Apple Hardware Milestones and Record M5 Deals — 2026-04-05#

Highlights#

Today’s digest is anchored by deep discounts on Apple’s latest silicon, with the newly released M5 MacBook Air hitting unprecedented all-time low prices. We also reflect on the impressive staying power of the HomePod mini, which has reached a rare milestone of 2,000 days without a second-generation hardware revision. Throw in some Apple TV+ news and a heavy dose of 1990s internet nostalgia, and it’s a solid Sunday for Apple enthusiasts.

Top Stories#

• Record Low Prices on the M5 MacBook Air: Amazon is currently offering massive discounts on the newly released M5 MacBook Air, slashing prices by $149 on 13-inch models and up to $200 on 15-inch variants. For instance, the 13-inch 16GB/512GB configuration is now sitting at just $950, making it an exceptional time to upgrade your portable Mac. (Source)
• HomePod Mini Reaches 2,000 Days Old: Apple’s affordable smart speaker, the HomePod mini, has officially been on the market for 2,000 days since its initial introduction in October 2020. The compact device is currently “on hold” for a hardware refresh until Apple launches its personalized, revamped Siri experience expected in iOS 27 later this year. (Source)
• Apple TV+’s Shrinking Prepares for Season 3 Finale: Co-creator Bill Lawrence confirmed that the hit comedy Shrinking will air its eleventh and final episode of the third season this Tuesday. This upcoming finale will conclude the current story arc—which focused on moving forward—while the already-renewed fourth season will tackle a brand new story with the same ensemble cast. (Source)

Articles Worth Reading#

Relive AOL of the 1990s in Your Browser with Dialtone (Source) If you find yourself missing the golden age of early internet connectivity, the Dialtone project offers a delightful trip down memory lane. This fantastic project lets users log into a reverse-engineered, fully functional America OnLine (AOL) experience right from their web browser. Utilizing an original AOL 3.0 client, it provides a healthy dose of retro computing nostalgia that is definitely worth exploring for anyone who grew up with a dial-up modem.

Cut your workload and save time with this all-in-one AI assistant on sale for $29.99 (Source) For those heavily invested in productivity apps, Macworld highlights a steep discount on the ChatOn AI Assistant Premium Plan, dropping a one-year subscription to just $29.99. This unified application integrates multiple leading AI models, including GPT, Gemini, and Claude, to handle text drafting, image generation, document summarization, and more. It’s an excellent read for developers and professionals looking to consolidate their workflows and stop bouncing between disparate AI tools.

“On the Horizon” vector wallpapers for iPhone pack (Source) Customization fans will appreciate this fresh set of beautifully designed, vector-based wallpapers tailored specifically for the iPhone. The “On the Horizon” pack features various colored skylines set against a range of assorted landscapes. It’s a quick, simple read that provides high-quality graphics to breathe some fresh life into your device’s Lock and Home Screens.