Is the MacBook Air still worth it after Apple’s latest price increase?
About 3 weeks ago, I posted here asking for advice on my first MacBook. You guys helped me narrow it down to the MacBook Air, and instead of rushing into such an expensive purchase, I spent the last few weeks researching the different configurations so I could make the best long-term decision.
Unfortunately, Apple has now increased MacBook prices, and the configuration I was planning to buy suddenly became a lot more expensive. Needless to say, I’m pretty gutted.
I’m not a power user. My workload is mostly web browsing, Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, media consumption, video calls, light photo management, and general everyday tasks. However, I tend to keep my electronics for a very long time, so my biggest priority isn’t how the Mac performs today—it’s how well it’ll hold up after years of macOS updates and changing software requirements.
My current options are:
16GB RAM / 512GB SSD – AED 5,949
24GB RAM / 512GB SSD – AED 6,399
32GB RAM / 512GB SSD – AED 7,299
24GB RAM / 1TB SSD – AED 7,749
A little more context:
- This will be my first MacBook.
- I plan to keep it for as close to 10 years as realistically possible.
- I’ll be going through a major life transition soon, so I don’t expect to be buying another expensive laptop for a long time.
- I already own a 2TB external NVMe SSD, so I can use external storage if needed.
If you were in my position, which configuration would you choose today?
Would you:
- save the money and stick with 16GB?
- go for 24GB as the sweet spot?
- spend the extra for 32GB since RAM can’t be upgraded,
or prioritize the 1TB SSD instead?
I’d really appreciate hearing from both long-time Mac users and people who know the Apple ecosystem well.
If you’ve owned a MacBook for many years, what configuration did you choose, and do you wish you’d upgraded the RAM or storage?
If you’re someone who follows Apple hardware closely, do you think paying more for 24GB or 32GB RAM is genuinely worthwhile for a basic user who’s planning to keep the MacBook for as close to 10 years as possible, especially considering future macOS updates and changing software requirements?
P.S. I’m honestly a bit heartbroken because I spent weeks researching before making such a big purchase, only to have the price increase right before I was ready to buy. I’d really appreciate constructive advice rather than judgment. Thank you in advance.