This 2025 MacBook Air with an M4 chip is on sale for $849 this weekend

The price cut signals Apple’s strategy to broaden the MacBook Air’s appeal amid growing competition from Windows laptops and Chromebooks. By offering a modest 256 GB SSD and a $50 colour upgrade, Apple tests consumer willingness to trade storage for lower cost and premium branding. The second‑order effect could be a surge in used‑market sales, potentially eroding Apple’s long‑term service revenue, while the limited storage may push users toward external or cloud solutions, increasing reliance on third‑party providers. Unasked questions include how the M4 chip’s performance translates to real‑world workloads and whether the price drop will ripple to higher‑spec models. Stakeholders such as software developers, resellers, and environmental groups will need to assess the impact on software optimization, resale margins, and electronic waste reduction.