently make the best purchase decision.
At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tier tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system informed by our team members’ expertise. This includes factors like frequency, brand recognition, and product popularity. The result is a selection of hand-crafted deals, chosen specifically for ZDNET readers and fully backed by our experts, ensuring you get unparalleled value and trustworthy recommendations every time.
Source: ZDNet – AI
