MacBook Air (M5) review: still the laptop most people should buy

This MacBook Air review covers the current M5 model, which Apple released on 11 March 2026 in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. The design stays the same as the M4 generation. The changes are inside: the new M5 chip, Apple's own N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7, and 512GB of storage as standard instead of 256GB.

We based this review on Apple's technical specifications, independent lab results from Tom's Guide and other outlets, and owner feedback. Below we look at performance, MacBook Air M5 battery life, the display, 13-inch vs 15-inch, and whether the MacBook Air M5 is worth it compared with the M4 and the MacBook Pro.

Design: thin, light and silent

The MacBook Air keeps its flat-edged aluminium body. The 13-inch model is 1.13 cm thick and weighs 1.23 kg; the 15-inch weighs 1.51 kg. Reviewers describe the chassis as rigid, with a lid that does not wobble, and it opens easily with one hand. Colours are Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight and Midnight.

Like every Apple silicon MacBook Air, it has no fan. That means it is silent at all times, which is a real advantage in libraries, meetings and bedrooms. The trade-off is that very long, heavy workloads can slow down as the chip manages heat, which is where the MacBook Pro pulls ahead.

M5 performance: what it can and cannot do

The M5 has a 10-core CPU with four performance cores (Apple now calls them super cores) and six efficiency cores. The 13-inch base model has an 8-core GPU; the 15-inch and upgraded 13-inch models have 10 GPU cores. Memory bandwidth rises to 153GB/s, and the GPU now has Neural Accelerators and hardware ray tracing.

In Tom's Guide's lab, the 15-inch M5 scored 17,276 in Geekbench 6 multi-core, up from 14,921 for the M4 model, and transcoded a 4K video to 1080p about 20 seconds faster. Photoshop results improved as well. The SSD is a big step up: read and write speeds of around 6.5GB/s were roughly twice as fast as the M4 Air.

Gaming is possible but limited. Large open-world titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 ran below 30 frames per second at medium settings in testing, while lighter or well-optimised games run smoothly. For browsing, office work, coding, photo editing and occasional video projects, the M5 Air has plenty of power.

MacBook Air M5 battery life

Apple claims up to 18 hours of video streaming and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing for both sizes. Independent tests back this up: Tom's Guide measured 15 hours 28 minutes for the 13-inch and 15 hours 30 minutes for the 15-inch in its web-surfing test. In practice, that means a full workday or a long-haul flight without a charger.

The laptop charges via MagSafe 3 or either USB-C port. Apple includes a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter in the base box, and fast charging works with a 70W or higher USB-C PD charger.

Display, speakers and webcam

The Liquid Retina displays are sharp, colour-accurate and rated at 500 nits. They are LCD panels with a 60Hz refresh rate, so scrolling is not as smooth as on the MacBook Pro's 120Hz ProMotion screens. For most people this is the biggest visible difference between Air and Pro.

The Air can drive two external displays even with the lid open, up to 6K at 60Hz each, which is useful for desk setups. The 13-inch has four speakers and the 15-inch has six with force-cancelling woofers, so the larger model sounds noticeably fuller. The 12MP Center Stage camera keeps you framed on video calls and supports Desk View.

Ports and connectivity

You get two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the left, MagSafe 3 and a headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones. Two ports is limiting if you use several accessories, but MagSafe frees one of them while charging. The new Apple N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, which reviewers said made large downloads noticeably quicker on a compatible router.

If you need more ports, a compact USB-C hub adds USB-A, HDMI and an SD card reader. Because the M5 Air supports two external displays, a single Thunderbolt dock can turn it into a full desk setup with one cable, while MagSafe keeps charging separate so a tug on the cable will not pull the laptop off the table.

13-inch vs 15-inch, and which configuration to buy

The 13-inch is the better travel laptop and the cheaper way in. The 15-inch adds a larger screen, a bigger battery, better speakers and a roomier keyboard deck for only about 280 g more, and it comes with the 10-core GPU as standard. Battery life is about the same for both.

The 16GB base memory is enough for most users. Consider 24GB if you keep many browser tabs and creative apps open, work with large photo libraries or want the laptop to stay comfortable for many years. With 512GB now standard, fewer buyers need a storage upgrade.

• Students and frequent travellers: 13-inch, 16GB, 512GB
• Home office and spreadsheets: 15-inch for the larger screen
• Photo editing and heavy multitasking: 24GB memory
• Sustained video exports or 3D work: consider a MacBook Pro instead

Is the MacBook Air M5 worth it?

For anyone on an Intel Mac, an M1 or M2 Air, or a Windows laptop, the M5 Air is an easy recommendation: it is quick, silent, well built and lasts all day. The price increase at launch hurts, but Apple laptops keep their value well and are often discounted by retailers.

If you bought an M4 MacBook Air in 2025, the gains are real but small, apart from the faster SSD and Wi-Fi 7. There is no need to upgrade.

Students should also check Apple's education pricing.

Key specs

Chip

Apple M5, 10-core CPU (4 super + 6 efficiency), 8- or 10-core GPU

Memory

16GB unified memory, configurable to 24GB or 32GB

Storage

512GB SSD, configurable up to 4TB

Display

13.6-inch (2560 x 1664) or 15.3-inch (2880 x 1864) Liquid Retina, 500 nits

Battery

Up to 18 hours video streaming (Apple); 53.8Wh or 66.5Wh

Ports

2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack

Wireless

Apple N1: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread

Weight

1.23 kg (13-inch), 1.51 kg (15-inch)

Alternatives to consider

• MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5): Adds a 120Hz mini-LED display, active cooling for sustained workloads and more ports.
• Microsoft Surface Laptop: A premium, compact Windows alternative with a touchscreen if you do not want macOS.
• Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro: A thin Windows laptop with an OLED screen that tested close to the Air in several benchmarks.

Frequently asked questions

The MacBook Air M5 does not reinvent Apple's most popular laptop, and it does not need to. It is fast enough for almost everyone, silent, light and good for a full day on battery, with better storage and wireless than before. If you want a laptop that just works for study, office work and creative hobbies, the M5 MacBook Air is still the one to beat in 2026. Choose the 15-inch for comfort, the 13-inch for travel, and a MacBook Pro only if you need sustained power or a 120Hz screen.

How we research: Reviews are based on the maker’s specifications, published independent tests and owner reports. Scores compare the product with others in its class.