A significant discount has recently been applied to the MacBook Air.

The M1 MacBook Air isn’t sold directly by Apple right now, so the pricing can vary a lot at independent stores. But, Walmart and Apple have revealed that it’s being offered for a startling new price of $649, just in time for Prime Day and the start of back-to-school season. According to the listing, these aren’t even pre-owned or refurbished laptops.

Being the original Apple Silicon MacBook, the M1 MacBook Air model features an older chassis than the M2 or M3 variants used in comparison. 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM make up its basic configuration as well. The three colors—Space Gray, Silver, and Gold—are available at Walmart for this amount.

But should you really buy this older model? After all, it’s from 2020 and nearly four years old. The M1 MacBook Air was officially removed from the Apple Store earlier this year when the M3 MacBook Air entered the lineup. The M2 MacBook Air took the place of the M1 as the $999 entry-level option, meaning many felt justified in no longer recommending the older model. Despite the M1’s great performance and battery life, even by today’s standards, the new price of the M2 MacBook Air made it a better overall value.

However, Apple announced that its new software AI features, Apple Intelligence through macOS Sequoia, are backward compatible with the M1. This announcement suddenly made the affordable M1 laptop more attractive, especially if you could find it for a good price. And $649 does the trick.

Premium laptops at $649 are fairly uncommon, even on the Windows side of the aisle. One of the favorite budget laptops to recommend, the Asus Zenbook 14, comes in at a solid $800 price, but it has 512GB of storage. Despite this, the M1 MacBook Air still holds its own in terms of performance, design, and overall user experience.

Apple’s M1 microprocessor, a revolutionary departure from Intel CPUs, powers the M1 MacBook Air. Enhancing performance and efficiency, the M1 chip combines the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine into a single system on a chip (SoC). With frequent battery life of up to 18 hours on a single charge, this model also has excellent battery life. This battery life is especially useful for users, students or otherwise, who require a dependable laptop for daily work.

Despite being an older model, the M1 MacBook Air runs macOS, giving users access to a robust ecosystem of apps and seamless integration with other Apple devices. This integration is a significant advantage for users who already own other Apple products, such as an iPhone or iPad. The continuity features, like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and AirDrop, enhance productivity and create a more cohesive user experience.

The design of the M1 MacBook Air, although older, still stands out for its sleek, lightweight build. Weighing just 2.8 pounds, it is highly portable, making it an excellent choice for students and professionals who need to carry their laptop around. The Retina display, with its high resolution and vibrant colors, provides a superior viewing experience, whether you’re working on documents, watching videos, or browsing the web.

At $649, the M1 MacBook Air presents a compelling option for those looking for a high-quality laptop without breaking the bank. While it’s true that this model only comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, these specifications are sufficient for many users. For tasks such as web browsing, word processing, video streaming, and even some light photo and video editing, the M1 MacBook Air performs admirably.

Moreover, the backward compatibility of Apple’s new software AI features with the M1 model ensures that users will continue to benefit from the latest technological advancements. This compatibility extends the longevity of the laptop, providing added value over time. Users can enjoy enhanced performance and new functionalities without needing to invest in the latest hardware.

Of course, Walmart doesn’t offer larger storage or memory options under this deal. This limitation might be a drawback for power users or those who need significant storage for large files and applications. However, for a starter laptop for a student or someone who doesn’t need their computer for heavy-duty tasks, this is about as good as it gets.

For consumers on a tight budget seeking a high-end laptop, the $649 price tag of the M1 MacBook Air makes it a compelling choice. Even though it’s an older model, its functionality, battery life, and interaction with the Apple ecosystem make it a good pick. For many years to come, users will be able to choose it because of its backward compatibility with new software features, which adds to its value.

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