Apple’s recent launch of the M4 MacBook Air not only introduced the macOS consumer laptop to the Apple Silicon M4 chipset, but also brought the entry-level price down to $999. For those looking for a better deal, Apple has one.. you just need to ask Walmart.
The Apple Store page for the MacBook Air only features models equipped with the latest M4 chips; the other options have been removed from sale and put out to pasture.
Except…
Walmart’s MacBook Air
Alongside last year’s launch of the M3-powered MacBook Air, the company continued manufacturing new M1 MacBook Air units. Rather than sell them through the Apple Store, they instead went on sale at Walmart. These were the lowest specs of MacBook Air possible, 2020’s Apple Silicon M1 chipset, 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM.
Why Walmart and not Apple? Many suspect that the price tag was the reason. At a consumer-friendly $699, this was the cheapest new MacBook Air, bar none. Given that Apple has been steadfast at keeping the lowest list price at $999 on its website and rarely mentions the $100 educational discount, having a MacBook for $699 would strip away much of the allure of luxury it has built up.
With the recent M4 MacBook Air launch, Walmart’s offer has been updated. While the specs remain low—this is still the 8/256 option on the M1 MacBook Air—the sticker price has dropped to $649. The lowest-priced MacBook Air Apple currently offers is through its refurbished store. That’s an M3 MacBook Air with 16 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage for $759.
A Value For Money MacBook Air
Last year, the M1 Air was probably the best-performing laptop at the $699 mark if you could put up with the quirks of macOS and be happy to walk into Apple’s private ecosystem. One year later, the competition has caught up, and a $50 discount may not be enough to stay ahead of the specs/price balance. However, it’s clear that the stealthy relationship between Walmart and Apple has been successful and will continue into 2025.
Now read the latest MacBook Air, iPhone and iPad headlines in Forbes’ weekly Apple Loop news digest…
