I can say that Apple currently has the best MacBook lineup available. With the release of the MacBook Neo, they truly have strong options across all price ranges. However, there is also a slight issue. The MacBook Neo has become the default recommendation for those who simply want a Mac laptop, and if you need Pro-level features and hardware, you go for the MacBook Pro. So where does the M5 MacBook Air fit in? Who is the target customer now? The MacBook Air is no longer an entry-level computer, but it is also not as powerful as the Pro-level MacBooks, so who should buy the MacBook Air?

Don't forget to watch our latest video discussing who the M5 MacBook Air is suitable for, because there is still a target customer!

Comparison of MacBook Neo and M5 MacBook Air

For years, the MacBook Air was the safest recommendation among laptops, especially after Apple introduced its M series chips in 2020. The MacBook Air provided an excellent balance between performance, portability, and price, and it was the most affordable laptop to enter the Apple ecosystem. At times, it even dropped to $749 on Amazon, which was a great deal.

However, the normal retail price of the MacBook Air from Apple was $999, which could be too high for some to consider. At this point, the new MacBook Neo came into play. This MacBook offered you 95% of the MacBook experience for just $599. You got the same great build quality and materials, full-fledged macOS, a fantastic 13-inch display, and tremendous battery life. The MacBook Neo has simply become the new default recommendation for most people wanting the easiest and cheapest Apple laptop.

So, not only did the starting price of the MacBook drop to $599, but Apple also updated the MacBook Air with the new M5 chip, doubled the base storage, but increased the starting price to $1099 (or $949 from Amazon). This created a $500 price gap, which forced you to completely lean towards the MacBook Neo if your budget was under $700-800. There is no real "price ladder" justifying entry into the MacBook Air. On the other hand, the MacBook Pro was becoming more Pro.

Comparison of M5 MacBook Air and M5 MacBook Pro

As the MacBook Neo dethroned the MacBook Air as the best entry-level MacBook, the MacBook Pro series was also getting better. The MacBook Pro has better hardware than the MacBook Air; it offers a Mini-LED 120Hz Promotion display, faster internal components, better speakers, more variety of ports, a fan for better sustained performance, and a machine designed for Pro-level workflows. Therefore, the MacBook Pro seems to be a clear step ahead of the MacBook Air in both hardware and performance.

The MacBook Pro starts at $1699, but you get all the great hardware I mentioned, plus more GPU cores than the Air and 1TB of base storage. So, this is where the strange part begins, and you really start to wonder who the MacBook Air appeals to. If the MacBook Neo is for entry-level customers and the MacBook Pro is for Pro-level users, then what customer is left to buy the MacBook Air?

The M5 MacBook Air Problem

The problem with the MacBook Air is that it is not a bad laptop. In fact, it is one of the best laptops you can buy today. The issue is that it no longer stands out clearly in Apple's product lineup. On one side, there is the $599 MacBook Neo. It handles daily tasks, web browsing, email, school work, and even a bit of light creative work effortlessly. For many people, this is sufficient and the price is nearly half of the Air.

On the other side is the MacBook Pro. Starting at $1699, you get a much better display, better speakers, more ports, better sustained performance thanks to the fan, and a machine that can handle heavy workloads in the long term. This feels like a real upgrade.

Therefore, the MacBook Air is left in the middle. It is more powerful than the Neo, but not dramatically better for daily tasks. And although it is cheaper than the Pro, when you consider what you get, it doesn't feel that cheap. This creates a strange situation where the MacBook Air is no longer an obvious choice. You really need to think about this.

Who Should Buy the M5 MacBook Air?

Considering all of this, the M5 MacBook Air still has a very special role. It is for those who want more power and durability than the MacBook Neo offers but do not need the extra features, weight, or cost of the MacBook Pro. It is for those doing something beyond basic needs, but not enough to justify moving to Pro. So the number of potential Air customers has decreased, but there are still people who should buy this instead of the MacBook Neo or MacBook Pro. Therefore, while the MacBook Air may feel a bit odd in Apple's current product lineup, it has not lost its value. It is no longer the default recommendation but still one of the best overall laptops you can get in the $900-1100 range.

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