I’d recommend the M3 MacBook Air at full price – but this 27% discount makes it a no-brainer

I’ve been covering Macs for over a decade, and my preferred Mac is the M3 MacBook Air. I am thrilled to see Amazon running fantastic Spring Sale discounts for multiple configurations. Right now, you can purchase an M3 MacBook Air for as low as $999. That is 23% off its original price of $1,299.

That price only applies to the Starlight (beige) model with 16GB of memory. The 24GB RAM Midnight (black) MacBook Air received a 27% discount, going from $1,500 to $1,100. Additionally, the 24GB RAM Silver laptop is 18% off and you can slap on a $24 coupon to make it an even $1,200. 

Also: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is back: Here’s everything you need to know to shop saavy

Apple almost never puts its laptops on sale. At best, you can get a 10% educational discount. If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch an older model with an up to 20% discount from a third-party seller like Amazon. There’s probably why we’re seeing this great discounts — Apple recently released the M4 MacBook Air.

It’s possible that the tech giant wants to clear out its inventory to make more room for its new model. I recommend taking advantage of this deal while it last. Apple normally doesn’t refresh its stocks, preferring to focus on the latest version. At best, you might find refurbished units in the future.

Also: The 80+ best early Amazon Spring Sale tech deals live now

The M3 MacBook Air is still a terrific machine. In fact, this article was written on one. It weighs 2.7 pounds and is less than half an inch thick — and the dimensions are only slightly bigger than a sheet of 8.5 x 11-inch paper. So you barely even notice it when you slip it into a bag or backpack.

And for all its svelteness, it also packs a ton of power. Ever since the M1 Apple Silicon chips arrived, these MacBook Air models have felt snappier and just as powerful as the old Intel-based MacBook Pros. In fact, many people used to need a MacBook Pro for basic photo editing and other work-based tasks. That same group can now easily get away with using a MacBook Air. That’s especially been true since the M2 MacBook Air arrived in 2022 and it’s even more true with the M3 version. Because of these machines, the number of people who need a MacBook Pro has shrunk considerably in the last couple of years.

As for potential drawbacks, it’s honestly kind of difficult to think of one. The $999 configuration comes with 512GB of storage, which is plenty. I bought the 512GB version in early 2024 and frequently used the M3 MacBook Air for six months straight. In that time frame, I still had about 366GB of unused space.  

If you’re worried about having extra storage space you could always carry a fast external drive like this 1TB Seagate drive that’s on sale for $59 (8% off). Amazon also has the M2 MacBook Air on sale for $741, which is a great deal for someone with lighter computing needs. Either way, there’s never been a better time to buy a MacBook Air.

How I rated this deal

Any MacBook Air deal is inherently notable. These are world-class laptops that almost always turn heads whenever a new one is released. However, as stated earlier, these devices hardly ever go on sale. I’ve been watching for price drops, and when I see one, I quickly alert people whenever they happen. 

Because the MacBook Air saw a 27% discount, ZDNET’s rating system grants this promotion a 5/5 editor’s deal rating. It’s too good to pass up on what could be the laptop’s lowest price.