Tips Clear – Media Surfer News Tips Clear: Your Daily Dose of Expert Advice
Apple has a reputation for having expensive devices, so it’s always great when we find a good deal on an Apple device, whether it’s iPhone deals or iPad deals. Luckily, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event is shaping up to be a great deal, with plenty of great deals on MacBooks. And, while you can certainly wait until Prime Day on October 10th, we’re already seeing some amazing MacBook deals that you can take advantage of right now, and they’re likely to be great deals even leading up to Prime Day.
We’re also glad to see great deals being found at all retailers, not just Amazon. In fact, we’re seeing Prime Day deals on MacBooks at places like Best Buy and Walmart, so if you have any special deals, cards, or coupons you can take advantage of, you’re in luck. In fact, we’re already seeing retailers undercut each other on great MacBook deals, which means more savings for you. So, without wasting much time, let’s move on to some of the best deals found so far during Prime Day 2023.
Today’s best Prime Day MacBook deals
MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2015) – from $159
Once the latest MacBook Air but now eight years old and still capable, the MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2015) is a great starting point for anyone new to macOS or who needs something financially equivalent to a Chromebook. This is a refurbished model but it comes with a one year warranty so there is peace of mind here. Unfortunately it won’t run the latest macOS, but its Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory, and 128GB of SSD storage should help you get through basic tasks. It still has all the style of a MacBook, so we’re thinking it could be a good entry point as your child’s first MacBook or if you want a project.
MacBook Air Retina 13.3-inch (2017) – from $254
The MacBook Air Retina 13.3-inch (2017) is a refurbished model but comes with a one-year warranty. At this price it’s a bit newer than other refurbished models, although you still won’t be able to use the latest version of macOS. Luckily, macOS Monterey is still pretty good. Plus, its Intel Core i5 processor is pretty fast for its age, it has 8GB of memory and 128GB of SSD storage. The main attraction here is its Retina display with 1440 x 900 resolution and sharper quality than other budget laptops.
MacBook Pro Retina 13.3-inch (2017) – from $351
Another refurbished model that offers a one-year warranty, the MacBook Pro Retina 13.3-inch (2017) is a stylish choice if you don’t mind missing out on the latest macOS. The Space Gray MacBook is a particularly good-looking variant, while its 13.3-inch screen achieves a resolution of 2560 x 1600, so it looks super sharp. An Intel Core i5 processor powers the proceedings while it has 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. There’s USB-C support, along with the always useful webcam and microphone combo, but no HDMI output. However, for a basic MacBook Pro, this will work.
MacBook Air Retina 13.3-inch (2020) – from $539
Slightly newer, the MacBook Air Retina 13.3-inch (2020) has a gorgeous Retina screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution. It has an Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB memory and 256GB SSD storage. It has two USB-C ports which are useful for a little future proofing, while three microphones ensure you can be heard clearly during video calls. It also has Bluetooth 5.0 support so you will get the benefit of less dropouts when connected to Bluetooth devices. Although this is a refurbished model, you get a full one year warranty, so there is peace of mind here, even if it is an older model.
MacBook Pro Retina 13.3-inch (2020) – from $650
Slightly more powerful than the options here, the MacBook Pro Retina 13.3-inch (2020) available on sale is a refurbished model but comes with a one-year warranty. It has an Intel Core i5 processor with 16GB memory and 512GB SSD storage. Effectively, everything is a little better than before. Furthermore, it also has a retina display giving you 2560 x 1600 resolution to make sure everything looks great. It also has stylish extra features like the Touch Bar seen on select MacBook models. Four USB-C ports give you plenty of options for accessories while there’s also Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
MacBook Pro Retina 16-inch (2019) – from $694
The MacBook Pro Retina 16-inch (2019) has a powerful Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage, so it’s a very powerful combination even despite its age. A refurbished model, you get a one-year warranty so you won’t have to worry about any issues. Thanks to its massive 16-inch screen, you get a 3072 x 1920 resolution and a crisp Retina display ensures it looks great. It has a Touch Bar for added functionality, while there’s also a dedicated graphics card in the form of an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M, although given its age we can’t count on it being a gaming system. USB-C ports round out the package nicely.
