13.6" Apple MacBook Air Laptop (2025): 2560x1664, M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD

mystryda

Nov 5, 2025 10:37 PM

121 Comments

Joined Nov 2005

mystrydaNov 5, 2025 10:37 PM

121 Comments

Is it worth waiting for the M5 Air that's expected in the March/April???

Is the M5 Air likely to be sold for $700 once it comes out, like the M4 Air is now?
I was planning on buying it at AAFES in another week for $700, but I'm slightly on the fence.

2

duckeggs

Nov 5, 2025 10:45 PM

6.1K Comments

Joined Aug 2016

duckeggsNov 5, 2025 10:45 PM

6.1K Comments

Quote from airj1012

:

New to Apple laptops. Have had a phone for a LONG time. Do you need AppleCare? I won't be dropping my laptop...I've never gotten AppleCare for my phone. Thoughts?

I'd risk it and say NO

1

duckeggs

Nov 5, 2025 10:46 PM

6.1K Comments

Joined Aug 2016

duckeggsNov 5, 2025 10:46 PM

6.1K Comments

Quote from RebirthRaven

:

Price match with bestbuy and use your amex offer 25 back on 250.
If you have multiple cards with same offer, buy bestbuy giftcards and use them for payment.
If used right - you can bring down it to 750 - 3 * 25 = 675$

wow y'all smart! I need to get some credit cards lol

1

MrAperture

Nov 5, 2025 10:50 PM

2.6K Comments

Joined Feb 2007

MrApertureNov 5, 2025 10:50 PM

2.6K Comments

Great deal IMO, but I'll hold out for M5 sales next summer.

2

MrGreed

Nov 5, 2025 11:38 PM

3.7K Comments

Joined Jul 2008

MrGreedNov 5, 2025 11:38 PM

3.7K Comments

Quote from airj1012

:

New to Apple laptops. Have had a phone for a LONG time. Do you need AppleCare? I won't be dropping my laptop...I've never gotten AppleCare for my phone. Thoughts?

It's not about being careful with your device or taking care of your phone. Apple laptops are fragile and the entire laptop runs off one motherboard called the logic board. If one aspect of that logic board fails you have to replace the entire logic board - looking at at least $500-800. AppleCare+ replaced my logic board on my MacBook Pro 16 that did not leave my house and was plugged in at all times and never left the desk where it sat. When the laptop came back in the mail, the bill was $0 but the charge was over $800 for the logic board etc. Maybe that will be cheaper to replace on this laptop since it's $1000 not $2000 but i still wouldn't roll the dice. If you need something fixed and you take it anywhere besides Apple they will charge you $80-100 just to "diagnose it" before attempting to fix it. You just paid 1/3 to 1/4 of the cost to just have it looked at. When you buy AppleCare call Apple directly or buy the up front multi year plan, soon all Apple products will be only able to have AppleCare through a monthly plan. Apple eliminated up front payment for AppleCare like Best Buy and Amazon have and only offer the monthly plan unless you chat/call with an advisor. Regardless, I wouldn't spend $1000 on such a complex device that can just crap out on me at any time and has. I've had multiple repairs over the years on multiple Apple laptops and I Dont even do any crazy work on my laptop. AppleCare+ and the ease of getting a fast repair or replacement is worth every penny

6

FMXP

Nov 5, 2025 11:41 PM

484 Comments

Joined Jul 2014

FMXPNov 5, 2025 11:41 PM

484 Comments

Does this one have a 120 hz screen?

jackcwang

Nov 5, 2025 11:47 PM

245 Comments

Joined Feb 2012

jackcwangNov 5, 2025 11:47 PM

245 Comments

Holding out for BF deal at $700-725 🤞🤞

3

Medic311

Nov 5, 2025 11:53 PM

30.3K Comments

Joined Oct 2010

Medic311Nov 5, 2025 11:53 PM

30.3K Comments

Quote from Krilips

:

Only for military, right?

Not just military / veterans.
Also includes DoD civilians, and federal civilians of select other agencies / services (Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, Contract Services, select civilian students, DHS etc)

1

Medic311

Nov 6, 2025 12:03 AM

30.3K Comments

Joined Oct 2010

Medic311Nov 6, 2025 12:03 AM

30.3K Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from MrGreed

:

