Apple Introduces M5 MacBook Air, Phasing Out M4 Model

Apple announced the 2026 MacBook Air powered by the M5 chip, ending the M4-based Air. The 13-inch model starts at $1,099 and the 15-inch at $1,299, a $100 increase over the prior generation. Base storage doubles to 512 GB, and Apple claims the SSD offers twice the read/write throughput of the M4. The laptop ships with a 40 W dynamic adapter (up to 60 W) and Apple’s N1 chip enabling Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

MacRumorsWaiting for the right M5 MacBook Air deal? It just hit a record-low $9509to5Mac

The M5 chip raises GPU compute by over fourfold for AI, cuts token latency by 3.6×, and speeds video enhancement, ray-tracing, and speech enhancement by 1.7–2.9×. Each GPU core now contains a dedicated Neural Accelerator, programmable via Metal 4 Tensor APIs. Memory bandwidth rises to 153 GB/s from 120 GB/s, enabled by TSMC’s third-generation 3 nm (N3P) node. The ray-tracing engine reaches its third generation, dynamic caching its second, and Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 replace the M4’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

MacRumorsWaiting for the right M5 MacBook Air deal? It just hit a record-low $9509to5Mac

Apple markets the M5 Air as a step-change for on-device AI inference, complex 3D rendering, and other GPU-intensive workloads. Independent analysis notes that for routine tasks—web browsing, office productivity, media playback—the performance gain is unlikely to be perceptible, as the M4 already exceeds typical demand. Consequently, most existing M4 owners lack a compelling upgrade reason, while new buyers benefit from larger default storage and future-proofing for AI-heavy applications.

MacRumors

Apple lists the M5 Air at $1,099 (13-inch) and $1,299 (15-inch). Amazon currently offers a base model for $950, a $150 discount off MSRP, while B&H sells a 15-inch, 24 GB-RAM, 512 GB configuration at $1,299—$200 below Apple’s standard $1,499 price. A B&H bundle includes a 35 W dual-port USB-C adapter, $20 cheaper than the default 40 W charger. These promotions create a gap between advertised list prices and actual transaction prices, with no unified discount schedule disclosed by Apple.

9to5Mac

Apple’s product brief states the new SSD delivers twice the read/write throughput of the previous generation and that the integrated Neural Accelerator in every GPU core expands on-device AI capabilities. The brief also highlights the shift to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via the N1 chip and the increase in memory bandwidth to 153 GB/s as key enablers for future AI workloads. Apple frames the M5 Air as a long-term choice for users prioritizing performance longevity.

MacRumors

• "We love the M5 MacBook Air around here, and the 4.5-star rating we gave it when we reviewed the laptop is evidence enough." — Macworld Review Team

Waiting for the right M5 MacBook Air deal? It just hit a record-low $950

• "We even gave it our Editors’ Choice award, appreciating the fantastic performance, incredible SSD speeds, and the all-day battery life." — Macworld Review Team

Waiting for the right M5 MacBook Air deal? It just hit a record-low $950

• "The laptop features Apple’s advanced M5 chip that ensures swift multitasking across all sorts of apps, no matter how complicated." — Macworld Review Team

Waiting for the right M5 MacBook Air deal? It just hit a record-low $950

• "If you’ve been eying a MacBook Neo but aren’t sure if it’s powerful enough for your needs, this is a great step-up model." — Macworld Review Team

Waiting for the right M5 MacBook Air deal? It just hit a record-low $950