Key Takeaways
1. Performance Upgrade: The MacBook Air now features the M5 chip, offering 20% faster CPU performance and 30% improved graphics, especially for AI tasks compared to the M4.
2. Connectivity Enhancements: It includes WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, with doubled storage speeds and a base model featuring 512 GB of storage.
3. Display Specifications: The display remains the same with 13.6″ and 15.3″ IPS LCD panels, 500 nits brightness, but lacks higher refresh rates and mini LED backlighting.
4. Pricing Structure: The starting price is $1,099 for the 13″ model with an 8-core GPU; the 15″ model costs an additional $200, with options for up to 32 GB RAM and 4 TB SSD.
5. Pre-order and Availability: Pre-orders are open, with expected delivery starting on March 11, 2026.
The MacBook Air has been upgraded with the M5 chip, aligning it with the other models in Apple’s MacBook lineup. It’s not surprising that the design remains unchanged from its previous versions.
Performance Boost
With a 10-core architecture made up of 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, the M5 SoC delivers about 20% more speed than the earlier M4 in CPU tests. In terms of graphics, users can expect a 30% overall enhancement, particularly in AI-related tasks, thanks to new neural accelerators added to each GPU core. Apple claims a remarkable 4x boost in AI performance when compared to the M4.
Connectivity and Storage
In addition, the MacBook Air now includes WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, attributed to the new N1 chip. Like the MacBook Pro, storage speeds have doubled, with the base model featuring 512 GB of storage—twice as much as before. The pricing for the entry-level models has also seen an update.
Display and Pricing
The screens remain unchanged, featuring the same 13.6″ and 15.3″ IPS LCD panels as earlier models. Apple asserts a peak brightness of 500 nits and supports the DCI-P3 color range. However, higher refresh rates and mini LED backlighting are not available, which is expected.
The starting price for the base 13″ MacBook Air is now set at $1,099, which includes a less powerful M5 SoC with an 8-core GPU, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. The 15″ model, equipped with the full M5 SoC and the same RAM and storage, has an additional cost of $200. Customers have the option to upgrade to a maximum of 32 GB of RAM and a 4 TB SSD. Color choices remain unchanged, including Sky Blue, Silver, Midnight, and Starlight.
Pre-orders are currently open, with delivery expected to start on March 11, 2026.
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