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Apple makes some of the best tech out there, claiming the top spots on our list of the best phones, tablets and smartwatches of 2024. Its sleek and powerful laptops are no exception. Thanks to their stunning design, advanced hardware and impressive performance, multiple MacBooks are featured on our list of the best laptops of 2024. The biggest drawback, however, is price as they're also some of the most expensive models on the market.
But that doesn't mean an Apple laptop is out of reach for those on a budget. While Apple almost never discounts its own tech, there are quite a few models that you can pick up on sale right now. With over 20 years of experience, Matt Elliott is one of CNET's resident laptop experts, and he has collaborated with CNET's team of dedicated deals writers to bring you the best MacBook bargains out there at the moment.
Below, we've rounded up the best discounts available on all the latest MacBooks, as well as some older models that you can still find on sale. We'll continue to update this page as deals come and go, so be sure to check back often for the latest deals. And if you prefer Windows, you'll find plenty of other offers in our full roundup of the best laptop deals overall.
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What is the best MacBook deal right now?
CNET named the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air the overall best laptop of 2024, which means it's already a pretty good value even at full price. And right now, the midnight, space gray and starlight color variants are all $100 off at Amazon, which drops the 256GB model down to $999. That's not the biggest discount featured on this list, but it is a great bargain considering that discounts on Apple's latest tech can be pretty hard to come by.
Several color variants of the 512GB model are also $100 off, or you can save $150 when you upgrade to the configuration with 16GB of RAM.
Best MacBook deals
Battery Life/Runtime 1,039 minutesWeight 2.7 poundsDisplay size/type 13.6-inch 2560 x 1664 Liquid RetinaProcessor tested Apple M2 8‑coreGraphics tested Apple M2 8‑core
This MacBook Air has a 15.3-inch display powered by Apple's M2 chip and 8GB of RAM. It also has a Touch ID sensor, two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, a MagSafe charger and 18 hours of battery life. Best Buy is offering a straight $200 discount, and you can save up to $825 extra when trading in your old laptop as well.
The latest M3 MacBook Air was reviewed in March by CNET's Joshua Goldman, who noted the graphics performance has a significant upgrade over previous M2 MacBook Airs. Right now, you can save $100 on the midnight and starlight color variants of this laptop.
Amazon is now offering a $100 discount on both the 256GB and 512GB 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, which drops the prices down to $1,199 and $1,399 respectively. You can also upgrade to the configuration with 16GB of RAM for $1,549, which is $150 off the usual price.
Battery Life/Runtime 1,026 minutesWeight 2.8 poundsDisplay size/type 13-inch, 2560 x 1600 IPS LCDProcessor tested Apple M1 8‑coreGraphics tested Apple M1 7-core
Although the M1 MacBook Air is a couple of generations old at this point, it's still our top pick for those on the hunt for an affordable MacBook. It lists for $699, and it's an even better value at $50 off.
This deal saves you $301 off the slightly older 14-inch MacBook Pro but only if you choose the silver model. You'll get a 14-inch display, an M2 Pro chip and a 512GB SSD included. This is a great machine for people who want both portability and power from their laptop.
The baseline model of the now previous-gen 16-inch MacBook Pro features Apple's still-powerful M2 Pro processor (12-core CPU and 19-core GPU), 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. Adorama currently has this harder-to-find model at a discount of $501, but only the silver is listed for sale.
The long-awaited M3 MacBook Pro is our favorite laptop for creatives thanks to its stunning display and seriously powerful hardware. And right now, you can snag the smaller 14-inch model for $300 off, which drops it back down to the all-time lowest price we've seen for this model.
MacBook prices
| Model (with chip and screen size) | List price | Best price (current) | Best price (all-time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2 MacBook Air (13-inch) | $999 | $899 | $799 |
| M2 MacBook Air (15-inch) | $1,299 | $1,099 | $999 |
| M3 MacBook Air (13-inch) | $1,099 | $999 | $849 |
| M3 MacBook Air (15-inch) | $1,299 | $1,199 | $1,050 |
| M2 MacBook Pro (14-inch) | $1,999 | $1,698 | $1,699 |
| M2 MacBook Pro (16-inch) | $2,499 | $1,998 | $1,998 |
| M3 MacBook Pro (14-inch) | $1,599 | $1,299 | $1,299 |
*Note that "all-time" means the best price we've seen on a new model at an Apple-authorized retailer in the product's lifetime. Prices change frequently and may differ between colors.
How we choose MacBook deals at CNET
CNET's dedicated deals writers have years of experience scouting the best deals out there on top tech, including bargains on Apple devices. Our combined expertise helps us discern which standout deals are truly a good bargain -- evaluating the model, year, specs, discount and our reviewer's thoughts for each model. We also ensure that all deals featured on this list are sourced from a trustworthy retailer so you never have to wonder if a bargain is too good to be true.
You can occasionally find MacBooks on sale throughout the year, but the deals are unpredictable, short-lived and typically fall short of the prices we see during major shopping events. If you're looking to grab an Apple laptop at the lowest price possible, you'll want to save your shopping for Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Amazon Prime Day. If you don't want to wait for the next major event, be on the lookout for weekend flash sales at major retailers like Best Buy, as they're fairly frequent and often feature big discounts on Apple tech.
Apple almost never offers discounts on its own devices, so you'll have to look elsewhere if you're hoping to find a MacBook on sale. Major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart are good places to start, especially during major shopping events. However, it's also worth seeing what deals are available at smaller online retailers like Adorama, B&H Photo and Newegg, as they may offer some under-the-radar bargains that aren't being matched at larger competitors.
One of the most important factors to consider is which configuration is on sale. A $500 discount might look enticing, but it may be exclusive to an upgraded version of the laptop with maxed-out specs, so you'll ultimately end up paying more for expensive hardware you may not need. Be sure to check the storage, memory, screen size and processor to make sure the configuration fits your needs as well as your budget.
While Amazon, Best Buy and Adorama typically have the best prices, one benefit to paying full price and buying from Apple is that you can customize the machine, adding more RAM or a higher-capacity solid-state drive. The models sold by Amazon and other retailers have fixed configurations.
It's also worth noting that you can find refurbished MacBooks on Apple's Certified Refurbished Mac page. Refurb inventory changes rapidly, so you might not always see the latest MacBook Air or Pro available. If you're on the hunt for a specific model, it's worth keeping an eye on this page because you can lock in substantial savings.
Apple also offers students an educational discount, which can trim hundreds of dollars from the price of a new laptop or tablet.