Hands-on review: MacBook Air M5

https://futurefive.com.au/story/hands-on-review-macbook-air-m5-still-excellent-bang-for-buck

Publish Date: 2026-05-14 01:22:00

Source Domain: futurefive.com.au

The MacBook Air has always been an excellent computer for the price, having deservedly earned reverence for its stylish design and build quality, sharp performance, all-day battery life and seamless integration within the greater Apple ecosystem.

The 2026 iteration of the Air, featuring a new M5 Apple Silicon chip under the bonnet, is no exception and has been a pleasure to use in the short time since I’ve got my hands on it. However, the recent release of the MacBook Neo, a bold move into the budget and student laptop market, means the Air is no longer the most affordable laptop in Apple’s range. There is also a $100, or 5.8 per cent, increase in the price of the base model over the M4 Air, although the SSD has doubled to 512 GB, compared to last year’s model.

This begs a not so simple question: is the Air still good value for its A$1799 price tag? Let’s find out.

Design and Colours: If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it

The latest Air ships in the same four colours at launch as its predecessor: Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight and Midnight. I’ve been using the latter, and while it looks stunning, particularly with the lid closed, I can unfortunately verify previous reports that the Midnight finish is a magnet for fingerprints. I’ve been giving it a daily wipe with a cloth – it hasn’t become annoying yet, but may feel cumbersome after months of ownership.

In terms of the overall design, there’s nothing new to report. While Apple initially stuck with the wedge design with the M1, the next four iterations have all featured the “box” styling. Apple have not reinvented the wheel here, and that will probably lose them very few customers because the Air remains the best-looking laptop you can buy.

Two Thunderbolt 4 ports also function as USB-C ports for charging and data transfer, and the gold-standard MagSafe charging port is still here, too.

Performance: M5 chip packs a punch

For anyone not planning to really put the CPU through its paces, the Air is a…

Source

Hands-on review: MacBook Air M5

https://futurefive.com.au/story/hands-on-review-macbook-air-m5-still-excellent-bang-for-buck

Publish Date: 2026-05-14 01:22:00

Source Domain: futurefive.com.au

The MacBook Air has always been an excellent computer for the price, having deservedly earned reverence for its stylish design and build quality, sharp performance, all-day battery life and seamless integration within the greater Apple ecosystem.

The 2026 iteration of the Air, featuring a new M5 Apple Silicon chip under the bonnet, is no exception and has been a pleasure to use in the short time since I’ve got my hands on it. However, the recent release of the MacBook Neo, a bold move into the budget and student laptop market, means the Air is no longer the most affordable laptop in Apple’s range. There is also a $100, or 5.8 per cent, increase in the price of the base model over the M4 Air, although the SSD has doubled to 512 GB, compared to last year’s model.

This begs a not so simple question: is the Air still good value for its A$1799 price tag? Let’s find out.

Design and Colours: If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it

The latest Air ships in the same four colours at launch as its predecessor: Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight and Midnight. I’ve been using the latter, and while it looks stunning, particularly with the lid closed, I can unfortunately verify previous reports that the Midnight finish is a magnet for fingerprints. I’ve been giving it a daily wipe with a cloth – it hasn’t become annoying yet, but may feel cumbersome after months of ownership.

In terms of the overall design, there’s nothing new to report. While Apple initially stuck with the wedge design with the M1, the next four iterations have all featured the “box” styling. Apple have not reinvented the wheel here, and that will probably lose them very few customers because the Air remains the best-looking laptop you can buy.

Two Thunderbolt 4 ports also function as USB-C ports for charging and data transfer, and the gold-standard MagSafe charging port is still here, too.

Performance: M5 chip packs a punch

For anyone not planning to really put the CPU through its paces, the Air is a…

Source