MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: What’s actually different?
MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: What’s actually different?
https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/macbooks/macbook-air-m5-vs-macbook-air-m4-the-5-biggest-upgrades
Publish Date: 2026-03-03 15:17:00
Source Domain: www.tomsguide.com
Apple has just announced the MacBook Air M5! While the 13- and 15-inch laptops haven’t received a new design, they both now pack the Apple M5 chip, first introduced with the iPad Pro M5 and MacBook Pro M5. Cupertino didn’t settle for a mere chip upgrade, as the company’s thinnest laptop line also introduces connectivity updates and more base storage.
The MacBook Air M4 was already arguably the best laptop for most people, as we noted in our review of the 13-inch and 15-inch models. Apple hasn’t discontinued it either and offers the 13-inch Air M4 for $999, or $100 less than the latest version. Because of that, choosing a MacBook Air model isn’t as straightforward as before.
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MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: Specs (starting)
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| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
MacBook Air M5 |
MacBook Air M4 |
|
Price |
$1,099 |
$999 |
|
Display |
13.6 inches (2560 x 1664) |
13.6 inches (2560 x 1664) |
|
Chipset |
Apple M5 |
Apple M4 |
|
Memory |
16GB |
16GB |
|
Storage |
512GB |
256GB |
|
Battery life |
18 hours (rated) |
18 hours (rated), 14 hours 15 minutes (tested) |
|
Ports |
2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-4, 1x MagSafe, 1x headphone jack |
2x Thunderbolt / USB-4, 1x MagSafe, 1x headphone jack |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
|
Colors |
Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight |
Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight |
|
Dimensions |
11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches |
11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches |
|
Weight |
2.7 pounds |
2.7 pounds |
MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: Price
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Apple has set the price of the 13-inch MacBook Air M5 at $1,099—a $100 increase over the previous generation’s launch price. The 15-inch MacBook Air is also getting a $100 price bump, and it’s now at $1,299.
But as noted in the intro, Apple is keeping the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 in the lineup for just $999. Thanks to that, the M4 is effectively the new…
