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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Core 5 320 is a budget chip, slower than M5; only two USB-C ports.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13" (M5) is the Dell XPS 13 (2026, Intel Core 5 320, 16GB/512GB), about $1,050 instead of $1,299 (save 19%). What you give up: Core 5 320 is a budget chip, slower than M5; only two USB-C ports. The cheapest is the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 at about $400. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Premium Windows pick: sharp 2560x1600 touch screen in a 2.2 lb body.
You give up: Core 5 320 is a budget chip, slower than M5; only two USB-C ports.
Why it's a good swap Fast, simple and long-lasting if you mostly use a browser.
You give up: ChromeOS can't run Mac or Windows apps.
Why it's a good swap Cheap 15.6-inch Windows laptop for people who want a bigger screen.
You give up: Older Ryzen 5 7520U chip and a plainer build than the Air.
Why it's a good swap Apple's cheapest Mac, with macOS, an aluminum body and long battery life.
You give up: Uses an iPhone chip, and the base model has no backlit keyboard, Touch ID or MagSafe.
Why it's a good swap Dell's entry XPS 13 keeps the 13.4-inch 2560x1600 touch screen of the pricier model for about $550 less than the Air.
You give up: Half the Air's memory and storage (8GB and 256GB), and the Core 5 320 is a budget chip.
Why it's a good swap Thin Windows laptop with an OLED screen for much less than a MacBook Air.
You give up: Specs vary by model, so check the chip and RAM before buying.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13" (M5)? It usually sells for about $1,299. Here are 6 cheaper swaps from $400: the Dell XPS 13 (2026, Intel Core 5 320, 16GB/512GB) is the closest match from another brand, the Apple MacBook Neo 13" is a cheaper option from Apple and the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is the cheapest at about $400. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air (M5) now starts at $1,299 with 16GB and 512GB. To stay on macOS for less, the MacBook Neo is $699; for Windows, the Dell XPS 13 (2026) is the closest premium match. The cheapest pick here is the Acer Chromebook Plus 514.
The M5 MacBook Air suits people who want macOS, long battery life and room to grow: it starts with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, drives two external displays and has two Thunderbolt 4 ports plus MagSafe. It fits students, writers and light photo or video editors.
If you only need macOS for browsing, documents and video calls, the MacBook Neo covers it for $699, but it has 8GB of memory and supports a single external display. Windows users wanting a premium feel should look at the Dell XPS 13 or Zenbook 14 OLED, and the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 suits people who live in a web browser.
Compared on their own pages: MacBook Neo alternatives
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Air 13" (M5) | The original | $1,299 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Acer Chromebook Plus 514 | Budget pick | $400 | $899 (69%) | ChromeOS can't run Mac or Windows apps. | View ↗ |
| Acer Aspire Go 15 (AG15-21PT-R641, Ryzen 5 7520U, 16GB/512GB) | Budget pick | $600 | $699 (54%) | Older Ryzen 5 7520U chip and a plainer build than the Air. | View ↗ |
| Apple MacBook Neo 13" | Same brand, cheaper | $699 | $600 (46%) | Uses an iPhone chip, and the base model has no backlit keyboard, Touch ID or MagSafe. | View ↗ |
| Dell XPS 13 (2026, Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB) | Close match | $750 | $549 (42%) | Half the Air's memory and storage (8GB and 256GB), and the Core 5 320 is a budget chip. | View ↗ |
| ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED | Close match | $800 | $499 (38%) | Specs vary by model, so check the chip and RAM before buying. | View ↗ |
| Dell XPS 13 (2026, Intel Core 5 320, 16GB/512GB) | Close match | $1,050 | $249 (19%) | Core 5 320 is a budget chip, slower than M5; only two USB-C ports. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514, at about $400 (69% less). Fast, simple and long-lasting if you mostly use a browser. The catch: ChromeOS can't run Mac or Windows apps.
The Dell XPS 13 (2026, Intel Core 5 320, 16GB/512GB), at about $1,050 (19% less). Premium Windows pick: sharp 2560x1600 touch screen in a 2.2 lb body. The catch: Core 5 320 is a budget chip, slower than M5; only two USB-C ports.
Yes. The Apple MacBook Neo 13", at about $699 (46% less). Apple's cheapest Mac, with macOS, an aluminum body and long battery life. The catch: Uses an iPhone chip, and the base model has no backlit keyboard, Touch ID or MagSafe.
Yes. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) is the closest premium match, with a 2560x1600 touch screen at about 2.2 pounds. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is a cheaper option with an OLED screen.
Apple sells the 13-inch MacBook Air M5 with 16GB memory and 512GB storage from $1,299. If you want macOS for less, the MacBook Neo is $699.
The Acer Aspire Go 15 has a 15.6-inch screen and costs far less, but its Ryzen 5 7520U chip is much slower than Apple's M5.
The Apple MacBook Neo 13" ($699) covers browsing, documents and video calls for $600 less. Apple lists 8GB of memory and one external display on the Neo, against 16GB and two displays on the MacBook Air (M5), and rates the Air at up to 18 hours of video streaming against 16 for the Neo.
Microsoft lists the 13-inch Surface Laptop (2nd Edition) at 2.7 lb with a 1920 x 1280 60Hz touchscreen and up to 22.5 hours of video playback, from $1,199.99 with 16GB and 256GB. The MacBook Air (M5) starts at $1,299 with 16GB and 512GB, and Apple rates it at up to 18 hours of video streaming. The Surface runs Windows on a Snapdragon chip, so check that your apps work on Arm.
Dell sells the Dell XPS 13 (2026, Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB) ($750) with the same 13.4-inch 2560x1600 touch screen as the pricier models. It has half the memory and storage of the base MacBook Air, so the Dell XPS 13 (2026, Intel Core 5 320, 16GB/512GB) ($1,050) is the closer match.
Not as an upgrade: Tom's Guide found the M5 Air is only a small step up from the M4 model. Buying new, Apple starts the 13-inch at $1,299 with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: MacBook Neo alternatives · Surface Laptop 13-inch alternatives
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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