If you need a MacBook Air before September 2026, buy the base 16GB M5 model now while it is still the most available configuration. If you can wait until late 2026 or early 2027, you will likely have more options, but not lower prices. Prices are not coming down anytime soon.
That is the short version. Here is everything behind it.
Why is this Decision Harder Than Usual Right Now?
Normally, the MacBook Air buying question is simple. Wait if a new model is coming. Buy if the current one suits your needs.
Right now, two things are happening at once:
- The MacBook Air is facing supply constraints unlike anything retail staff can recall for the product in recent memory, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman
- The price has already risen from $999 to $1,299 in under two years, with another increase possible if memory costs keep climbing
You are being asked to pay more and potentially wait longer. That changes the calculation.
What Happens If You Buy Now?
The good:
- Base 16GB models are currently the most available configuration.
- You get a genuinely excellent laptop, the M5 MacBook Air remains one of the best consumer machines available at any price.
- You avoid the risk of further price increases, which Apple has already signalled are possible.
The catch:
- Delivery estimates across Apple’s online store have slipped into late August and September for most configurations.
- Higher-memory models, 24GB and 32GB, face the longest waits.
- You are buying at or near peak pricing for this generation.
If you buy today, set realistic expectations. The base model will likely arrive in late August. Anything above that may push into September.
What Happens If You Wait?
The case for waiting:
Apple is prioritising sales of the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro in part to clear the way for an M6 MacBook Pro refresh coming this fall. Once that refresh lands, a few things shift:
- Current M5 MacBook Pro inventory may drop in price.
- Refurbished M5 MacBook Air units will start appearing through Apple’s store.
- MacBook Air supply may gradually improve as Apple locks in alternative memory sources.
The honest caveat:
SK Hynix forecast 2027 as the worst year for supply shortages in semiconductor history. Bloomberg Intelligence projects conditions may ease by 2028.
Waiting three months is reasonable. Waiting for prices to fall to 2024 levels is not a realistic plan.
Who Should Buy Now vs Wait
| Your Situation | Recommendation |
| Student needing a laptop before term | Buy now – get the base 16GB model |
| Professional with an urgent replacement need | Buy now – do not gamble on availability improving |
| Casual buyer, no deadline | Wait until October or November |
| Wanting 24GB or 32GB RAM | Wait – those configs have the worst delays right now |
| Budget-conscious buyer | Check Apple’s refurbished store for M4 Air units |
| Waiting for a new MacBook Air model | No new Air is expected until after the M6 Pro refresh – likely early 2027 |
What is the Best Alternative for MacBook Right Now?
If you need a Mac today and the MacBook Air wait is too long, two options are worth considering.
Refurbished MacBook Air M4: Available through Apple’s official refurbished store. Fully certified, one-year warranty, and priced below the current M5 retail price. The performance gap between M4 and M5 is minimal for most everyday tasks.
14-inch MacBook Pro M4 (base model): Currently better stocked than the Air. Apple retail staff are already steering education buyers toward this model as an alternative. It costs more, runs slightly warmer, and is heavier, but you can actually get one this week.
Conclusion
Should you buy a MacBook Air now? Yes, if you need one. No, if you are flexible.
The MacBook Air is still worth buying at $1,299. The M5 chip is fast, the battery life is exceptional, and the form factor has no real competition at this size and weight. What has changed is that you are paying a shortage premium and accepting a longer wait.
If neither of those bother you, go ahead. If they do, the refurbished M4 Air is the smarter buy right now.
