At a Glance
- Apple cut the starting price of the M4 MacBook Air to $999, down $100 from the M3 model
- The 15-inch MacBook Air now begins at $1,199, making large-screen Apple laptops more affordable
- M1 MacBook Air remains the budget champion at $599 via Walmart
- Why it matters: Shifting price tiers widen the gap between Air and Pro lines, giving buyers clearer choices
Apple’s 2026 MacBook lineup delivers more performance per dollar than ever. The M4 MacBook Air dropped to $999, while the roomier 15-inch Air fell to $1,199, according to testing by Amanda S. Bennett for News Of Losangeles. The move widens the pricing gulf between everyday Air models and the pricier MacBook Pro series, which now starts at $1,599 for the M5 14-inch version.
Price Cuts Reshape the Lineup
Apple trimmed $100 from both M4 MacBook Air models. Entry-level shoppers can also grab the still-capable M1 MacBook Air at Walmart for $599.
Current starting prices:
- 13-inch M4 Air: $999
- 15-inch M4 Air: $1,199
- 14-inch M5 Pro: $1,599
- 16-inch M4 Pro: $2,499
The steepest jump is between the 15-inch Air and the 14-inch Pro, a $400 difference that reflects the Pro’s faster M5 chip, 120 Hz ProMotion display and extra ports.
Air vs. Pro: How They Compare
Both families share Apple silicon, silent fan-less designs on Air models and all-day battery life, but performance gaps remain.
MacBook Air highlights:
- M4 processor with 8- or 10-core GPU
- Up to 18-hour battery
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display
MacBook Pro highlights:
- M5, M4 Pro or M4 Max chips
- Up to 40-core GPU on Max
- 120 Hz mini-LED screens
- Three Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, SD card slot
Weight differences are modest. The 15-inch Air weighs 3.3 lb, only 0.1 lb less than the 14-inch Pro, but the 16-inch Pro climbs to 4.7 lb.
Which MacBook Should You Buy?
Students and casual users: The 13-inch M4 Air offers enough speed for browsing, Office apps and light creative work. Discounts can drop it to $799 on Amazon.
Big-screen seekers: The 15-inch Air gives you 15.3 inches of space without the Pro premium.
Power users: Video editors, 3-D artists and developers will benefit from the M4 Pro or M4 Max chips inside the 14-inch or 16-inch Pro models.
Budget hunters: The M1 Air at $599 remains the least expensive path into macOS.
Specifications at a Glance
| Model | CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-inch M4 Air | 10-core | 10-core | 16 GB | 256 GB | 2.7 lb | $999 |
| 15-inch M4 Air | 10-core | 10-core | 16 GB | 256 GB | 3.3 lb | $1,199 |
| 14-inch M5 Pro | 10-core | 10-core | 16 GB | 512 GB | 3.4 lb | $1,599 |
| 16-inch M4 Pro | 14-core | 20-core | 24 GB | 512 GB | 4.7 lb | $2,499 |
Testing Notes
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Amanda S. Bennett tested every current MacBook in the News Of Losangeles labs and during daily workloads. Benchmarks cover CPU, GPU and real-world battery loops; hands-on portions judge display quality, keyboard comfort and thermal noise. The 15-inch Air lasted 17 hr 15 min in video playback, beating its rated 18 hr by 45 min.
The Bottom Line
Apple’s 2026 price cuts make the MacBook Air the default choice for most buyers. Spend $999 on the 13-inch M4 Air and you get speedy everyday performance in a 2.7-lb chassis. Need a bigger screen? The 15-inch Air at $1,199 undercuts the 14-inch Pro by $400 while still handling Photoshop, Xcode and 4-K video streams with ease. Only step up to a Pro if you require extra GPU cores, sustained rendering loads or the smoothest 120 Hz panel.
Key Takeaways:
- Best overall: 15-inch M4 MacBook Air
- Best for students: 13-inch M4 MacBook Air
- Best for creatives: 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro
- Best budget: M1 MacBook Air (Walmart)
