Apple MacBook Pro M4 lifestyle image

The BEST MacBook deals for January 2025

There are always juicy MacBook deals available online if you know where to look. We've rounded up the best cheap MacBooks right here!

Apple products aren’t cheap, but there are always good MacBook deals online if you know where to look. The good news is that these MacOS laptops actually go on sale frequently, often at very deep discounts. If you’re hunting for a new Mac, tracking down some good Apple deals can save you serious cash. But you don’t waste any time scouring the web by yourself. We’ve already done the heavy lifting to bring you the best cheap MacBook deals, with juicy savings on the best MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.

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MacBook Air M1 (2020) – $518 (Renewed)

Apple 2020 MacBook Air M1

The 2020 MacBook Air M1 is still the best cheap MacBook, although Apple has recently discontinued it, so it’s getting hard to find. But if you can grab one, it’s one of the best MacBooks for students and everyday work at this price. Its 13.3-inch Retina display looks great, and the Apple M1 CPU is snappy and thermally efficient.

It’s not as good for heavy-duty work like 3D design or video editing (for that, you want a newer model). Still, it has plenty of muscle for things like typing up documents, taking online classes, streaming, etc. And did we mention that the M1 CPU runs so cool that it doesn’t need any fans? That means the MacBook Air is not only thin but silent as well.

MacBook Air M2 (2022) – $799, was $999

Apple MacBook Air M2

The MacBook Air is an everyman’s MacOS laptop, but professionals and power users who want the best MacBook for work should be looking at something more powerful than the 2020 model. There are a few different models in the MacBook Air stable, with the 2022 release sporting the beefier M2 system-on-chip.

With the 2024 MacBook Air now sporting the M3 CPU, the 2022 release is a harder sell. Nonetheless, it’s still a great MacOS laptop, especially if you can find a good MacBook deal on one of the higher-end models. It’s also much cheaper than the MacBook Pro. At this price, the MacBook Air M2 is easily the best cheap MacBook you can buy new.

MacBook Air M3 (2024) – $899, was $1,099

The MacBook Air M3 in dark blue.

If you’re after the absolute best MacBook deals, the MacBook Air is the one to look for. However, that doesn’t limit you to the 2020 model with an M1 CPU, which many users might find underpowered. Last year, Apple updated the MacBook Air line with new models featuring the more powerful M3 system-on-chip.

The M3 SoC has eight CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. It can easily handle regular workloads, and it’s capable of creative work and even some gaming (although the best MacBook for gaming is the MacBook Pro — more on that later). You can grab the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 for $899, or the larger 15-inch model for as low as $1,099 (down from $1,299).

MacBook Pro M4 (2024) – $1,459, was $1,599

MacBook Pro M4 (Space Black)

There’s no doubt about it: The MacBook Pro is still the best MacBook for streaming, gaming, creative work, and just about anything else. It’s the best MacBook, period, thanks in no small part to Apple’s powerful silicon chip lineup. The M4 chip architecture combines speedy CPU and GPU cores into a thermally efficient package, surpassing the impressive M3 chipset. On top of that, the MacBook Pro recently received a visual redesign, with a sleeker frame and slimmed-down bezels that allow for a larger screen.

The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is simply gorgeous. It boasts a 3024 x 1964 resolution, a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits (meaning you can use this thing outside with no problem). Finally, the standard M4 chip packs 10 CPU and 10 GPU cores, so you won’t be disappointed with its performance.

MacBook Deals FAQ

MacBook Air 2023 M2

Which is better, the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

If you’re looking for the best MacBook in terms of hardware performance and display quality, it’s the MacBook Pro. Specifically, the Pro models with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chipsets are the best MacBooks you can buy.

The MacBook Pro is, and always has been, poised as a higher-end MacOS laptop that caters to professionals. Their newer M-series silicon chips heavily emphasize graphical muscle and processing power. That makes them ideal for resource-heavy tasks like 3D design and video rendering. By contrast, the MacBook Air is positioned as the “everyman’s laptop,” making it the best MacBook for most users.

What’s the best cheap MacBook right now?

The 2020 MacBook Air M1 is still a solid laptop and the best cheap MacBook, provided you can find one. This model is discontinued, however, and only now available in refurbished condition. The M1 CPU also isn’t as powerful as the newer M2, M3, and M4 chips. Still, in its time, it offered plenty of muscle for things like word processing, streaming, and browsing the web.

With that in mind, the 2022 MacBook Air M2 is now the best MacBook for students and those on a budget. When discounted, the price typically hovers around $700 to $800. If you’re looking for cheap MacBook deals (and don’t want to buy a refurbished one), that’s the one to watch.

Are MacBooks good for gaming?

For the longest time, the world of PC gaming was more or less restricted to Windows computers. All that changed with the release of Apple’s M-series silicon chips, which combine CPU and GPU cores. These don’t deliver the same graphical horsepower as a CPU paired with a dedicated GPU. Still, they’re very impressive for laptop hardware and give the MacBook lineup some much-needed gaming chops.

The best MacBook for gaming is the latest MacBook Pro lineup with the M3 and M4 chips. These Apple silicon chips feature incredibly robust core architecture, with the newer M3 and M4 series featuring up to 16 CPU cores and 40 (yes, 40) GPU cores. These can run even high-end games. However, if you need a serious gaming laptop, you’re still better off with Windows simply because it supports more games. That may change in the coming years, as Apple is interested in capturing a larger share of the OS market.