Apple's M5 MacBook Air drops to $1,134 on Amazon amid AI-driven price hikes

Apple's 13-inch M5 MacBook Air has hit its lowest price since the company implemented a sweeping price increase across its MacBook and iPad lineup in June. On Amazon, the laptop now sells for $1,134, which is $65 below Apple's official store price of $1,199. The discount comes at a time when consumers are paying 15-25% more for the same devices compared to just a few months ago, making this a notable reprieve for back-to-school shoppers.

The price surge is directly linked to unprecedented demand for RAM and NAND flash storage from AI infrastructure companies, which are stockpiling memory chips for data centers and squeezing supply for consumer electronics. Apple CEO Tim Cook had flagged the impending hike in a Wall Street Journal interview, admitting higher prices were 'unavoidable.' For professionals and students eyeing the M5 MacBook Air, this Amazon deal may be the last chance to grab one at a lower price until October Prime Day or Black Friday. ZDNET's editors give the deal a 3/5 rating, noting the laptop still delivers excellent battery life, a thin-and-light design, and more memory and faster storage than its M4 predecessor.