Laptop Alternatives to the MacBook Air
Apple’s decision to raise MacBook prices—triggered by rising memory and storage chip costs driven by the AI boom—has shifted consumer interest toward more affordable alternatives. The entry-level MacBook Neo now starts at $699, up from $599, while the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models have jumped by $200, from $1,099 to $1,299 and $1,299 to $1,499, respectively. BGR highlights several laptops that now undercut these prices while maintaining comparable features.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Gen 11, starting at $1,399, is slightly cheaper than the 15-inch MacBook Air. Powered by Qualcomm’s latest second-generation Snapdragon X2 Plus chip, it offers 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and a 14-inch FHD+ OLED panel. However, it lacks a headphone jack and has limited ports, though it has been seen for as low as $1,200. BGR notes that this model’s price keeps fluctuating.
The 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop, now priced at $1,199, is $100 cheaper than the MacBook Air 13. It uses Qualcomm’s 8-core Snapdragon X Plus chip, which, while not as powerful as Apple’s M5, still handles everyday tasks effectively. With 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and nearly 31 hours of battery life, it offers strong performance. BGR emphasizes its value for users not performing CPU- or GPU-intensive tasks.
The HP OmniBook 5, priced at $1,450, is $50 cheaper than the 15-inch MacBook Air. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, 32 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and a 14-inch 2K OLED display, offering more memory and a versatile port selection than the Air. While slightly heavier, its specs and lower price make it a strong contender for those seeking more power. BGR highlights its portability and feature set as key advantages.
The Price Drop in Nothing’s B Series Phones
While laptops are seeing price increases, smartphones like Nothing’s new B series are bucking the trend. The Nothing Phone 4(b), launched in July 2026, starts at £299 ($399), a reduction from its predecessor, the 4(a), which launched at £349 (around $466) in March 2026.
The 4(b)’s 6.77-inch display has a 1080 x 2344-pixel resolution, down from the 4(a)’s 1224 x 2720-pixel panel, and its peak brightness drops to 2,000 nits from 4,500. The camera setup also weakens, omitting a telephoto lens, and charging speeds slow to 33 W from 50 W.
Market Context and Consumer Choices
The broader tech market is grappling with inflation driven by AI-related demand for memory and storage chips. Apple’s price hikes and Nothing’s strategic discounts illustrate how companies are navigating these challenges. For laptops, consumers now have more options to balance cost and performance, while smartphone buyers face a trade-off between price and hardware quality.
As of July 2026, the MacBook Air’s price increases have made alternatives like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Gen 11 and HP OmniBook 5 more attractive. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone 4(b)’s price drop highlights a niche strategy for budget-conscious buyers, albeit with notable downsides.
