Finding a deal on a MacBook isn’t easy. They’re high-end machines, and Apple keeps a pretty tight watch on how it is priced around the internet. On top of that, there’s a large selection of models, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and 12-inch MacBook, as well as different sizes and configurations, to consider. Throw in the confusing way these products are often labeled on retailers’ websites, as well as the countless used and refurbished models available — and you’ve got a thorough mess.
Fortunately for you, we’ve hunted down the best MacBook deals for August 2019 that are in stock right now from various retailers. Before we break down each option, here are the quick links you’ll need.
The best MacBook deals
- — $731 from Amazon
- — $900 from Best Buy
- — $700 from Amazon
- — $1,069 from Amazon
- — $1,600 from Amazon
- — $2,000 from Best Buy
MacBook Air deals
Before 2018, the MacBook Air hadn’t received a serious update for many years. The iconic silver look may have been revolutionary in 2012, but its thick bezels and lower-resolution screen had become outdated over the years. Even though Apple still sells this version, we only recommend it to people with fairly low computing needs. The 5th-gen Intel processor and DDR3 RAM in the 2017 model will make any kind of significant multitasking or heavy software extremely difficult. Still, it is technically the cheapest way into the Mac ecosystem, and that’ll be enough to attract some buyers.
If you’re in the market for an older model so you can save some cash, the 2017 MacBook Air below is going for $731.
Fortunately, toward the end of 2018, Apple finally gave the MacBook Air a complete makeover, bringing it up to speed with the rest of its MacBooks. This new version has a new look — thinner bezels, a smaller chassis, higher-resolution display, only USB-C, and a few more color options like gold and space gray. It also has some of the mainstays of modern Apple laptops such as the low-travel keyboard, oversized trackpad, and Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
While this is still one of the slower options for MacBooks, the 2018 Air does have completely updated specs, which now include an 8th-gen Core i5 dual-core processor. We found it more than capable of handling day-to-day tasks, just don’t expect to be editing 4K video on it. It has the best battery life of all the MacBooks, and also comes with the lowest starting price of $1,099 — reduced from $1,199 by Apple in 2019.
Best Buy has just slashed the price of the MacBook Air to $900, saving you $200. That’s one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen the 2018 model go, making now the perfect time to get a MacBook Air. This model includes 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD.
MacBook deals
In July 2019 Apple stopped selling the 12-inch MacBook on its website and in its stores, but you can still get it from third-party resellers. There are plenty of reasons to opt for it, too. Compared to the Air, not only is the MacBook’s screen smaller, but the device is also extremely thin and light. It hasn’t been updated since 2017, but it has the modern Mac look, including the large trackpad, butterfly-style keyboard, Retina display, and simplified port selection. Aside from a headphone jack, the laptop comes with just a single Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port. That means you can’t plug in a wired mouse and power at the same time, for example, unless you have an adapter.
The most recent version from 2017 received a bump to dual-core 7th-gen Kaby Lake Intel processors. Like the MacBook Air, we found it to be fast enough to get through a normal day of productivity and web browsing. We’d recommend the 2018 MacBook Air to most people, but for those who want the absolute smallest, most portable MacBook, this is your best option.
Amazon is currently selling the 2016 12-inch MacBook for $700, which gets you an Intel Core M processor and 256GB of storage.
MacBook Pro (13-inch) deals
With its more powerful specs, the MacBook Pro represents the top of the MacBook lineup. These are laptops for people want to run heavy applications like Photoshop or Lightroom — or even just for people who want to multitask like nobody’s business. However, there are several important distinctions you should be aware of, even concerning the 13-inch models.
Apple has now added the Touch Bar to all of its 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models. The Touch Bar is a slim OLED touchscreen that takes the place of the function keys and is purpose-built for navigating MacOS and its software. That addition means your main decision now comes down to internal specs and ports, as well as the size of the chassis. Apple updated almost the entire MacBook Pro range in 2019, bringing 8th- and 9th-generation Intel processors, including eight-core chips to the 15-inch Pro for the first time.
We spotted a great Amazon Prime Day deal on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and thankfully it’s still running. You can get $200 off the 2018 13-inch MacBook Pro (without Touch Bar) at Amazon, bringing its price down to $1,069.
If you want a Touch Bar with your 13-inch MacBook Pro, we’ve got you covered there too. The Touch Bar gives you quick app-specific controls that are designed to help you perform common tasks in a snip. You can customize what buttons are shown, and have it revert to the old-style function keys if you prefer.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro was also updated very recently with newer 8th-gen processors from Intel for 2019. They still only max out at four cores in the 13-inch version, though. You won’t find deals on these fresh updates, so, for now, you’re stuck with what you get through Apple.
Amazon has knocked $200 off this MacBook Pro, bringing the price down to $1,600. That nets you a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
MacBook Pro (15-inch) deals
Here, we come to the cream of the crop. The 15-inch MacBook Pro not only has the fastest processors, but it also includes discrete graphics. You can pair up an eight-core Core i9 processor and an AMD Vega 20 GPU, which should handily push through high-resolution video renders and graphics modeling with ease. All versions of the 15-inch MacBook Pro also come with the Touch Bar and four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports.
In May 2019, it was updated with new processors and a tweaked keyboard. The 2019 model now comes with 9th-gen processors up to the whopping eight-core Core i9 for some serious power. Unfortunately, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a deal quite yet on these new MacBook Pros, but if you have your heart set on the latest and greatest then Apple sells the 2019 MacBook Pro starting at $2,399.
The good news is that the 2018 update is still fairly fresh, and should be getting price cuts from retailers. Right now, Best Buy is running an excellent discount on the 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro, cutting its price down to an impressive $2,000. It comes with a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a Radeon Pro 555X graphics card. That’s a good amount of power and a real bargain for Apple’s largest MacBook Pro.
Looking for more tech deals? Find laptop deals, iPad deals, Chromebook deals, and much more on our curated deals page.
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By: Digital Trend
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