It's not about being careful with your device or taking care of your phone. Apple laptops are fragile and the entire laptop runs off one motherboard called the logic board. If one aspect of that logic board fails you have to replace the entire logic board - looking at at least $500-800. AppleCare+ replaced my logic board on my MacBook Pro 16 that did not leave my house and was plugged in at all times and never left the desk where it sat. When the laptop came back in the mail, the bill was $0 but the charge was over $800 for the logic board etc. Maybe that will be cheaper to replace on this laptop since it's $1000 not $2000 but i still wouldn't roll the dice. If you need something fixed and you take it anywhere besides Apple they will charge you $80-100 just to "diagnose it" before attempting to fix it. You just paid 1/3 to 1/4 of the cost to just have it looked at. When you buy AppleCare call Apple directly or buy the up front multi year plan, soon all Apple products will be only able to have AppleCare through a monthly plan. Apple eliminated up front payment for AppleCare like Best Buy and Amazon have and only offer the monthly plan unless you chat/call with an advisor. Regardless, I wouldn't spend $1000 on such a complex device that can just crap out on me at any time and has. I've had multiple repairs over the years on multiple Apple laptops and I Dont even do any crazy work on my laptop. AppleCare+ and the ease of getting a fast repair or replacement is worth every penny

with some exceptions, board level repairs can be done by a 3rd party repair company like louis rossman (rossman repair group). most board level repairs (not all, but most) are not that difficult and just the result of a burned out capacitor (about $5 for a 10 pack). labor will be $250-$450. + shipping.

example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UBy7L3YzLg

it becomes an issue when the parts are intentionally difficult to obtain from suppliers in asia due to Apple restriction, which means you can only get the part(s) from donor boards. and this is where the whole right to repair thing comes in

2

1

fb88

Nov 6, 2025 1:01 AM

211 Comments

Joined Aug 2011

fb88Nov 6, 2025 1:01 AM

211 Comments

Quote from FMXP

:

Does this one have a 120 hz screen?

60 Hz.

oceanone

Nov 6, 2025 1:24 AM

1.4K Comments

Joined Aug 2015

oceanoneNov 6, 2025 1:24 AM

1.4K Comments

Quote from MrAperture

:

Great deal IMO, but I'll hold out for M5 sales next summer.

or M6 in 2027 summer Big Grin

4

10

MrGreed

Nov 6, 2025 2:16 AM

3.7K Comments

Joined Jul 2008

MrGreedNov 6, 2025 2:16 AM

3.7K Comments

Quote from Medic311

:

with some exceptions, board level repairs can be done by a 3rd party repair company like louis rossman (rossman repair group). most board level repairs (not all, but most) are not that difficult and just the result of a burned out capacitor (about $5 for a 10 pack). labor will be $250-$450. + shipping.

example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UBy7L3YzLg

it becomes an issue when the parts are intentionally difficult to obtain from suppliers in asia due to Apple restriction, which means you can only get the part(s) from donor boards. and this is where the whole right to repair thing comes in

If you want to roll the dice on a $1000 laptop that's cool but if someone has never used a MacBook before and encounters issue and doesnt have AppleCare+ they are going to be in for a rude awakening

Also most people dont know what's wrong with their laptop when it dies or something isn't working correctly and to diagnose it costs $100, why not spend $229 for 3 years of peace of mind?

If I haven't had multiple repairs and multiple replacements on $3k+ MacBook Pros over the years I might consider not getting it especially if it's a low priced model. But AppleCare+ is so cheap for the Air it's almost counterintuitive not to get it.

Finally, if you decide the laptop is not for you or want to upgrade selling a MacBook with existing AppleCare+ already on the device raises the resale price and leads to a quicker sale.

I see where you are coming from but the average Joe doesnt have that info

3

steveg188

Nov 6, 2025 2:19 AM

23 Comments

Joined Jul 2017

steveg188Nov 6, 2025 2:19 AM

23 Comments

Quote from airj1012

:

New to Apple laptops. Have had a phone for a LONG time. Do you need AppleCare? I won't be dropping my laptop...I've never gotten AppleCare for my phone. Thoughts?

Have had 4 Apple machines. Never gotten Apple care. No issues at all

5

CtJack108

Nov 6, 2025 2:33 AM

355 Comments

Joined Jul 2019

CtJack108Nov 6, 2025 2:33 AM

355 Comments

Quote from mystryda

:

Is it worth waiting for the M5 Air that's expected in the March/April???

Is the M5 Air likely to be sold for $700 once it comes out, like the M4 Air is now?
I was planning on buying it at AAFES in another week for $700, but I'm slightly on the fence.

M5 is the first laptop that surpassed M1 Pro in GPU power found in 2021 MBP 14 inch.
So M5 is the real true upgrade for someone with M1 Pro laptop in every aspect. That is because GPU lower than that have lags with external 4K screen playing 4k videos.

Price wise it will be 700 a year after release, so not that close.

M4 is good as it gets if you are not into external screens with 4K videos.

1

RedStripeE90

Nov 6, 2025 4:45 AM

3.2K Comments

Joined May 2006

RedStripeE90Nov 6, 2025 4:45 AM

3.2K Comments

Thanks! Anyone have experience doing price match at Best Buy? Is it easy?

2

13.6" Apple MacBook Air Laptop (2025): 2560x1664, M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD

$750

$999

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