MacBook Air 13.3-inch M1 (2020) – $750, was $999
When it launched, we described the MacBook Air 13.3-inch M1 as “fast, fanless, and absolutely brilliant.” Although it is no longer as fast as the M2 chip, it is still good enough for most people. Apart from the M1 chip powering proceedings, it has 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage which is enough for most productivity-related tasks. Other neat features include a backlit keyboard, FaceTime HD camera, and Touch ID support. The latter means you can easily log in without having to enter the password manually. Impressively, it also offers up to 18 hours of battery life while its Retina screen ensures that everything looks sharp and clear while you work.
MacBook Air 15.3-inch M2 (2023) – $1,099, was $1,299
The MacBook Air 15.3-inch M2 (2023) features the latest M2 chip which means great performance all the time. It has a powerful 8-core CPU along with a 10-core GPU. Along with this there is 8GB memory and 256GB SSD storage. It’s incredibly thin and light, while still having room for a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display that looks amazing. The display has 500 nits brightness and P3 wide color support. While powerful, you can expect up to 18 hours of battery life while running completely quietly thanks to its fanless design.
MacBook Pro 13.3-inch M2 – $1,099, was $1,299
The MacBook Pro 13.3-inch M2 features the latest M2 chip with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU that ensures great performance across the board. It features a 13.3-inch Retina display with 500 nits brightness and P3 wide color support along with two Thunderbolt ports for connectivity. The studio-quality mic and FaceTime HD camera are useful for taking calls. Even better, the MacBook Pro 13.3-inch M2 has up to 20 hours of battery life, so there’s no need to worry about finding a power source at any time. Wrapping things up nicely is Touch ID support and a backlit keyboard.
MacBook Pro 14.2-inch M2 Pro – $1,799, was $1,999
One of the best MacBooks for many users, the MacBook Pro 14.2-inch M2 Pro has a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU. It also has 16GB memory and 512GB SSD storage so it is suitable for working effectively in many different ways. Its 14.2-inch Liquid Retina display looks great with extreme dynamic range, over 1,000 nits of brightness, and a Pro Reference mode. It is ideal for working in creative fields. It also has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with spatial audio. Count on up to 18 hours of battery life, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an HDMI port for everything you need.
MacBook Pro 16.2-inch M2 Pro – $2,250, was $2,499
The MacBook Pro 16.2-inch M2 Pro is a powerful laptop that will be prohibitively expensive for some users. It has a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU along with 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display looks great with Extreme Dynamic Range support, over 1,000 nits of brightness, and a Pro Reference mode. There’s a promise of up to 22 hours of battery life, while useful extras like three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system all add up nicely. It is built to last in many ways.
MacBook Pro 14.2-inch M2 Max – $2,899, was $3,099
The MacBook Pro 14.2-inch M2 Max runs hot but it’s really fast. The M2 Max is the best one at the moment and it offers a 12-core CPU along with a massive 30-core GPU. There’s also 32GB of memory and 1TB SSD storage, so the MacBook Pro 14.2-inch M2 Max is perfectly designed for power users. Its 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with extreme dynamic range, over 1,000 nits of brightness, and Pro Reference mode is a dream to look at. It also has all the other essentials like a Thunderbolt port, powerful speakers, and a great backlit keyboard, but ultimately, the main selling point of the MacBook Pro 14.2-inch M2 Max is how powerful it is. Despite all this power, it still gets up to 18 hours of battery life.
How we selected these Prime Day MacBook deals
Whenever you shop online and look for deals, it is important to know if you are getting the best possible deal. That’s why we can choose the best deals, taking advantage of many years of experience between writers and editors. In addition to our own experience, we use our collected knowledge, such as choosing the best MacBook. We also have several articles to help you choose the best deals, such as this MacBook Pro M2 Pro/M2 Max buying guide and this Apple MacBook Air M2 buying guide.
We have a very experienced buying team with years of commerce experience that not only knows the general trend of prices and deals for MacBooks but also looks at the historical price data of any MacBook deal. We consider things like configurations and their efficiency, comparable laptops, and competitive deals from different retailers to arrive at the best possible deal. This means whether you spend $500 or $1,000, you’re getting the best value for your money and can purchase with confidence.
