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Apple Says Goodbye to the M1 MacBook Air
Apple today discontinued the MacBook Air with the M1 chip, which launched in November 2020 as one of the first Apple silicon Macs.
In the U.S., the MacBook Air lineup now consists of the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip starting at $999, the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip starting at $1,099, and the 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip starting at $1,299.
For more details about the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip, read our coverage of Apple’s announcement.
Price Adjustments and a Bargain from the Past
Apple continues to tweak its MacBook Air pricing after debuting new M3 versions today for 13 and 15-inch models.
While the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air saw a price drop, Apple also axed M1 MacBook Airs from its website. But the M1 is still available from its online refurbished store and also comes with a slight price drop compared to before.
Right now, you can get an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU M1 MacBook with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for $989 CAD.
When these refurbished units first became available in February 2021, they debuted at $1,099. At this price point, you’re still getting a decent laptop for school or light work, with great battery life. The refurbished M2 MacBook Air is $110 more and it might be worth the extra to jump to an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU. But if you’re price conscious…get what you can afford.
Click here to jump on the M1 MacBook Air at $989 while it’s still available.
Thanks Scott
Reflecting on the Era of the M1 MacBook Air
The discontinuation of the M1 MacBook Air marks the end of an era for Apple, transitioning fully to its newer silicon chips, the M2 and M3. The M1 MacBook Air, praised for its revolutionary chip that promised and delivered on high performance and efficiency, leaves a legacy that is hard to overlook.
With the introduction of the M2 and M3 chips, Apple continues to push the boundaries of what its laptops can achieve, aiming to cater to a broader range of professional and casual users. The company’s commitment to innovation is clear, but it doesn’t forget those looking for value – as evidenced by their offering of refurbished M1 models.
As technology moves on, the question remains – what next? With each chip iteration, expectations are high, and only time will tell what Apple has in store. The discontinuation of the M1 MacBook Air not only marks a step forward in Apple’s technological advances but also opens the door for future innovations that could once again revolutionize the market.
As we bid farewell to the M1 MacBook Air, the tech community watches with bated breath to see how Apple’s continuous innovations will shape the future of computing. Will the M3 and beyond live up to the high bar set by the M1? Only time will tell.
