Fall ResetAmazon USFall reset deals: check better picks before checkoutAmazon US: today's deals, useful picks and quick comparisons.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCFall ResetAmazon USWork and home upgrades are worth comparing todayAmazon US: today's deals, useful picks and quick comparisons.See Picks×
Skip to content
Blog

These M4 MacBook Deals Were Excellent in 2025—What They’re Worth Against Apple’s M5 Macs Now

By TheFinanceBase Team4 min read

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

OS X Daily reported these Amazon prices on June 3, 2025: an M4 MacBook Air for $812 and a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Max chip, 48GB of unified memory and 1TB storage for $3,440. Those figures are historical deal prices, not confirmed August 2026 offers. Apple’s current lineup is M5-based, so verify any live M4 listing, its condition and the price gap before buying.

OS X Daily’s June 3, 2025 roundup supplied the original prices and configurations.

Original deal prices at a glance

Configuration Advertised price (June 3, 2025) Listed MSRP Stated saving August 2026 status
13-inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/256GB, Midnight $812 $999 $187 (about 18.7%) Historical; verify a retailer listing
13-inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/512GB $1,099 $1,199 $100 Historical; verify a retailer listing
13-inch M4 MacBook Air, 24GB/512GB $1,299 $1,399 $100 Historical; verify a retailer listing
15-inch M4 MacBook Air, 24GB/512GB $1,326 $1,599 $273 Historical; verify a retailer listing
15-inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/256GB $1,099 $1,199 $100 Historical; verify a retailer listing
15-inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/512GB $1,299 Not clearly stated Not stated Historical; verify a retailer listing
16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max, 48GB/1TB $3,440 $3,999 $559 (about 14.0%) Historical; verify a retailer listing

Amazon prices can change by seller, color, inventory, tax and shipping. The original roundup said Midnight was the cheapest Air finish; other colors could cost more.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The $812 13-inch M4 MacBook Air

The headline configuration was a 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple’s M4 chip, 16GB unified memory, a 256GB SSD and a Midnight finish. At the reported $812, it was $187 below the listed $999 MSRP.

Who it suited

  • Students and office users
  • Web browsing, streaming and general macOS work
  • Light photo editing
  • Buyers wanting 16GB memory without paying for a higher-tier chip

The storage catch

256GB is restrictive for large photo libraries, video projects, games, virtual machines and extensive offline media. Because unified memory is normally not upgradeable, choose the configuration carefully. The 16GB/512GB Air at the reported $1,099 was the safer compact option for buyers who could not rely on cloud or external storage. A 24GB/512GB model made more sense for heavier multitasking or a longer ownership period.

Which other Air configuration offered the best value?

Best dollar saving: 15-inch, 24GB/512GB

The reported $1,326 price was $273 below the listed $1,599 MSRP—the largest dollar saving in the Air group. Its larger display, 24GB memory and 512GB SSD improve multitasking and longevity, but the 15-inch chassis costs more and is less portable than the 13-inch model.

Rank #2
Sale
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
  • Ideal for Gifting
  • Ideal for a bookworm
  • Compact for travelling

Best compact upgrade: 13-inch, 16GB/512GB

At the reported $1,099, this version avoided the base model’s tight storage while retaining the smaller footprint. It was the practical choice for users who wanted portability but expected to keep files locally.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

When 24GB made sense

The 24GB/512GB versions were better suited to development, creative applications, many browser tabs and keeping the laptop for several years. They were not automatically better for a light-use buyer who valued the lowest price.

The $3,440 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro

The second headline deal was a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Max chip, 48GB unified memory and a 1TB SSD, reported at $3,440 versus a listed $3,999 MSRP. The source called it an “M4 Max Pro,” but the accurate description is MacBook Pro with M4 Max; Apple lists M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max as separate chip options in the MacBook Pro family.

Apple’s M4 MacBook Pro announcement describes the Liquid Retina XDR display, 12MP Center Stage camera and Thunderbolt 5 on M4 Pro and M4 Max models. Apple’s technical specifications list a 16.2-inch, 3456×2234 display: Apple support documentation.

Who could justify it

  • Professional video editors and 3D artists
  • Developers compiling large projects
  • AI or machine-learning workloads that benefit from 48GB of unified memory
  • Photographers and creators handling large assets
  • Users needing sustained performance, a large XDR display and extensive connectivity

For email, documents, browsing, streaming and ordinary schoolwork, the M4 Max configuration was excessive. The Air is lighter and fanless; the Pro’s larger, heavier chassis is justified when demanding workloads run for long periods.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What “& More” included

The same June 3, 2025 roundup also reported these U.S. prices:

Best Value
Sale
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
  • It can be a gift option
  • Comes with secure packaging
  • Helpful in various ways
Product Advertised price Listed MSRP Stated saving
11-inch M3 iPad Air $499 $599 $100
13-inch M3 iPad Air $699 $799 $100
Apple Watch Series 10 $299 $399 $100
AirPods Pro 2 $199 $249 $50

These are also historical prices from the original roundup, not confirmed August 2026 offers.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

M4 versus M5 in August 2026

Apple’s current Mac comparison page lists M5 MacBook Air models and M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, while showing M4 machines as older options. Apple announced availability of the M5 Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro in March 2026: Apple Newsroom.

An M4 is sensible when a verified clearance or refurbished price is substantially below an equivalent M5 and the memory and storage meet your needs. Prefer M5 when the gap is small, you want the newest platform and connectivity, expect a longer support horizon, or are buying for professional work where current-generation status and resale matter. Compare equivalent memory and SSD capacities rather than headline prices alone.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
SaleBestseller No. 2
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
Ideal for Gifting; Ideal for a bookworm; Compact for travelling
$10.99
SaleBestseller No. 5
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
It can be a gift option; Comes with secure packaging; Helpful in various ways
$9.15

Buying checklist before checkout

  1. Confirm screen size: 13, 15 or 16 inches.
  2. Check the exact chip: M4, M4 Pro or M4 Max.
  3. Verify unified memory, especially 16GB versus 24GB or 48GB.
  4. Verify SSD capacity: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or another option.
  5. Check color; the original $812 price was tied to Midnight.
  6. Confirm whether the item is new, renewed, used or refurbished.
  7. Review the seller, fulfillment method, warranty and return policy.
  8. Compare the final taxed and shipped checkout price with an equivalent M5 model.
  9. For Apple-sold refurbished stock, compare Apple’s refurbished Mac store. Other comparison points include Apple’s buying page, Amazon’s Mac storefront, Best Buy’s MacBook category and B&H’s MacBook category.

Verdict by buyer

  • Best budget choice: The 13-inch M4 Air at the reported $812, provided 256GB is enough or external/cloud storage is acceptable.
  • Best balanced choice: A 13-inch 16GB/512GB or 15-inch 24GB/512GB Air, depending on portability and screen needs.
  • Best professional choice: The 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro only when sustained CPU/GPU workloads and 48GB memory justify its size and cost.
  • Skip the old deal: Choose an M5 equivalent when the verified M4 discount is modest or the seller, condition, warranty or return terms are uncertain.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Written by TheFinanceBase Team

The Team behind TheFinanceBase.

Add your note

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.