Apple Doubles MacBook Air Storage But Raises Price by $100

$1,099 Is the New Entry Point

Apple just moved the goalposts for "affordable" computing. The new MacBook Air launched today with 512GB of base storage—double the previous 256GB—and Apple claims it's up to twice as fast as the M4 model. But that upgrade comes with a $100 price bump across the board.

The 13-inch model now starts at $1,099 instead of $999, while the 15-inch jumps from $1,199 to $1,299. Whether you see this as a price increase or value enhancement depends entirely on your perspective. The old 512GB model cost $1,199, making this technically cheaper for the same spec. But for budget-conscious buyers who just wanted the cheapest Mac? They're out of luck.

M5 Brings 'Super Cores' to the Mainstream

The new M5 chip features four high-performance cores that Apple is now calling "super cores," paired with six efficiency cores. GPU options split between 8-core and 10-core variants, with the latter requiring an extra $100.

Here's the catch: only the 10-core GPU version supports RAM upgrades to 24GB or 32GB, plus storage options above 512GB. It's a classic Apple move—want the good stuff? Pay for the premium tier first.

Making Room for a Cheaper MacBook?

The timing of this price increase is curious. Apple has been rumored to be working on an even cheaper MacBook, and raising the Air's floor price creates perfect space for it. If a $899 MacBook materializes this week, Apple's laptop lineup suddenly makes more sense: budget MacBook, mainstream Air, pro-level Pro.

This strategy mirrors what Apple did with iPhones—create clear tiers so every customer finds their "right" price point.

The Consumer Perspective Split

For creative professionals and students who actually need the storage, this feels like getting more for less. But for casual users who primarily stream content and work in the cloud, paying $100 extra for storage they'll never fill stings.

The real winners? Refurbished market sellers. Suddenly, last-gen MacBook Airs look like incredible deals.

Market Implications Beyond Apple

This move puts pressure on Windows laptop makers who've been competing on price. With Apple's cheapest option now over $1,000, brands like Dell and HP have more room to position their premium models as "better value."

It also signals Apple's confidence in demand elasticity. The company clearly believes Mac users will pay more rather than switch platforms—a bet that's paid off historically.