Amazon Cuts 13-Inch M5 MacBook Air With 24GB Memory and 1TB SSD to $1,599
The 24GB unified memory and 1TB SSD configuration of Apple's 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is $200 off on Amazon. Wccftech reports that the $1,599 listing is the retailer's lowest price yet for this configuration.
Layla Haddad
How the discount compares
The iClarified price tracker lists Apple's retail price for this model at $1,799, putting Amazon's discount at about 11%. Other 13-inch M5 MacBook Air configurations on Amazon have smaller $150 discounts, with prices starting at $1,449.99.
The sale follows a broader price increase earlier this year. According to Macworld's M5 MacBook Air guide, updated October 12, 2026, Apple added $200 to MacBook Air prices in June. The 13-inch model's starting price rose from $1,099 at launch to $1,299.
Apple announced the M5 MacBook Air on March 3, 2026. Preorders opened March 4, followed by availability on March 11. The lineup includes 13- and 15-inch models in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver.
Memory and storage, with a sustained-performance caveat
The discounted configuration pairs a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU with 24GB of unified memory. Wccftech describes that combination as capable of handling large Lightroom libraries, 4K video editing, large spreadsheets, and dozens of browser tabs, while also providing headroom for on-device Apple Intelligence features and local AI models. The memory cannot be upgraded after purchase.
The 1TB SSD provides room for projects, media, and apps beyond the standard model's capacity. Apple now includes 512GB of storage as standard, double the previous generation's starting capacity, and offers configurations up to 4TB for the first time. Apple also says the new SSD's read and write performance is twice that of the previous generation.
For AI tasks, Apple claims performance gains of up to four times over the M4 MacBook Air and up to 9.5 times over the M1 model. The company lists unified memory bandwidth at 153GB/s, a 28% increase over M4.
The fanless design keeps the laptop silent, but Macworld's review found limits under sustained load. In demanding games, performance began declining after about 10 minutes as the 13-inch model heated up.
Portability, battery life, and desk connections
At roughly 2.7 pounds, the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air combines a lightweight design with a battery-life rating of up to 18 hours. Macworld recorded 18 hours and 24 minutes in a specific test: looping a downloaded movie with screen brightness set to 150 nits. That result does not guarantee the same runtime for other workloads.
The built-in 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports wide color, while a 12MP Center Stage camera handles video calls. Audio comes from a four-speaker system with spatial audio support.
Connections include two Thunderbolt ports, MagSafe charging, and a headphone jack. Touch ID handles authentication, and Apple's N1 wireless chip provides Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
For a desk setup, the laptop supports up to two external displays, each at resolutions up to 6K at 60Hz, without turning off its built-in screen. A compatible dock allows both external displays to connect through one Thunderbolt port.
