Stay tuned for Black Friday laptop deals. Just get a MacBook Air (2025)

Don’t be tempted. that it Black Friday weekendYou’re in the market for a new MacBook, and you’re probably wondering if you should buy a new MacBook MacBook Pro M5. Usually good advice is to buy the latest version of a tech product, especially if you’re looking for the best Black Friday or Cyber ​​Monday MacBook deal. In theory, this ensures you get the best performance and features, and hopefully means you won’t have to replace it for many years.

But in this case, you probably shouldn’t.

Updated November 29: We’ve added some checked accessory offers and prices.

Air vs Pro

This may come as a surprise to me, especially since my review of the M5 MacBook Pro was Very positive. There is a lot to like about this topic. The performance of the M5 is Strong move up on M4Especially in the GPU department. Things that haven’t changed are still high-quality, including the Mini-LED display, excellent speakers, and premium design. It’s been more than four years since many of these features changed, but the MacBook Pro remains competitive in almost every respect. that it Up to $200 off this Black Friday weekendEven though it was launched just a month ago.

The problem lies in the location of this MacBook Pro in the lineup. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro is the only Mac in the lineup where you can currently get the M5. That’s a shame, because I consider it the most specialized MacBook in the lineup. the MacBook Air It’s the laptop most people should buy, instead M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pros It’s just what serious creative professionals need to speed up their workflow.

The base 14-inch MacBook Pro has a sleeker display and more ports, but performance and battery life are more or less on par with the MacBook Air. Apple knows that people will buy a MacBook Air this holiday season in particular Selling price is $749. So, bringing the M5 exclusively to the 14-inch MacBook Pro seems like an easy way to boost sales on a laptop that’s been overlooked in the lineup. I’m speculating on Apple’s strategy here, but this is my best read.

Photo: Luke Larsen

According to Latest reportsIt will be at least a few more months before the M5 comes to other MacBooks, but that timing isn’t guaranteed. Here’s the truth: Most people have yet to buy an M4 MacBook Air. It may be the best laptop ever sold at this price. Or, if you want the larger 15-inch model, You can get it for $949. That extra $200 gives you more screen real estate (without sacrificing clarity) and better speakers.

You definitely shouldn’t buy the M5 MacBook Pro if you’re looking for more performance. The M4 Pro MacBook Pro is still a significant step up in performance over the M5 (and it is $250 off retail price right now). Meanwhile, you’ll pay an extra $200 to upgrade from a 15-inch MacBook Air to an M5 MacBook Pro, even though performance isn’t dramatically different. And yes, that’s when you configure it with the same amount of storage space.

Photo: Brenda Stolyar

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MacBook Air (M4, 2025)

That’s not to say there aren’t benefits to the Pro versus the Air. But they are quality-of-life changes, not performance-driven changes. A brighter, HDR-enabled display and more ports are the two key differences, and only people whose work depends on those differences should buy the M5 MacBook Pro. I know a lot of people who balk at the idea of ​​having a laptop without an SD card slot, for example. fair enough. But with improved external display support in the M4 MacBook Air, which can now support up to two 4K displays, fewer people have had to buy an M5 MacBook Pro over the past year.

So, don’t be fooled by the “Pro” branding. The MacBook Air is the MacBook that most people should buy for Black Friday this year.

MacBook accessories offers

I’m looking for Accessories to outfit your MacBook Air? Here are a few of our favorites on sale.

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