Key Highlights
- Apple introduces the MacBook Air powered by the M5 chip, with pricing beginning at $1,099 for the 13-inch version
- The M5 processor achieves AI performance gains of up to 4x compared to M4, and up to 9.5x versus M1
- Base storage capacity increases to 512GB, featuring SSD speeds twice as fast as the prior generation
- MacBook Pro configurations with the M5 Pro chip begin at $2,199
- Customers can place pre-orders starting March 4, with retail availability beginning March 11
Apple has unveiled its newest MacBook Air featuring the M5 chip, with the 13-inch model priced at $1,099 and the 15-inch variant at $1,299.
The MacBook Pro equipped with M5 Pro carries a starting price of $2,199.
The updated Air model features 512GB of storage in its base configuration — twice the capacity included with the M4 version — and offers configuration options extending up to 4TB for the first time.
Storage performance receives a significant upgrade, with the SSD delivering read/write speeds double those of the previous generation.
The M5 chip incorporates a 10-core CPU paired with up to a 10-core GPU, each GPU core containing a dedicated Neural Accelerator.
Apple reports AI task performance improvements reaching up to 4x compared to the M4, with gains of up to 9.5x over M1.
The company benchmarks web browsing performance as up to 50% faster than PC laptops equipped with Intel Core Ultra X7 processors.
For professionals working with creative applications, Apple highlights up to 6.9x faster AI video enhancement in Topaz Video compared to M1, alongside up to 6.5x faster 3D rendering in Blender.
Technical Specifications
Memory bandwidth reaches 153GB/s — representing a 28% increase over M4 — which Apple indicates results in improved multitasking capabilities and quicker app launches.
The updated Air incorporates Apple’s N1 wireless chip, bringing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity to the MacBook Air lineup for the first time.
Two Thunderbolt 4 ports provide connectivity, offering support for up to two external displays.
Battery life maintains the rating of up to 18 hours, consistent with previous models.
The fanless aluminum design continues, offered in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver color options across both 13-inch and 15-inch configurations.
Operating System Features
The laptops arrive with macOS Tahoe pre-installed, incorporating Apple Intelligence capabilities including Live Translation within Messages and enhanced Reminders functionality.
Expanded Shortcuts actions provide direct access to Apple Intelligence models, enabling automated workflows such as extracting data from PDFs into spreadsheets.
A newly introduced Edge Light effect enhances video calls by optimizing facial illumination during low-light scenarios.
Apple highlights the MacBook Air with M5 contains 55% recycled content, with the enclosure constructed from 100% recycled aluminum, supporting the company’s objective to achieve carbon neutrality throughout its entire operations by 2030.
Pre-orders begin March 4, with the refreshed MacBook Air reaching retail locations on March 11.
