Forget the MacBook Neo — this record-low price on the new MacBook Air 13 M5 could be the better value buy

The new Apple MacBook Neo has undoubtedly been one of the most popular tech launches of the year so far. So popular, in fact, that it seems to have overshadowed the brand’s other recent launch, the latest MacBook Air M5. I imagine that’s partly why you can pick up the MacBook Air M5 for $949 (was $1,099) at Amazon.

A $150 price cut this soon after launch is rare on a new Apple MacBook, but I’m certainly not complaining. This is a fantastic record-low price on a machine that we still think is an exceptional buy for most people.

Record-low MacBook Air M5 at Amazon

• See more: check out all of today’s deals at Amazon

Is the MacBook Air a better buy right now?

It really depends on your use case. The MacBook Neo is more than enough for basic tasks and even some demanding applications (within reason). The Air is a better buy if you have more serious workloads in mind, however.

For example, even though the Neo’s A18 chipset is good, the MacBook Air’s M5 chip provides more headroom and multitasking capacity. That’s aided by the fact that the baseline MacBook Air also comes with 16GB of RAM, which is a significant step-up from the Neo’s 8GB.

Other upgrades include a faster SSD (better loading speeds), a haptic mouse pad, and much better audio thanks to the Air’s more advanced speakers. Perhaps most crucially, however, the Air features two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, which let it support two external 1440p monitors.

Alex is TechRadar’s retail editor, specializing in buying advice and general tips on how to save our readers as much cash as possible. He’s covered major retail events in some capacity for over seven years now; both in editorial and other ecommerce adjacent roles on TechRadar, T3, GamesRadar, and other Future PLC sites. Alex’s expertise touches on most areas, but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer.