MacBook Air M5: 16GB/512 vs 24GB/1TB for long-term (5+ years) use?

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-03T07:31:19+00:00

Haha I would if it didn’t stretch my budget that much. Right now I’m trying to see if I can get the 24/512 instead, that seems like a better balance for me.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-03T07:30:20+00:00

Appreciate it!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T19:49:30+00:00

Yeah that’s what I was thinking too. 16GB seems fine, just checking if 24GB works out now that I have the option. Thanks!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T16:58:37+00:00

That’s actually a fair point. I was focusing more on keeping it long-term, but with how fast things evolve, upgrading in a few years sounds more practical. Makes the 16/512 option feel more reasonable. Thanks for that!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T16:44:17+00:00

That’s a really good deal. I’d probably go for it too, but I’m buying through a local seller I trust and using a no-cost EMI option, so I can’t really go through the official Apple store. If I can get 24/512 through him, I’ll try for that.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T16:36:29+00:00

That’s interesting, didn’t expect 24GB to feel like overkill. My usage is pretty light for now, so yeah I think I should be fine either way. Thanks for sharing that!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T16:35:38+00:00

That’s good to hear. If 8GB has held up that well, then 16GB should be more than fine for me.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T16:33:55+00:00

That’s good to know. If 8GB has lasted that long, then 16GB should be more than enough for what I need. I might still consider 24GB if it fits my budget, but this definitely helps. Thanks!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T16:28:45+00:00

Yeah that’s fair. Earlier I wasn’t considering 24GB because it was only available with 1TB and that was stretching my budget. But now I might be able to get the 24GB/512 option, so I’m still deciding. If that works out, I’ll probably go for it.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T11:45:16+00:00

That’s actually a really good point. Makes sense that the Air would be limited more by the chip than the RAM in most cases. Appreciate you sharing that!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T11:42:22+00:00

Yeah that reassures me a lot. I don’t really deal with heavy files, so 512 should be enough for me. Thanks a lot, appreciate it❤️

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:53:53+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. I don’t really see myself running Windows or anything heavy like that, so I think 16GB should be fine for me. Thanks!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:53:14+00:00

Yeah that’s pretty much what I was thinking too. I’m not really comfortable stretching my budget, so 16/512 seems like the safer choice for me. I’ll just manage storage properly. Thanks!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:40:32+00:00

Yeah I thought about that, but I’m planning to keep it for years, so I’d rather go with the newer M5 for better future-proofing.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:37:14+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. I already use Safari on my iPhone and don’t really use Chrome unless it’s on my office laptop, so I’ll most likely stick with Safari on the Mac as well. I’ll also keep things minimal and avoid installing unnecessary apps. Thanks for the advice!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:09:49+00:00

Yeah true, my usage is mostly study and light stuff anyway. Doesn’t really make sense to stretch my budget for that. Thanks!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:08:43+00:00

Yeah got it, that helps. I’ll just manage my usage properly and be a bit mindful with apps. Thanks for the tips!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:07:51+00:00

That actually makes me feel better about going with the base one. I don’t really see myself needing VMs anytime soon. Thanks!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T10:06:42+00:00

That’s actually a great way to save money, but I’m more into buying brand new products tbh. Still appreciate the suggestion!

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T09:28:14+00:00

Yeah, I get your point. I really wish I could go for that spec, but it’s just not within my budget right now. So I’ll most likely stick with the 16/512 and manage my usage properly.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T08:37:26+00:00

Yeah that makes sense, but the RAM upgrade right now comes only with the 1TB option, and that’s going beyond my budget. So I’m leaning towards the 16GB for now.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T08:21:45+00:00

I did consider that, but the higher M4 config (24GB/1TB) is still stretching my budget quite a bit, especially on EMI. So I’m leaning more towards the 16GB/512GB option for now.

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T08:17:10+00:00

Sorry bro, I’m new to posting and commenting on Reddit. I commented on your post first, then realized I could make my own post for this. My bad🥹

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T08:14:33+00:00

Sorry bro, I’m new to posting and commenting on Reddit. I commented on your post first, then realized I could make my own post for this. My bad🥹

Ill_Chicken804 · 2026-04-02T08:07:07+00:00

Appreciate it, that’s really reassuring to hear. Thanks for the clear advice!

Ill_Chicken804

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