Apple MacBook Air M5 review

Display

If you edit a document beside a reference while traveling, the 15-inch model buys more space wherever you open the lid. For a commuter who has a monitor at each end, the smaller body is the benefit that travels with you. Both have a 60Hz internal display, so buying the larger one does not buy smoother scrolling. ¹

Performance & Storage

The 13-inch base configuration pairs a 10-core CPU with an 8-core GPU. The 15-inch base has a 10-core GPU, and some higher 13-inch configurations do too. Look at the complete memory, storage and GPU combination before comparing two listings described simply as M5 Air.

RTINGS tested the 13-inch 16GB/512GB, 8-core-GPU configuration. It found performance fell back during sustained work as the fanless machine warmed up. That distinction matters for someone regularly building a large project or exporting long videos. A quick photo adjustment during a meeting gives the machine a very different job. ¹

For an M4 owner, the new base drive is an improvement only if storage is the thing you have outgrown. If memory and disk space still suffice, replacing a working M4 just to move up a chip generation is a hard sell.

Connectivity

Using MagSafe for power leaves both Thunderbolt ports free. You can plug in two displays or connect a compatible dock and storage. A desk full of USB-A accessories or a projector with only HDMI will still need an adapter. At a matched resolution, monitor refresh and cable capabilities matter as much as how many displays can be connected.

Apple supports up to two external displays alongside the built-in screen. Two 6K displays at 60Hz are one supported arrangement. If you are buying a dock for a pair of existing monitors, check that it can deliver the resolution and refresh rate you want on both outputs at once.

Battery & Charging

RTINGS recorded more than 13 hours of light web browsing on its 13-inch Air with 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD. ¹ That makes a day of reading or editing documents plausible on that configuration. Driving two displays or rendering video asks a different question of the battery. Both sizes accept power through MagSafe or USB-C, so a compatible USB-C monitor can also charge the laptop.

Keyboard & Camera

The backlit keyboard and Touch ID are included on both sizes. The 12MP Center Stage camera can keep you in the frame during a call, and Desk View can show something on the table in front of you. Those features matter for demonstrating handwritten work or a small object without repeatedly changing the angle of the laptop.

Alternatives

A MacBook Neo is enough for a lighter workload and a single external screen, while its fixed 8GB memory makes it a less comfortable choice for heavy multitasking. For repeated, long-running work, an actively cooled laptop is the alternative to compare against your own timed workload. ¹

Verdict

The M5 Air makes sense for someone who wants a quiet travel computer without simplifying a good desk setup. Choose 13 inches for carrying it and 15 inches for working on the built-in display. Spend on the memory and storage your projects need before treating a higher core count as an automatic upgrade.