Apple has officially unveiled the new MacBook Air powered by the M5 chip on March 3, bringing a major performance boost, enhanced AI capabilities, and improved connectivity while maintaining the laptop's signature thin and lightweight design. The new MacBook Air is now available for pre-order starting today, March 4, with deliveries and retail availability beginning March 11.
Next-Generation Performance with M5
At the heart of the new MacBook Air is Apple's M5 chip, featuring a faster CPU, next-generation GPU, and an advanced Neural Accelerator designed to handle demanding workloads and AI-driven tasks. According to Apple, the new chip delivers:
- Up to 4× faster AI task performance compared to MacBook Air with M4
- Up to 9.5× faster performance than MacBook Air with M1
- Up to 6.5× faster 3D rendering in Blender compared to M1
- Up to 2.7× faster image processing in Affinity
- Up to 6.9× faster AI video enhancement in Topaz Video compared to M1
The M5 also includes a third-generation ray tracing engine, significantly boosting graphics performance for gaming, 3D rendering, and creative workflows.
Faster Memory and Storage
The new MacBook Air features 153GB/s unified memory bandwidth, which Apple says is 28% faster than the M4, enabling smoother multitasking and faster application launches.
For storage, Apple has doubled the base capacity. The laptop now starts with 512GB SSD storage, with options configurable up to 4TB for the first time on MacBook Air. The new SSD also offers twice the read and write speeds of the previous generation, helping users quickly access large files and projects.
Two Sizes with Stunning Liquid Retina Display
The MacBook Air with M5 comes in two sizes:
- 13.6-inch model for maximum portability
- 15.3-inch model for more screen space and productivity
Both feature Apple's Liquid Retina display with 500 nits brightness and support for 1 billion colours, delivering vibrant visuals, sharp text, and detailed images.
Long Battery Life and Design
Apple claims the new MacBook Air offers up to 18 hours of battery life, providing six additional hours compared to Intel-based MacBook Air models. With fast charging support, users can quickly power up and continue working, creating, or streaming.
Like previous models, the laptop maintains a fanless design, ensuring completely silent operation while keeping the device thin and lightweight.
Improved Camera, Audio, and Connectivity
The laptop includes a 12MP Centre Stage camera with Desk View support, keeping users centred during video calls and enabling a top-down view of the desk for presentations.
Audio and communication features include:
- Three-microphone array for clearer voice capture
- Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos for immersive sound
- Enhanced speakers for movies, music, and video calls
Connectivity also receives an upgrade with a new wireless networking chip supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, offering faster and more reliable connections.
Expanded Ports and Display Support
The MacBook Air with M5 includes:
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Support for up to two external displays
- MagSafe charging provides a dedicated charging port and prevents accidental cable pulls.
Apple Intelligence Features
Apple is also integrating deeper AI functionality through Apple Intelligence, introducing features such as:
- Live Translation in Messages for multilingual communication
- Smarter Reminders that automatically organize important tasks
- Advanced Shortcuts capable of extracting information from PDFs and automatically adding it to spreadsheets or other workflows.
Environmentally Responsible Design
Apple says the new MacBook Air is another step toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire product footprint by 2030.
Key sustainability highlights include:
- 55% recycled materials overall
- 100% recycled aluminium in the enclosure
- 100% recycled cobalt in the battery
- Manufacturing is powered by 50% renewable energy, including wind and solar.
Price and Availability
Customers can pre-order the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M5 starting March 4 at 6:15 a.m. PST via Apple.com and the Apple Store app in 33 countries and regions.
Pricing starts at:
- $1,099 for the 13-inch MacBook Air ($999 for education)
- $1,299 for the 15-inch MacBook Air ($1,199 for education)
The new MacBook Air will begin shipping to customers and arriving in Apple Store locations on March 11. Both models are available in four colours: Sky Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. Additional technical specifications, customisation options, and accessories are available on Apple's official website.
