The MacBook Air M5 is a small upgrade on the M4, there’s no getting around that. This isn’t for those who upgraded last year, though, or even those who picked up an M3. Anyone with an M1 machine, an older Intel Mac or an 8GB memory Air will notice notable improvements here.
The MacBook Air M5 is the sum of years of refinements, with a mix of premium design, strong performance, and solid battery life, even if it's slightly pricier with new base specs. For many, it's the best Mac around.
Despite the compelling options presented by both the MacBook Neo and an assortment of different Windows laptops, the M5 MacBook Air is still the laptop most people should buy. It's well rounded, surprisingly powerful, high-end, and will last you many, many years to come.
Apple's 2026 MacBook Air is largely unchanged on the outside, but its exceptional build pairs up with an even faster M5 chip and a major storage upgrade to secure its spot as a top-value ultraportable.
The new MacBook Air takes everything good about the MacBook Air and adds the faster M5 chip. Yet by boosting its performance even further, and adjusting its price accordingly, the Air is now too powerful for its own good.
