Walmart Discounts MacBook Air M1 to $599 in Limited Deal

A nearly five-year-old Apple laptop is creating a seismic shift in the budget computing market, proving that groundbreaking technology can remain profoundly relevant years after its debut. Walmart is currently offering the iconic MacBook Air with the powerful M1 chip for an astonishing $599, a price point that makes Apple’s silicon performance accessible to an entirely new audience of students, professionals, and everyday users. This deal, which represents a significant $400 discount from the laptop’s original retail price, positions the machine as one of the most compelling value propositions in the tech world today.

Is the Apple M1 Chip Still Good for Everyday Use in 2025?

Despite its age, the Apple M1 chip continues to deliver a computing experience that far surpasses expectations for its current price. The heart of this MacBook Air is an 8-core CPU and a 7-core or 8-core GPU, a combination that handles everyday tasks with remarkable ease and efficiency. Users can expect seamless performance for a wide range of activities, including web browsing with dozens of tabs open, streaming high-definition video, managing complex documents and spreadsheets, and even light photo editing.

The machine’s legendary battery life remains a standout feature, routinely delivering up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing or 18 hours of video playback on a single charge. This endurance, combined with the silent, fanless design, makes it an ideal companion for mobility. For the vast majority of users whose computing needs don’t involve professional-grade video editing or 3D rendering, the M1 MacBook Air provides more than enough power, running applications like Safari, Chrome, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Lightroom with impressive speed and fluidity. Its performance is a testament to the revolutionary architecture of Apple silicon, which continues to outperform many contemporary Intel and AMD processors in efficiency and single-core tasks.

What You Get and What To Consider

The specific configuration available at Walmart includes 8GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD. This setup provides ample storage for most users’ essential applications, files, and media libraries, while the memory is efficiently managed by macOS. The laptop features the classic MacBook Air design with a Retina display, a Magic Keyboard, and a Touch ID sensor for secure authentication.

Prospective buyers should, however, consider a few factors. The design is from an earlier generation, featuring thicker bezels around the screen and a wedge-shaped body compared to the newer, uniform-thickness models. Most critically, as the oldest MacBook Air compatible with the upcoming macOS Tahoe, its long-term software support window is more limited than that of newer M-series models. While it will receive updates for the foreseeable future, this is a key consideration for those planning to keep the device for many years.

A Market-Defining Moment for Affordable Performance

This aggressive pricing from Walmart, first spotted in March 2024 at $699 and now cut to $599, signals a strategic move to dominate the budget-friendly premium laptop segment. The deal emerges amidst industry rumors of Apple developing a new lower-cost MacBook, potentially priced in a similar range but not expected until later. For now, this offer provides an unprecedented opportunity to own a proven, reliable Apple ecosystem device at a fraction of the cost of its modern counterparts.

For a limited time, the barrier to entry for the Mac experience has never been lower. The Walmart M1 MacBook Air deal is not just a discount; it is a statement that high-quality, efficient computing is now accessible to all. This is the ultimate gateway device into the Apple ecosystem, offering a level of performance and build quality that is simply unmatched in the sub-$600 price category. Check availability now, as stock at this historic low price is unlikely to last.

Must Know

What is the screen size of the M1 MacBook Air?
The MacBook Air with the M1 chip features a 13.3-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2560-by-1600 pixels. It offers support for millions of colors and features True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the white balance to match the ambient light for a more natural viewing experience.

Does this model support multiple external monitors?
The M1 MacBook Air natively supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. However, it does not officially support driving two external monitors simultaneously without the use of specific software or display-link adapters, which is a limitation of the base M1 chip architecture.

What ports are available on the M1 MacBook Air?
This model is equipped with two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports on the left side. These ports support charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3, and USB 3.1 Gen 2. It also features a 3.5mm headphone jack on the right side.

Is the M1 MacBook Air at Walmart brand new?
According to the product listing and available information, these units are brand new and not refurbished. They are being sold as new old stock, meaning they are unused products that were manufactured before Apple discontinued the model.

Can you play games on the M1 MacBook Air?
Yes, the M1 MacBook Air can handle many games, particularly those available on the Mac App Store, older titles, and games through subscription services like Apple Arcade. It is not designed for high-end, graphically intensive gaming but performs well with casual and less demanding titles.

How does the M1 chip compare to Intel processors?
The Apple M1 chip significantly outperforms Intel processors of its generation in terms of performance-per-watt, meaning it delivers strong computing power while using less energy and generating less heat. This results in better battery life and silent, fanless operation, a major advantage over Intel-based laptops.