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FREE $50 GIFT CARD: Pre-order any model of the new Apple MacBook Air from Best Buy and receive a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card. The 2026 M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple M5 MacBook Air (13-inch, 16GB, 512GB) $1,099 at Best Buy
get a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card Get Deal

It's an exciting week for Apple fans. We have a new budget phone, the iPhone 17e, a $599 MacBook Neo, and an upgraded model of the MacBook Air. While these products aren't shipping out quite yet, now is a great time to pre-order to get a deal. If you plan on grabbing a new M5 MacBook Air, check out this deal from Best Buy.

As of March 5, preorders for the new M5 MacBook Air come with a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card. The cheapest option for the M5 MacBook Air comes in at $1,099 for the 13-inch model with 512GB storage.

The MacBook Air is waving goodbye to the M4 chip. Earlier this week, Apple announced the new M5 MacBook Air with the upgraded chip and more storage. The M4 MacBook Air started with 256GB of storage while the new M5 MacBook Air comes with at least 512GB. Surprisingly, we didn't see a price hike for this new model. In fact, it's $100 less than its predecessor M4 MacBook Air models.

SEE ALSO: How to preorder the iPhone 17e, Apple's new budget phone

If you were already planning on ordering the new M5 MacBook Air, it could be wise to pre-order from Best Buy. Every order comes with a free $50 Best Buy e-gift card, delivered via e-mail after your order is fulfilled.

Apple has the launch date set for March 11 and Best Buy is offering both pickup at your local brick-and-mortar store or shipping. Keep in mind the shipping option says it'll arrive by release date. The updated MacBook Air comes in a 13 and 15-inch version with prices starting at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. All models come with 16GB RAM and storage options range from 512GB to 4TB. Colorway options include sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver.

Get your preorder in today for the new M5 MacBook Air to get a free $50 gift card, and reassurance you'll have a new laptop on March 11.

Everywhere you can pre-order Apple's new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros: The Apple Store Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Starting at $2,199 Pre-Order Here The Apple Store Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) Starting at $3,599 Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Starting at $2,199 Pre-Order Here Amazon Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) Starting at $3,599 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) Starting at $2,199 + free $100 gift card Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) Starting at $3,599 + free $100 gift card Pre-Order Here

Apple is launching updated MacBook Pros with new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and double the starting storage, the company announced Tuesday. They'll start shipping on Wednesday, March 11, and preorders are open now. FYI: All configurations include a free $100 gift card at Best Buy as part of its Apple Shopping Event, live through Sunday, March 8.

The new MacBook Pros will be available in 14- and 16-inch sizes. The M5 Pro variants will start at $2,199 and $2,699, respectively, with discounts of up to $200 for education shoppers who buy direct. They come with 1TB of base storage. Apple recommends them "for users running complex workflows, like coders optimizing algorithms and photographers processing massive image libraries," according to a company press release.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, raises MacBook starting prices

The 14-inch M5 Max model starts at $3,599 (or $3,299 for students), while the 16-inch size starts at $3,899 (or $3,599 for students). Both models have 2TB of base storage. They're aimed at "those pushing the absolute limits, such as engineers running rigorous simulations," Apple said.

Credit: Apple

While the starting prices of both new MacBook Pro variants are higher than their predecessors', the latter's base models had half the storage. When configured identically, with the same amount of storage and RAM, their prices haven't changed:

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,199

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,699

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,599

• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,899

In keeping with this pattern, Apple has also announced that it's updating the starting configuration of its entry-level MacBook Pro, the 14-inch model with the regular M5 chip (an October 2025 release). It now has 1TB of base storage and a starting price of $1,699. It used to start at $1,599 with 512GB of storage, with a 1TB bump costing $200 extra, so that's actually a better deal than before.

The updated MacBook Pros aren't the only new Apple gadgets available for preorder this week. Shoppers can also reserve the new M5 MacBook Airs, a new budget iPhone 17e, an M4 iPad Air, new Studio Displays, and the all-new budget MacBook Neo ahead of their collective March 11 launch.

