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Need-to-knows
- M5 chip now powers the MacBook Air
- N1 wireless chip included for better connectivity
- Dimensions and display remain the same as the M4 MacBook Air
Apple has introduced the latest iteration of its most popular laptop, the MacBook Air, with the latest M5 chip inside. As with recent updates to the Air lineup, this isn’t a significant redesign. Instead, it’s an incremental upgrade centred around the new M5 chip, improved wireless connectivity, amongst some other AI features.
If you’re considering buying one, here’s what it offers and how it fits into Apple’s broader Mac lineup.
At a glance
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M5 chip |
| CPU | 10-core (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores) |
| GPU | 8-core (configurable to 10-core) |
| Neural Engine | 16-core |
| Media Engine | H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1 decode |
| Memory | 16GB unified (configurable to 24GB or 32GB) |
| Storage | 512GB SSD (configurable up to 4TB) |
| Display | 13.6″ Liquid Retina, 2560×1664, 500 nits, P3, True Tone |
| External Display Support | Up to 2× 6K @ 60Hz or 1× 8K @ 60Hz |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hrs video / 15 hrs web |
| Charging | MagSafe 3 + USB-C (30W minimum, fast charge with 70W+) |
| Ports | 2× Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage, 1080p HD |
| Audio | 4-speaker system, Spatial Audio, 3-mic array |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID |
| Dimensions | 1.13cm × 30.41cm × 21.5cm |
| Weight | 1.23kg (2.7 lbs) |
| Finishes | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight |
| Starting Price | $1,099/£1,099 |
The M5 chip explained
At the heart of the new Air is the M5 chip, Apple’s latest generation of in-house processing hardware.
The M5 features a 10-core CPU made up of four high-performance cores and six efficiency cores. This hybrid architecture is designed to balance sustained performance with excellent battery life. Whether you’re juggling multiple apps, editing photos, or compiling code, the chip dynamically allocates resources to maintain responsiveness without unnecessary power drain.
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Graphics performance comes courtesy of either an 8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on configuration. Notably, the M5 chip now includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a feature previously reserved for higher-tier chips, allowing for more advanced graphics rendering in supported applications.
There’s also a 16-core Neural Engine, built to handle machine learning tasks and AI-driven features across macOS. Memory bandwidth sits at 153GB/s, which is Apple’s highest yet for a base-level chip. In summary, this is a very fast chip now found in Apple’s most affordable laptop.
Memory and storage
The base model starts with 16GB of unified memory, reflecting Apple’s move toward higher default RAM configurations across its devices in recent years. Buyers can configure the Air with 24GB or 32GB, depending on needs.
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Storage begins at 512GB SSD on the entry configuration, with options scaling up to 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB for the first time ever.
Design and build
The M5 MacBook Air retains the flat-edged aluminium chassis introduced in recent generations. It remains one of the thinnest full-size laptops available, measuring just 1.13cm thick and weighing 1.23kg.
Four finishes are available: Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight and Midnight. In this regard, it is unchanged from the previous model.
Display
The Air features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a native resolution of 2560 x 1664 at 224 pixels per inch. Brightness reaches 500 nits, and the panel supports wide colour (P3) and True Tone technology.
The display is capable of rendering one billion colours, making it one of the most capable on the market, especially at this price point.
External display support
One of the more significant practical updates brought to the M4 MacBook Air last year was the improved external display support.
The M5 MacBook Air continues that as it too is able to support two external displays at up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, or a single display at up to 8K at 60Hz. It can also support higher refresh rates at lower resolutions, including 4K at up to 240Hz. This can be achieved while simultaneously running the built-in display at full native resolution.
Battery life and charging
Apple rates the MacBook Air for up to 18 hours of video streaming and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing.
It houses a 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery and charges via MagSafe 3 or USB-C. The device requires a minimum 30W power adapter to charge and supports fast charging with 70W or higher USB-C power sources.
Ports and connectivity
The Air includes MagSafe 3 for charging, two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones.
Thunderbolt 4 supports charging, data transfer up to 40Gb/s, USB 4, and DisplayPort connectivity.
On the wireless front, the M5 Air supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and includes Apple’s new N1 wireless networking chip for speedier connections.
Camera and audio
The laptop features a 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View, alongside 1080p HD video recording. Apple’s image signal processor enhances video clarity during calls.
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Audio is delivered through a four-speaker system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. A three-microphone array with directional beamforming enables Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes for clearer calls and recordings.
Keyboard and trackpad
The MacBook Air includes Apple’s backlit Magic Keyboard with full-height function keys, Touch ID for authentication, and a large Force Touch trackpad that supports pressure-sensitive gestures and precise cursor control.
Software and Apple Intelligence
The M5 MacBook Air runs macOS Tahoe, Apple’s latest desktop operating system iteration, which includes built-in productivity apps, system-wide integration with iPhone, and Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s on-device AI system designed to assist with writing, task management, summarisation, and communication. The M5 chip’s Neural Engine is specifically built to support these workloads while maintaining user privacy through on-device processing.
Pricing
In the United Kingdom, the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099/£1,099. Higher-tier configurations begin at $1,299/£1,299 and $1,499/£1,499, depending on GPU core count, memory, and storage selections. This represents a $100 increase since the last model.
The entry model includes the 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU configuration, 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB of storage.
Final Overview
The M5 MacBook Air extends the strength of Apple’s laptop offering. The M4 MacBook Air was already the best value for money laptop around by quite some distance. It is now even further ahead in that conversation thanks to the M5 chip.
For students especially, this is an absolute bargain and for anyone else, you should seriously consider whether you actually need a MacBook Pro. Because the MacBook Air can now handle what 99% of us may throw at it.
2 Comments
One of the things that was mentioned in this article that is important and left out of every other review I’ve seen including on YouTube has to do with the refresh rates. I have an M5 Air on preorder to replace an old M1 Mac Mini. I’ve been nursing an old Asus monitor along and decided I’d get a new one to use with the Air which will be a desktop replacement. I almost pulled the trigger on a couple that had low refresh rates since everything I’d seen lists the refresh rate as 60 hz. Fortunately I just read this article and found out an external monitor can be up to 240 hz! It makes sense now that it’s been properly explained but assuming everyone who’s going to buy a MacBook knows that the laptops listed refresh rate isn’t going to be the same as an external monitor may be an oversight. It’s been a long time since I bought a laptop and the last one was a Windows laptop that indeed maxed out at 60hz for an external monitor.Thanks for this relevant information! I think. Now I have to start researching monitors all over again!
For creative users, the 16GB base memory and 153GB/s bandwidth may matter more than the headline CPU change. In an image-to-3D pipeline, the 32GB option could help with larger textures and geometry, although the fanless chassis may still limit long sustained jobs. If the budget only allows one upgrade, would you expect the 10-core GPU option or additional unified memory to make the bigger practical difference for occasional 3D work?