Who is the M5 MacBook Air yet?

I can say that Apple currently has its best MacBook lineup ever. Since the release of the MacBook Neo, they now have a solid choice at all price points. But at the same time, there is a small unusual problem. The MacBook Neo is now the default recommendation for anyone who just wants a Mac laptop, and if you need Pro-level features and hardware, you go with the MacBook Pro. So where does that leave the M5 MacBook Air? Who is the target customer now? The MacBook Air is no longer an entry-level computer, but it’s also not as powerful as the Pro-level MacBooks, so who should buy a MacBook Air?

Be sure to check out our latest video discussing who the M5 MacBook Air is because there is still a target customer!

For years, the MacBook Air has been the safest laptop recommendation, especially after Apple introduced its M series chips in 2020. The MacBook Air struck the perfect balance between performance, portability, and price, and was the cheapest laptop made by Apple that allowed you to enter the Apple ecosystem. There were times when it was as low as $749 on Amazon, making it a crazy deal.

But the regular retail price of the MacBook Air was $999 from Apple and for some, that was too much to consider. So in steps the new MacBook Neo. This MacBook gives you 95% of the MacBook experience for just $599. You have the same excellent build quality and materials, you have full macOS, you have a great 13in display, and you have insane battery life. The MacBook Neo has become the new default recommendation for many people who just want the lightest and cheapest Apple Laptop they can get their hands on.

So not only did the entry-level MacBook drop to $599, but Apple also refreshed the MacBook Air with a new M5 chip, doubled the base storage, but raised the starting price to $1099 (or $949 from Amazon). This has created a $500 price gap that really forces you to only look at the MacBook Neo if your budget is under $700-$800. There’s no real “price ladder” to justify stepping into the MacBook Air. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, the MacBook Pro was becoming a Pro.

While the MacBook Neo supplanted the MacBook Air as the best entry-level MacBook, at the same time, the MacBook Pro got even better. Not only does the MacBook Pro have better hardware than the MacBook Air, such as a Mini-LED 120Hz Promotion display, faster internals, better speakers, a variety of ports, a more stable fan, and is designed for Pro-level workflow. So the MacBook Pro feels like a significant step up from the MacBook Air, both in hardware and performance.

The MacBook Pro starts at $1699, but you get all the amazing hardware I mentioned, plus more GPU cores than the Air, and you get 1TB of basic storage. So that’s where it gets weird, and you really start to wonder whose MacBook Air it is. If the MacBook Neo is for entry-level customers and the MacBook Pro is for Pro-level users, which customer is left to buy the MacBook Air?

The issue with the MacBook Air isn’t that it’s a bad laptop, because it isn’t. It’s actually still one of the best laptops you can buy today. The problem is that it doesn’t appear clearly on Apple’s list. On the other hand, you have the MacBook Neo at $599. It handles everyday tasks like web browsing, email, homework, and some simple creative work without breaking a sweat. For most people, that’s all they need, and it costs about half the price of Spirit.

Then, on the other hand, you have the MacBook Pro. Starting at $1699, you get a better display, better speakers, more ports, better stable performance thanks to the fan, and a machine built to handle long-term heavy workloads. It feels like a real step.

So the MacBook Air ends up sitting in the middle. It’s more powerful than the Neo, but not much better for everyday tasks. And while it’s cheaper than the Pro, it’s not that very cheap when you consider how much you get. This creates a strange situation where the MacBook Air is no longer the obvious choice. You actually have to think about it.

With all that said, the M5 MacBook Air still has a definite role in the system. For people who want more power and longer life than the MacBook Neo offers, but don’t need the extra features, weight, or cost of the MacBook Pro. It’s a laptop for someone who lives in that middle ground, someone who does more than just the basics, but not enough to justify going Pro. So the volume of customers for the Air may be decreasing, but there are still people who may need this instead of a MacBook Neo or a MacBook Pro. So while the MacBook Air may feel uncomfortable in Apple’s current system, it hasn’t lost its value. It is no longer an automatic recommendation.

Final thoughts

As I said in the introduction, the Apple MacBook lineup is better than ever. But it requires more thinking than ever. The MacBook Neo is the clear choice for budget buyers, the MacBook Pro is the way to go for power users, and the MacBook Air now sits in the middle as a more balanced option for people who want more performance and longevity than the Neo without stepping up to a full Pro machine. It’s no longer the automatic recommendation it once was, but it’s still one of the best laptops you can get for $900-$1100.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you own a MacBook Air? Are you deciding between Neo and Moya? What could you do on the MacBook Air that the Neo couldn’t do? Let’s chat below!

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