M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro specs: What else is new Credit: Apple

Both updated variants of the MacBook Pro feature Apple's N1 chip, which adds support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, some newer wireless connectivity standards. Other than that, they're basically identical to their predecessors. Here's a rundown of the M5 Pro models' spec sheets:

• Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models

• Starting prices: $2,199 and $2,699, respectively

• Processor: M5 Pro with up to an 18-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU

• Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish

• Memory: 24GB to 64GB RAM

• Storage: 1TB to 4TB

• Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6

• Battery life: Up to 24 hours of video streaming

• Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera

• Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack

• Colors: Space black and silver

And here's a breakdown of the M5 Max variants' components:

• Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models

• Starting prices: $3,599 and $3,899, respectively

• Processor: M5 Max with an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU

• Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish

• Memory: 36GB to 128GB RAM

• Storage: 2TB to 8TB

• Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6

• Battery life: Up to 22 hours of video streaming

• Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera

• Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack

• Colors: Space black and silver

Everywhere you can preorder the new Apple iPhone 17e: The Apple Store Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $599 (get $35 to $685 in trade-in credits) Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $599 (get up to $600 in trade-in credits)) Pre-Order Here AT&T Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $5.99/month for 36 months (requires unlimited data plan) Pre-Order Here T-Mobile Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $0 (requires new line and 24-month installment plan) Pre-Order Here Verizon Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $0 (requires new line and 36-month installment plan) Pre-Order Here

Apple kicked off its "big week" by announcing the latest budget iPhone, its first with MagSafe, alongside an updated iPad Air. The new iPhone 17e is set for release on Wednesday, March 11, and preorders opened March 4. Shoppers can reserve it through the Apple Store, Best Buy, and major phone carriers.

The iPhone 17e is priced at $599 with 256GB of storage to start. That's double the base storage of last year's iPhone 16e, which cost the same. It's $200 cheaper than the regular iPhone 17.

Trading in an older phone will earn you $35 to $685 in credit at the Apple Store and up to $600 in credit at Best Buy, covering the cost of your new iPhone 17e. If you go through T-Mobile or Verizon instead, you can get the iPhone 17e for free (via monthly bill credits) by signing up for a new line and paying on an installment plan. T-Mobile's offer also requires a trade-in, but Verizon's does not.

AT&T customers can get the iPhone 17e for $5.99/month for 36 months with any unlimited data plan and no trade-in.

iPhone 17e specs

Apple says the iPhone 17e runs on its A19 chip, the same processor as the iPhone 17. It packs its new C1X cellular modem, which is supposedly up to twice as fast as the iPhone 16e's C1 modem. It also features support for MagSafe wireless charging — a first for Apple's budget smartphone line.

The iPhone 17e is the smallest, cheapest, and pinkest member of the iPhone 17 family. Credit: Apple

The iPhone 17e sports the same 6.1-inch OLED display as its predecessor, but an improved Ceramic Shield 2 front cover like its iPhone 17 series siblings. Additionally, it has a new 48MP Fusion rear camera system and a new soft pink finish. It's slightly heavier than the iPhone 16e to accommodate these upgrades (5.96 ounces versus 5.88 ounces).

SEE ALSO: Apple announces new iPhone 17e, a $599 budget smartphone with MagSafe

Here's a quick overview of its full spec sheet:

• 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display

• Ceramic Shield 2 front cover

• A19 chip

• Up to 26 hours of video playback

• 12MP TrueDepth front camera

• 48MP Fusion rear camera system (48MP Fusion Main camera)

• Emergency SOS and Crash Detection

• MagSafe wireless charging

• 256GB or 512GB of storage

• Rated IP68

• Apple Intelligence

Mashable's Stan Schroeder thought the iPhone 16e was "pretty great when compared to other members of the iPhone 16 family," but dinged it for lacking MagSafe and being pricier than the old iPhone SE. (That was Apple's prior budget iPhone offering.) In the iPhone 17e, Apple has made several upgrades that bump its value on top of resolving the MagSafe issue. Stand by for our full review, but on paper, it looks incredibly promising.