Apple has upgraded its popular MacBook Air line with the new M5 chip, bringing its performance in line with the latest iPad Pro and 14-inch MacBook Pro models released last year. The move makes Apple’s most recent silicon available in a more affordable package without requiring buyers to opt for the premium MacBook Pro series.
Performance and Specs
The M5 chip features a 10-core CPU, combining four high-performance cores with six efficiency cores. Integrated graphics come in 8- or 10-core configurations, each with a dedicated Neural Accelerator designed to enhance AI tasks and ray tracing. Notably, the update also includes next-generation SSDs for faster read and write speeds. The new models also feature Apple’s N1 wireless chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity.
Pricing and Value
The M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099 with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. While the starting price is $100 higher than the previous M4 model, the M5 version offers double the storage at the base configuration. Comparing like-for-like configurations, the M5 Air is actually $100 cheaper than the equivalent M4 model with a 512GB SSD.
The 15-inch M5 MacBook Air with the same specifications costs $1,299, which is also $100 less than the previous 15-inch Air with 512GB storage. Students with an Apple education discount can purchase the 13-inch model for $999 and the 15-inch for $1,199.
Configurations and Availability
Buyers can now configure the M5 MacBook Air with up to 32GB of RAM and, for the first time, up to 4TB of storage. The external design and color options remain unchanged from the M4 MacBook Air. Pre-orders begin on March 4, with shipping scheduled to start on March 11.
This update demonstrates Apple’s commitment to providing consistent performance improvements across its product lines without drastically increasing prices. The M5 MacBook Air strikes a balance between power and affordability, making it an attractive option for both students and professionals.
