Summary
In spite of the fact that it is the most recent and most advanced version of Apple’s entry-level laptop, the M3 MacBook Air is not the most affordable model that the business offers at the moment. At the moment, the M2 MacBook Air is still available for purchase, and the beginning price has been reduced to $999. In most cases, you can purchase it for as little as $850 at internet merchants, which is an even more alluring proposition.
Alternatives to the M2 MacBook
Although it seems like a reasonable bargain, there are a number of very fantastic laptops that are available for much less money. If you are considering purchasing a brand new M2 MacBook Air, I strongly suggest that you give some thought to the following five alternatives, all of which are more affordable than the M2 MacBook Air.
1- Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4
Even while the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 does not provide a considerable reduction in comparison to the MacBook Air, it does have a few features that make it worthwhile to pay the additional money for it. As of the time this article was written, the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 has a starting price of $1,027. This price includes a Core Ultra 7 CPU, 16 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), and 512 gigabytes of storage space. The price of the combination is somewhat more than the price of the MacBook Air M2 in its standard form.
Furthermore, the ThinkBook 13x features a screen that is superior than the model. 13.5 inches in size, with a resolution of 2880 by 1920 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 hertz. In addition to having a screen with a greater resolution, it is quite uncommon for a laptop of this price range to have a refresh rate that is higher than 60Hz. It is because of this that the ThinkBook 13x stands out.
Another laptop that is rather small and lightweight, the ThinkBook 13x is just slightly more cumbersome than the MacBook Air in terms of its overall size.
2- Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
It is impossible to find a laptop that is comparable to the Zenbook 14 OLED in terms of value. In spite of the fact that it has a highly regarded OLED display and the most recent Core Ultra 7 CPU, it can be purchased for just $800. It is possible that when you look at that pricing, you may question whether or not it is really worth purchasing more than the M2 MacBook Air, which can be purchased for only an additional fifty dollars. The M2 MacBook Air has 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage space, while this combination costs $800 and comes with 16 gigabytes of RAM and 1 terabyte of storage. That update would cost you an additional $600 if you purchased it from Apple.
When you consider the fact that the device that costs $599 still comes with 512GB of storage, this becomes even more apparent. The Zenbook 14 OLED is, without a doubt, an incredible bargain, and it does not disappoint in terms of flexibility. It boasts a touchscreen, a keyboard and touchpad that are both excellent, and a large number of connectors across the board.
Please be sure that you do not mix this with the Zenbook 14 OLED Q, which is a model that has been upgraded and is only available in a high-end configuration. A more aesthetically pleasing lid design is the only thing that really differentiates the two laptops from one another. And that’s all. That being said, if you choose with the Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405), you will be well satisfied.
3- Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED
There is no doubt that the Zenbook 14 OLED is an outstanding product; but, if you are looking for a device that is somewhat more compact in comparison to the MacBook Air, then the Zenbook S 13 OLED should be considered. The M2 MacBook Air is almost as thin as this stunning tiny notebook, which is so close to being the same size. Both the fact that it has a lot more connectors and the fact that the keyboard has a black background, which is the same as the MacBook Pro, are things that I enjoy.
The fact that the Zenbook S 13 is only available in a more expensive version with 32 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM) is the only significant issue at the moment. The configuration that you have chosen does not make a great deal of sense for a laptop of this kind, sadly. On the other hand, the 16GB version that was formerly offered presented a tremendous opportunity. Additionally, it is important to note that it is equipped with a Ryzen CPU, which means that it may be updated later on in this year.
4- Dell XPS 13 (9315)
It is not cheap to get the most recent iteration of the Dell XPS 13 laptop. With a pricing that is more comparable to that of the M3 MacBook Air, it is a premium computer. However, if you look at the prior version of the XPS 13, you will find that it has some pretty fantastic alternatives that are also reasonable. The price of the XPS 13 Plus has lately been reduced by a substantial amount, and it now boasts a starting price of $999. A setup with 16 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM) and 512 gigabytes of storage space is described here. The design is quite stunning, and it comes with a CPU from Intel’s 13th generation.
On the other hand, the XPS 13 (9315) is even more impressive. Despite having a more conventional appearance, it was released in the year 2022. This laptop is even slimmer than the XPS 13 Plus, yet it still manages to be a stunning piece of technology. The only drawback is that the XPS 13 (9315) does not have a fast CPU, which negatively impacts its performance. The model that costs $599 is appealing, but the one that costs $799 and comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is also a good option.
5- MacBook Air M1
When it comes to alternatives to the M2 MacBook Air, the M1 MacBook Air is the one that stands out as exceptional. It is possible that it will seem like cheating, particularly considering that Apple is no longer selling it. I know, I know. On the other hand, you can get it online for a few hundred dollars less than the M2 model. Now, in general, I would recommend the M2 MacBook Air to folks since it has a slimmer chassis, a better camera, and better speakers than the original MacBook Air.
On the other hand, if you are really trying to save money and are determined to get a MacBook, the M1 MacBook Air is absolutely the most affordable option available to you. With regard to the aspects that are most important, the M1 MacBook Air continues to be an extremely reliable notebook that outperforms a great deal of Windows laptops in terms of both performance and battery life.
With that being said, while I believe that the M2 MacBook Air is well worth the additional cost, the M1 MacBook Air is a more affordable model that is still of high quality. Simply said, the reconditioned model that is being advertised at Best Buy for $599 is an incredible value.
