MacBook Air M5 Review: A Subtle Upgrade for the Perfect Mac Experience

The 2026 MacBook Air hasn’t strayed far from its predecessor, sporting the new M5 chip, Wi-Fi 7, and a storage upgrade starting at 512GB instead of 256GB. It remains an impressive machine, though it comes with a $100 price increase.

The real game-changer is the introduction of the MacBook Neo, which offers a compelling alternative at $500 less than the base 13-inch Air. The Neo doesn’t diminish the Air’s value; rather, it positions the Air as a more powerful and stylish option. While the Neo serves as a solid entry-level choice, the Air still stands out with its enhanced capabilities, leaving room for the more robust MacBook Pros above it.

So, is the Air now an awkward middle child or the ideal compromise? The news is promising.

Everything I noted about the 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs holds true for the new M5 model. (I only have the 15-inch version for this review, but the updates apply to both sizes.) The display is vibrant and accurate, making it suitable for color-sensitive tasks. The keyboard feels great, and the 12-megapixel Center Stage camera is top-notch for a built-in webcam. Battery life is impressive, easily lasting a full work or school day; I managed 13 to 14 hours on a single charge while browsing, messaging, and streaming music and video with moderate brightness. The six-speaker setup on the 15-inch model delivers surprisingly loud sound for such a slim laptop.

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Component report card
* Screen: B
* Webcam: A
* Keyboard: B
* Trackpad: A
* Port selection: C
* Speakers: A
* Number of ugly stickers to remove: 0
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The main enhancements in the new MacBook Air focus on speed, refining an already capable laptop. The M5 chip features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, similar to what I tested in last year’s 14-inch MacBook Pro. Benchmark tests show that the new 15-inch M5 Air performs slightly lower than the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is expected due to the Pro’s thermal advantage from its fan. The M5 Air does outperform last year’s M4 Air, particularly in GPU performance and some multicore tasks like 3D rendering in Cinebench.

The most significant improvements come in storage speeds. According to our Amorphous Disk Mark tests, read and write speeds are more than double those of the M4 Air, just as Apple claimed. This brings the Air in line with the M5 MacBook Pro and nearly matches the high-end M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro I reviewed in 2024 (though the new M5 Max has since set a new standard with even faster speeds).

These enhanced speeds make file transfers and copying much quicker, and they help the Air maintain performance under heavy loads. In a stress test, I imported over 1,000 50-megapixel RAW images into Lightroom Classic while exporting a 4K video in Premiere and downloading a game on Steam, all with 17 Chrome tabs open. The Air maxed out its RAM and utilized nearly 20GB of swap memory. It slowed down and heated up but didn’t crash. (If you’re doing all that simultaneously, you might want a MacBook Pro.)

If you own last year’s M4 MacBook Air, there’s little reason to upgrade or feel envious — you’re still equipped with a fantastic laptop. The new M5 Air is a step forward, with its upgraded chip, faster storage, and Wi-Fi 7 support making it more future-proof. However, unless you’re on an M1 or older Mac, or perhaps an M2 Air that’s struggling, I wouldn’t rush to upgrade.

Now, let’s talk about the MacBook Neo. If you’re a first-time Mac buyer or using an Intel MacBook that no longer receives OS updates, the Neo at $600 or $700 might be all you need. For those dabbling in creative work like Adobe apps, the Air is worth the extra investment. If you’re heavily into content creation, you’ll need to consider stepping up to a MacBook Pro.

This is the double-edged sword of Apple’s upgrade path. There’s something for everyone, with constant temptations to move up the ladder: larger screens, more storage, increased RAM, and more powerful processors. No matter your requirements, Apple likely has a sleek aluminum laptop that fits your needs and budget.

The MacBook Air used to be the go-to choice for those willing to spend around $1,000 — a significant investment, but typically the threshold for quality laptops. Now, with the Neo available at $600 for lighter users, the Air finds itself in a comfortable middle ground. The Pros are still aimed at serious professionals (and tech enthusiasts seeking the best).

The MacBook Air now occupies a sweet spot. It’s ultra-thin and travel-friendly, performing well for most tasks except for heavy content creation and graphics-intensive work. It features convenient Thunderbolt 4 ports, fast MagSafe charging, a spacious haptic trackpad, and a backlit keyboard. Just this week, I recommended a friend grab a deal on a refurbished 13-inch M4 Air instead of the Neo, knowing he needed more power and future-proofing.

With the MacBook Neo in the mix, I see the MacBook Air as the versatile option. It remains one of the best laptops available, equipped with the latest M-series chips to ensure longevity — potentially up to seven or even ten years. Even as the middle child between the Neo and the Pro, for many users, it’s still Apple’s “just right” Goldilocks laptop.

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2026 Apple MacBook Air M5 15 specs (as reviewed)
* Display: 15.3-inch (2880 x 1864) 60Hz IPS, 500 nits
* Processor: Apple M5 (10-core CPU / 10-core GPU)
* Unified memory: 16GB
* Storage: 1TB SSD
* Webcam: 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with Desk View
* Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
* Ports: 2x USB 4 (Type-C) / Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5mm combo audio jack
* Weight: 3.3 pounds / 1.51kg
* Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches / 340.4 x 237.5 x 11.4mm
* Battery: 66.5Wh
* Price: $1,499
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