Price axis — $1,500 to $2,500 CAD
$1,500
$1,700
$1,900
$2,100
$2,300
$2,500
Best Buy Open Box
16GB / 512GB · M5
$1,700–1,900
best bang for buck
Kijiji / FB Marketplace
varies · Toronto GTA
$1,800–2,100
no warranty
Amazon.ca Spring Sale
16GB / 512GB · M5 · ends Mar 31
~$1,999
sale ends soon
Best Buy New
16GB / 512GB · M5
$1,999
safest new option
Costco Canada
16GB / 512GB · M5
~$2,049
90-day returns
openbox.ca
16GB / 512GB · AppleCare+ bundled
~$2,150
local toronto
Apple Education Store
24GB / 1TB · M5 · UNiDAYS req'd
$2,259
better config
Apple Retail (apple.ca)
24GB / 1TB · M5
$2,399
most expensive
Apple Certified Refurb
16GB / 512GB · not available yet
~$1,784
future best bet
Cheapest right now
$1,700
Best Buy open box if a unit is in stock near you. Full warranty, 10-25% off new.
Safest under $2k
$1,999
Best Buy new. $400 below Apple retail for the same machine, full warranty, price match.
Best config under $2,500
$2,259
Apple edu store: 24GB RAM + 1TB vs 16GB / 512GB at $1,999. Needs UNiDAYS.
M5 Base Chip — Config Pricing
| 16GB / 512GB |
|
$2,099 |
| 24GB / 1TB |
SWEET SPOT |
$2,399 |
| 32GB / 1TB |
|
$2,699 |
The 24GB tier costs $300 more than 16GB but gives you a much longer useful life — 16GB will feel constrained in 2-3 years. 32GB is only worth it if you run VMs or heavy local AI.
When to Buy
NOW
Best Buy open box or $1,999 new.
Amazon sale ends March 31 — marginal.
APR 2026
Nothing new happens. Buy now if you need it.
JUN 2026
Apple refurb expected.
~15% off = ~$1,784 for 16GB/512GB if it lands on schedule.
JUL–AUG
Back to School — edu store adds ~$150 gift card on top of edu pricing.
NOV 2026
Black Friday. No Apple discount.
Best Buy open box inventory spikes from holiday returns in Jan 2027.