Deals: M5 MacBook Air up to $300 off, AirPods Max 2 $100 off, Beats Solo Buds from $41, AirTag 2, more

The tech retail landscape is shifting again as August brings some of the most aggressive discounts we have seen on Apple’s latest hardware lineup. According to reporting from 9to5Toys, the M5 MacBook Air is now available at steep reductions, with certain configurations dropping by up to $300. This is not just a marginal price cut. It represents a meaningful entry point for professionals who need portable power for local AI inference and heavy multitasking.

The headline grabber is undoubtedly the M5 MacBook Air. We are seeing rare deals on the 24GB RAM model, which is a critical specification for anyone running local large language models or complex data pipelines. While the standard retail price remains high, the official Apple Certified Refurbished Store is offering up to $300 off on select 15-inch models. This is a smart move by Apple to clear inventory while maintaining brand prestige through their certified channel.

Audio gear is also seeing substantial markdowns. The AirPods Max 2 have dropped by $100, making them more accessible for creators who need high-fidelity monitoring for video production or spatial audio mixing. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 3 are down by $50. These price adjustments suggest that Apple is preparing for a new product cycle or simply trying to move existing stock before the holiday season rush begins.

Smaller accessories are not being left behind. The AirTag 2 has hit an all-time low price, which is interesting given its role in the broader Apple ecosystem. For logistics managers or small business owners tracking assets, this lower barrier to entry makes deploying a fleet of trackers more financially viable. It also highlights how Apple is integrating hardware into practical, everyday business workflows rather than just consumer convenience.

Beats products are also getting a boost. The Solo Buds are available in a Transparent Red colorway for just $40, and the new 240W Braided USB-C Cable is priced at a mere $18. These items might seem trivial, but they complete the ecosystem. For remote workers, having reliable, affordable peripherals reduces the friction of setting up a productive home office environment.

The broader implication here is about the democratization of high-performance computing. As AI tools become more integrated into daily workflows, the need for devices with sufficient RAM and processing power is growing. The M5 MacBook Air, especially with 24GB of RAM, is one of the most accessible machines for running local AI assistants. This discount makes it a compelling option for developers and data analysts who cannot justify the cost of a desktop workstation.

What this means for you If you are looking to build a local AI development environment or simply want a machine that can handle heavy multitasking with AI plugins, now is the time to act. The 24GB M5 MacBook Air is a sweet spot for performance and portability. Try this prompt to optimize your new setup: "Create a step-by-step checklist for configuring a new M5 MacBook Air for local AI development, including recommended tools for model management and environment isolation." This will help you hit the ground running with your new hardware.