Get our favorite MacBook for most people for under $1,000
SAVE $200: As of Jan. 13, the 15-inch Apple M4 MacBook Air base model (with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD) is back down to just $999 at Amazon and Best Buy. That's 17% off its list price and just $50 away from its best price ever.
If you're looking to upgrade your laptop without breaking the bank, the M4 MacBook Air is an incredible value at full price. When it debuted in early 2025, we were delighted by its price tag. While everything has been getting more expensive, the base model M4 Air is shockingly $100 cheaper than its predecessor. And as of Jan. 13, you can get it for even cheaper.
The 15-inch Apple MacBook Air with the M4 chip, 16GB RAM and 256GBG of storage usually goes for $1,199, but right now it's back down to just $999 at both Amazon and Best Buy in every color. That's $200 or 17% off its list price of $1,199 and just $50 shy of its lowest price on record.
While we love the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air for students and bargain shoppers, we think the 15-inch model is really Apple's sweet spot for most people. Not only is it our favorite MacBook in the lineup, but it's also one of our favorite laptops from 2025, period. "It's beautiful, long-lasting, unexpectedly peppy, and priced very fairly, making it super easy to recommend for basically anyone wanting a near-perfect ultraportable," Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel writes.
The M4 Air's power is wildly impressive; it notched a multi-core score of 14,992 in Geekbench 6's CPU test, our primary speed benchmark. That's less than two percent slower than the M4 Pro. Mashable's reviewer called it "almost overkill." The 2025 laptop also includes an upgraded 12MP FaceTime camera and open-lid support for two external displays, so you can still use its own screen when it's hooked up to monitors.
It's hardly the first time the M4 MacBook Air has dropped below $1,000, but we still consider it one of the best deals you can get on an Apple laptop.
Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.
Christina received a B.S. in Business Communication (concentration in writing) from Stevenson University and began her professional journey writing and editing press releases. Since then, she’s written content for a marketing agency, blogged for celebrities, and covered local news, politics, women’s lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and just about everything in between for various publications.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably enjoying live music, studying human design, or embroidering and upcycling clothes. You can follow her on Instagram at @touchinfinity.
