Apple stunned the industry when it launched the MacBook Neo in March 2026 for just $599 ($499 for students), especially as most PC makers were raising prices. Unfortunately, that era is already over. On June 25, Apple increased the prices of the MacBook Neo , M5 MacBook Air , and several MacBook Pro models by up to $300. If you’ve been planning to buy a MacBook, the ongoing Prime Day 2026 sale may be your last opportunity to buy one at the old-time pricing. MacBook Neo Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Pros Feels responsive in everyday use Premium chassis and no notch Silent, cool, and repairable Extremely value for money Available in vibrant colors Cons Only two USB-C ports; one USB 2.0 No keyboard backlighting Mechanical trackpad 8GB RAM ceiling Since its launch, the MacBook Neo has been selling like hot cakes. However, the recent $100 price hike could slow that momentum. If you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem and don’t want to miss out on Continuity features, or spend more than $1,000 on a MacBook Air, this remains your best bet. For $589.99, Amazon is still selling the Neo (256GB) at pre-revision prices. In fact, it’s $10 less than Apple’s current education price. Buy at Amazon 13-inch M5 MacBook Air Moinak Pal/Digital Trends Pros Excellent CPU and GPU performance Great local AI performance 16GB RAM on ase model 512GB storage on base model Provides seamless multi-display setup Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 Easily lasts around 15 to 17 hours on a charge Cons No active cooling Thermal throttling under heavy loads Display stuck at 60Hz refresh rate Only two USB-C ports Available in boring colors Midnight attracts the most fingerprints I’ve been using the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air for a while now, and the sheer performance and portability it offers have impressed me beyond words. I can have over 50 Chrome tabs open at once, export basic videos in Final Cut Pro within minutes, and still have enough battery life to get through a second light-use day. If you want a more powerful and, more importantly, future-proof machine that can last four to five years without much trouble, get the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB, 512GB) at $949.00 today. Buy at Amazon 15-inch M5 MacBook Air Luke Larsen / Digital Trends Pros Larger aluminum chassis improves thermal throttling Ships with a 10-core GPU Bigger screen is more immersive Excellent 6-speaker system Spacious multitasking canvas Great value for money Cons Doesn’t fit in tight spaces Screen stuck at 60Hz Only two Thunderbolt 4 ports The 15-inch M5 MacBook Air offers slightly more GPU power and a noticeably better speaker system (six instead of four). The larger screen is much more suited for creative workflows, making this one ideal for designers working on multiple ideas at once, video editors who want a more expansive view of their Final Cut Pro timeline, or architects who want a look on the entire render at once. While the revised price for the baseline variant stands at $1,499, you can get the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air on Amazon for $1,149. Buy at Amazon 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro Apple Pros Great CPU and GPU performance Runs light local AI workflows with ease 120Hz screen that’s brighter than the Air Three Thunderbolt 4 ports and one SDXC card slot 1TB of storage on base variant Excellent battery life Portable form factor Cons Active cooling fan gets loud under heavy workloads Connectivity could still be an issue for heavy users Five-year old design Despite the jump in price over the MacBook Air, the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro is worth your money for four key reasons. First, it features a brighter ProMotion display, better suited for professional workflows. The active cooling fan and the additional GPU cores over the 13-inch MacBook Air improve sustained performance, making a real difference when you edit videos or compile code. While Apple hiked its price from $1,699 to $1,999, you can still get the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro on Amazon for $1,549. Buy at Amazon 16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro Chris Haga
Sumber: Digital Trends