Three geezerhood ago today , Apple ’s M1 chip had a terrific introduction in theMac mini,13 - inch MacBook Pro , and theMacBook Air . Since then , those Macs have expire through their cycles and have had chip climb – or have beenreplaced tout ensemble . But a undivided M1 Mac remains in Apple ’s current Mac lineup : theM1 MacBook Air .
Apple keeps the M1 MacBook Air around because , at $ 999 , it ’s the company ’s only sub-$1,000 laptop computer ( yes , by only a $ 1 , but , you recognise , selling ) . It ’s in reality a decent MacBook by today ’s standards , but it ’s also a three - year - old laptop that ’s no longer worth that price — especially when the M2 model is just $ 100 more .
3-year-old laptop, 5-year-old design
The $ 999 cost was the original price back in November 2020 . But the price is n’t the only thing that has n’t shift – the M1 MacBook Air uses a design that wasintroduced in 2018 .
When theM2 MacBook Airwas released , Apple redesigned the laptop . Along with the retreat of the wedge profile , the novel designing has thinner bezels , and the keyboard has full - sized Function key . Apple also sum up Midnight and Starlight to the Space Gray and argent color choice and knock down Gold . It originally sold for $ 1,199 but the price was abridge to $ 1,099 when the 15 - column inch example arrive .
The M2 MacBook Air ( left ) has a more New conception than the M1 MacBook Air ( rightfulness ) .
The M2 MacBook Air (left) has a more modern design than the M1 MacBook Air (right).
IDG
The M1 MacBook Air has the classic submarine design that people love , but its bezels are duncish , which cut down on the usable screen area . It has half - sized Function tonality , and the colour selection are limited to Space Gray , Gold , and Silver .
At $ 999 , customers are paying a premium for an honest-to-goodness design that cuts down on functionality . But hey , the wedge shape holds some sentimental value and some customers mourned its disappearance in the raw excogitation . But it ’s not worth $ 999 .
The M2 MacBook Air (left) has a more modern design than the M1 MacBook Air (right).
Price, performance, and the M3
An argument can be made that plan is mostly a topic of taste and that the 2020 MacBook Air ’s shortcomings do n’t really bear on productivity . Fine . But processing swiftness does , and we ’re coming nigh to a point where the terms being paid is too much for the performance you get .
The 13 - in M2 MacBook Air is $ 1,099 and is 20 percent faster than the M1 MacBook Air . That ’s not a bad deal–$100 more for a cost increase you could finger . If you really do n’t need to yield over $ 1,000 for a laptop , well , the M1 Air is a fine option , just not at $ 999 .
Base M-series chips compared: Geekbench 6
But the introduction of the M3 also brings some intrigue . Apple will upgrade the MacBook Air to an M3 at some point , and if theM3 MacBook Pro is any indicator , it ’s going to be about 40 percent faster than the M1 model ( see chart above ) . That ’s a huge boost .
If the M3 MacBook Air is still price at $ 1,099 and offers similar operation as the M3 MacBook Pro ( neither of which if guaranteed ) , then the $ 999 M1 MacBook Air becomes an afterthought . For $ 100 more , you get 40 pct more performance . Nowthat’sa passel !
Just lower the price and boom!
As it turn out , the M3 creates an chance for Apple and its customer . If an M3 MacBook Air starts at $ 1,099 , then $ 999 for an M1 MacBook Air is way too much . Apple could lower the price to $ 899 , which would be more toothsome . After all , Amazon regularly trade the M1 Air for $ 750 — and you may get a $ 150 natural endowment placard if you buy one from Apple during its Black Friday shopping upshot — so Apple would definitely still make a goodly net income at $ 899 .
At that price , it would continue to trade , even if it is over three years old by the time the M3 MacBook Air is out . Going forward , Apple could even re-create the iPhone product cycle , where the new model is released , the old model it replaces is still on cut-rate sale but with a price decrease , and the model that is two cycles old than the brand - new one is still on sales event at an even meretricious price . So the M1 would be $ 899 , the M2 would be $ 999 , and the M3 is $ 1,099 .
Imagine if Apple lowered the cost of the M1 MacBook Air to $ 899 . It could touch off Mac sales .
Imagine if Apple lowered the price of the M1 MacBook Air to $899. It could spark Mac sales.
Foundry
That $ 899 M1 MacBook Air in particular would be very popular and could be the Mac that boosts thelagging sale numbersthat have the fellowship concern . ( $ 849 or $ 799 would be even better , but Apple have sex its margins . )
For Apple, it’s not that simple
The M1 MacBook Air post seems like it has a simple answer that ’s a win for Apple and its customers . But Mac sale are n’t like iPhone sale , so an iPhone product cycle like I just draw may not create the Mac sales results the company want . A $ 899 MacBook Air will cut into sales of pricier , more modern Macs . Apple does n’t need to have a three - year - old laptop be a top - selling production .
What ’s more likely is that when the M3 MacBook Air is introduced ( probably in the spring of 2024 ) , the M2 framework becomes the new $ 999 option , and the M1 MacBook Air is discontinue .
Which would be too big . It ’s still a good laptop and with a lower price , it could be the Mac that breaks the cut-rate sale barrier that live for Mac . If the M1 MacBook Air ’s trial does end next year , it was a good one .
