Is 512GB the minimum storage I should get for a MacBook Air today?

Regarding the MacBook Air: Probably not. 256GB fills up fast with modern apps, macOS updates, and files unless you live entirely in the cloud. The 256GB SSD is also slower due to fewer NAND chips, hurting performance and space. If budget is tight, consider external storage later, but the $200 upgrade now saves future headaches since you can’t upgrade internally.