Best MacBook Under $1500
One thousand five hundred dollars still buys a current Mac from Amazon.com, as long as you stay on the Air and the new Neo instead of hunting a Pro. The 14-inch M5 Pro prices on the comparison blocks I opened sat above this cap, and a bare previous-generation Air was not a cleaner page than the M5 sitting in stock right now. My top pick, the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M5 chip, is the 16GB and 512GB Midnight configuration at $1,099, sold by Amazon.com, with Wi-Fi 7 on the page. In this guide, I’ll walk you through five MacBooks that offer the best bang-for-your-buck, without exceeding that one-thousand-five-hundred-dollar threshold.
Our Top Budget Picks at a Glance
Reviewed October 2026 · Independently tested by our editorial team
M5, 16GB, and 512GB, sold by Amazon.com.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Double the Neo’s storage, still far under the cap.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓The cheapest new Mac in this five, at $689.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
How We Tested
To evaluate these MacBooks under $1500, I opened the Amazon buy box, kept the new-condition price when Amazon.com was the seller, and rejected a cart whose price was a resale unit or a plan I had not selected. I wanted a current chip, at least a clear memory and storage line, and a page that said whether Touch ID was included. Across five different configurations, the cap buys an M5 Air, and it buys the cheaper Neo if 8GB is acceptable.
Best MacBook Under $1500: Detailed Reviews
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 16GB/512GB) View on Amazon
| Chip | M5 |
|---|---|
| Memory | 16GB unified |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Display | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
Midnight, model MDHE4LL/A, was $1,099.00 and in stock, sold by Amazon.com. Delivery was Wednesday, October 14, or the next day on October 10 for Prime. List price was $1,299.00. The bullets on this page describe a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with support for 1 billion colors, a 12MP Center Stage camera, a three-mic array, a four-speaker system with Spatial Audio, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe, a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and support for up to two external displays. The battery line says up to 18 hours. Amazon Resale at $1,044.05 is not the street. This is the current chip, with 16GB and 512GB, from Amazon itself.
- Sold by Amazon.com, in stock, at $1,099.00.
- 16GB and 512GB, not the 8GB floor on the Neo.
- Wi-Fi 7 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports are on the page.
- 13.6 inches if you wanted the 15.3-inch Air.
- A 14-inch M5 Pro on the comparison block was above this cap.
Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch (8GB/512GB) View on Amazon
| Chip | A18 Pro |
|---|---|
| Memory | 8GB unified |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD |
| Extra | Touch ID |
The Citrus configuration, model MHFE4LL/A, was $789.99 and in stock from Amazon.com. The title is an A18 Pro, 8GB of unified memory, a 512GB SSD, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and Touch ID. That is the useful cheap Mac if you want 512GB without paying Air money. A lower Visa price on the page is not the street. You are accepting 8GB, which the M5 Air above does not ask you to accept. Confirm the cart still says 512GB and Touch ID, not the 256GB Neo.
- 512GB SSD at $789.99 from Amazon.com.
- Touch ID is in this title.
- Hundreds under the M5 Air.
- 8GB of unified memory is the limit.
- 1080p camera, not the 12MP Center Stage camera on the Air.
Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch (8GB/256GB) View on Amazon
| Chip | A18 Pro |
|---|---|
| Memory | 8GB unified |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD |
| Color | Indigo |
Indigo, model MHFF4LL/A, was $689.00 as the new-condition price, in stock, sold by Amazon.com. The title lists an A18 Pro, 8GB, a 256GB SSD, and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera. This title does not say Touch ID, so I am not adding it. It is the lowest new Mac I could open under the cap. The 512GB Neo is the one to step to if 256GB is the part you will regret. Confirm the cart is the Indigo 256GB unit at $689.00.
- Lowest street in the five, sold by Amazon.com.
- A current Apple laptop, not a used Pro.
- A18 Pro is in the title.
- 256GB and 8GB are both the small configurations.
- This title does not list Touch ID.
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 16GB/512GB) View on Amazon
| Chip | M5 |
|---|---|
| Memory | 16GB unified |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Display | 15.3-inch Liquid Retina |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
Sky Blue, model MDVQ4LL/A, was $1,299.00 and in stock, sold by Amazon.com, against a $1,499.00 list price. The title is a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, 16GB, a 512GB SSD, a 12MP Center Stage camera, Touch ID, and Wi-Fi 7. Amazon Resale at $1,234.05 is not the street. You pay $200 more than the 13-inch M5 for the larger panel and the same 16GB and 512GB. It is the stretch when the 13-inch Air is enough computer and not enough screen.
- 15.3-inch M5 Air from Amazon.com.
- Same 16GB and 512GB as the top pick.
- Still $200 under the cap.
- $200 more than the 13-inch M5 for the screen.
- Not a Pro display. The M5 Pro carts I saw were over the cap.
Budget Buying Guide: How to Choose a MacBook Under $1500
Comparison Table
| Product | Street Price | Best For | Rating | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 16GB/512GB) | $1,099.00 | Current Air from Amazon | 4.8/5 | Check |
| Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch (8GB/512GB) | $789.99 | 512GB under $800 | 4.6/5 | Check |
| Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch (8GB/256GB) | $689.00 | Lowest new Mac | 4.5/5 | Check |
| Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 16GB/512GB) | $1,299.00 | Bigger M5 Air | 4.7/5 | Check |
| Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4 with AppleCare+) | $1,214.00 | M4 plus 3-year AppleCare+ | 4.4/5 | Check |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the 13-inch M5 or the 15-inch M5?
Buy the 13-inch at $1,099.00 if you want the current chip, 16GB, and 512GB for the least money from Amazon.com. Buy the 15-inch at $1,299.00 if the 15.3-inch panel is why you are shopping.
What does one thousand five hundred dollars actually buy?
A new M5 Air from Amazon.com, either 13.6 or 15.3 inches, with 16GB and 512GB. It also buys a new Neo at $689.00 or $789.99. It did not buy the M5 Pro carts on the comparison blocks.
Is it better to buy new at this cap or used from a higher tier?
New. Amazon Resale prices on these pages were lower, and they are not the streets above. A used Pro was not a cleaner buy than a new M5 Air sold by Amazon.com.
What is the biggest mistake buyers make at this price?
Treating the $1,214.00 M4 as a discounted Air. That cart includes three years of AppleCare+, and the SSD is 256GB. The M5 with 512GB is $1,099.00 without the plan.
When is the best time to find deals under $1500?
The M5 prices here were Amazon.com buy boxes, not coupon lines. Recheck the day you order, and confirm the capacity style, because 256GB, 512GB, and an AppleCare+ set are different carts.
Final Verdict
Buy the 13-inch M5 Air if you want the Mac I would buy. Buy the 15-inch M5 if the screen is the point. Buy the $689 Neo if that is the budget and 8GB is acceptable. One thousand five hundred dollars covers a new M5 Air. It does not cover a Pro.
2 Comments