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> you can buy an older model macbook Air and get the full experience at similar prices.

Not many countries allow tax return and expenses on used computers

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Apparently you can buy an M1 Air for 599$ brand new: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/13/macbook-air-with-m1-chi...
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A very old article, and if you follow any of their links, they are sold out. So it's not so apparent after all
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I don’t disagree, sure M1’s don’t grow somewhere and at some point will no longer exist as new but this is such a disappointing laptop. At least could have had a redeeming quality like being significantly lighter. It’s just worse in every aspect.
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Walmart shows new as currently out of stock, they only have restored.
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Is it a better deal? A18 Pro seems to be somewhat more capable than an M1.
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Maybe but It has worse screen, worse battery and worse connectivity.
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Noted, but I’d still pick the better CPU.
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On the refurb market, you can get a Macbook Air at the 16-512 configuration for only a few hundred more, which is a better value.

But! Then you'll be seeing the Neos on the refurb market in the $300 or $400 range.

I think this has basically been how the market for Macs have worked since 2021.

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This product will be available in unlimited volumes until they replace it or discontinue it, with no quirks of used/older models.

For an active market-watching technology buyer, sure, think about it.

For 99.5% of the addressable market, click-click-ship-done. No thought required.

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What part(s) of the "full experience" are missing in this machine?
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Smaller screen with less colors(sRGB instead of P3), shorter battery life(16 instead of 18), USB-3 and USB-2 Type-C ports instead of thunderbolt.
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A used m1 air isn't going to have that battery life anyway...
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