The cheapest MacBook Air deals in March 2023

MacBook Air M1 and M2 on a cream background
(Image credit: Future)

We've searched through all the major retailers to bring you the best MacBook Air deals available right now on both the latest M2-powered model and the older M1 version.

Now that the MacBook Air M1 is three years old we've seen it available for the lowest prices ever multiple times over the last few months. It has a starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,499, but it now regularly falls to as low as $799 / £899 at most stores.

The price cuts have been more frequent due to the release of the MacBook Air M2 last year. It may not be as good value-for-money considering it costs $1,199 / £1,249 / AU$1,899 for the standard model, but it is a solid upgrade over the current version. That's due to the larger and brighter new display, thinner design and upgraded M2 chip that makes it worth investing in if you have the budget.

Even though the MacBook Air M2 is relatively new, there were some small savings during Black Friday. Any discounts in the months ahead of around $200 / £200 will match the previous record lows. However, deals like this aren't likely until some of the bigger sales events later in the year.

Either way, both are considered to be up there with some of the best laptops you can buy today. 

If you want to take a look at the latest offers on other Apple laptops. these are covered and compared in our regular roundup of the best MacBook deals and MacBook Pro deals. There's also our guide to the best laptop deals and the latest Chromebook deals for those with less to spend and who prefer a Windows or Chrome OS device.

MacBook Air deals

MacBook Air M2

(Image credit: Apple)

MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

An impressive but expensive new model

CPU: Apple M2 | Graphics: 8 or 10-core GPU | Screen: 13.6-inch, 2,560 x 1,664 Liquid Retina display (backlit LED, IPS, 500 nits brightness, wide color P3 gamut) | Memory: 8 to 24GB | Storage: 256GB to 2TB | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches (30.41 x 21.5 x 1.13cm; W x D x H)

Excellent performance
Long battery life
Stylish new design
Poor value for money

The latest MacBook Air M2 has been out for a while now and Apple has already discounted the laptop from the recommended price of $1,199 / £1,249. We've got our eyes on Black Friday for the most likely time when you'll see more major price cuts, though it has already been reduced by as much as $150 / £100.

Fancy buying it now? You can find today's best prices above. You will certainly find a better deal on the older M1 version, though, and our MacBook Air M2 (2022) review suggests this might be the wiser move anyway. You won't compromise too much on performance, as it's still capable of handling all your day-to-day computing tasks and more with ease.

MacBook Air M1 (2020)

(Image credit: Apple)

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Apple's cheapest premium laptop is excellent value-for-money

CPU: Apple M1 8-core CPU | Graphics: 7-core GPU | Screen: 13.3-inch 2,560 x 1,600 Retina True Tone display (backlit LED, IPS) | Storage: 256GB to 2TB | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.61cm; W x D x H)

Powerful new processor
Bigger storage options
Less fan performance than Pro
No design changes

The MacBook Air M1 is your best bet if you need a powerful laptop in a well-designed and lightweight form factor. The recommended price of $999 / £999 is definitely high compared to many other laptops, but you do get a lot for the money. TechRadar's computing experts still say is one of the best laptops you can buy today, as you can see in our MacBook Air M1 (2020) review.

If that high price does put you off, the good news is we've seen more discounts than ever before over recent months and some of the lowest prices ever during big sales events such as Black Friday. Just last year you could pick up this model for $799 in the US or £849 in the UK. Outside of these sales, there's usually at least $50 / £50 off the normal price, though it tends to be as high as $100 / £100. And these discounts could be even higher in the months ahead now the new M2 MacBook Air is out.

Given all the older MacBook Air models are discontinued – and going refurbished or second-hand might not be the preferred option for some – this is the device to go for today if you don't want to pay the premium for the M2 version. It's carried by the power of the M1 chip, which still gives the latest hardware a run for its money in terms of performance and the battery life is mightily impressive.

What about any pre-2020 MacBook Air deals?

Honestly, there's very little available when it comes to any deals on MacBook Air models pre-2020. We used to see a few cheap MacBook Air laptops from 2019, but these have disappeared from sale over recent months as Apple ceased production and discontinued the device.

Now, your only option for an older MacBook Air is to buy one refurbished or second-hand. There are sometimes some good prices here, but for the most part, we'd recommend paying extra to get the latest device as it has the best technology including the powerful M1 chip.

Where to find the best MacBook Air deals

Keep your eyes peeled on the retailers below as they usually have some deals on the MacBook Air at various times throughout the year. Expect similar prices for the MacBook Air from these retailers, as when one leads with a major discount the others tend to follow.

US:

UK: 

How to find the best MacBook Air deals

The best MacBook Air deals are usually seen around new product launches and holiday sales. Retailers are keen to clear out older stock when a new product comes around, so you can usually save some cash after a major MacBook announcement or release. 

If you can't hold on until the next one rolls around, though, it's best to shop from Black Friday and all the way through to the end of December in order to find the best MacBook Air sales. That said, similar price cuts do often return every so often, so keep your eyes right here to stay up to day with the latest offers.

James Pickard
Deals Editor

James Pickard is a Deals Editor at TechRadar. After many years of scouring the net for the cheapest games and tech for his own personal use, he decided to make it his job to share those bargains with you. James also has over five years of experience covering some of the biggest sales events of the year at Eurogamer and VG247, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day. When not deals hunting, James can be found on the PS5, watching a classic film noir or cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.