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
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.
13-inch M5 MacBook Air
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.
15-inch M5 MacBook Air
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.
14-inch M5 MacBook Pro
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.
16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro
Pros
- Dual-fan system for efficient cooling
- M5 Pro provides excellent multi-thread performance
- Powerful GPU that can actually run video games
- Stunning 120Hz Liquid Retina XDR display
- Future-proof specifications
- Excellent speaker system
- Multi-day battery life
Cons
- Hefty and bulky
- 1TB storage might feel less for the price
- Upgrading the memory and storage costs a fortune
- A bit too expensive for most buyers
If you’re job depends entirely on your laptop, perhaps you’re a content creator, professional video editor, music composer, or a developer, and you want your laptop to be as fast as possible, 16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro is worth every extra dollar. The bigger screen makes working with multiple windows easier, while the bigger battery lets you go through long workdays without constantly reaching for the charger.
With Apple increasing the launch price from $2,699 to $2,999, the 24GB/1TB configuration at $2,494 on Amazon is one of best Prime Day MacBooks deals live right now.
