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The MacBook Air is Apple's most popular laptop – a thin, fanless machine that wields quiet power thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon. While the M4 model isn't exactly old, attention is already turning to its successor.

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Apple doesn't telegraph new product launches ahead of time, but we can draw a surprisingly clear picture of what to expect by looking at Apple's silicon roadmap, release cycles, and past upgrades.

Release Timing and Price

Apple appears to have settled into a spring refresh cycle for the MacBook Air. After releasing the M2 model in mid-2022 with an all-new design, Apple skipped 2023 and then delivered back-to-back M3 and M4 MacBook Air updates in March 2024 and March 2025, respectively.

Indeed, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to roll out M5 versions of the MacBook Air in the first quarter of 2026. This suggests a likely March 2026 window – unless Apple breaks the cycle, of course. As for pricing, we expect it to remain stable, with the base model sticking with the current entry-level $999 price.

Processor Upgrade

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The M5 series is expected to feature an enhanced ARM architecture and is reportedly being manufactured using TSMC's advanced 3-nanometer process technology. Apple's decision to forgo TSMC's more advanced 2nm process for the M5 chip is believed to be due to cost considerations.

Recent leaked benchmarks – allegedly from a next-gen iPad Pro running an M5 chip – show single-core scores around 4,133 and multi-core scores around 15,437. That's roughly a 12-15% jump over the current M4 iPad Pro in both categories. As for graphics performance, the M5 chip appears to have up to a 36% faster GPU compared to the M4 chip.

The benchmark suggests Apple has focused on modest clock speed increases and core-level efficiency improvements for the M5 chip, rather than an architecture overhaul. In other words, the M5 will be similar to the step-wise performance upgrade from M3 to M4. Expect 10-15% faster CPU speeds, a slightly more powerful GPU, and better efficiency, potentially leading to even longer battery life.

As a result, the M5 MacBook Air will likely feel more responsive in daily use, particularly in single-threaded tasks, but it won't dramatically outpace the M4 for sustained workloads like video rendering.

Display and Other Possible Changes

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M4 MacBook Air in Sky Blue, the color Apple debuted earlier this year

Apple tends to stick with the same industrial design for multiple chip generations. The current MacBook Air design (introduced with the M2 model) is only three years old and shows no signs of ageing. Expect the same 13- and 15-inch sizes, the same fanless aluminium unibody, and similar display technology – that means no OLED, which Apple appears to be saving for initial adoption in the MacBook Pro line later next year or in 2027.

If there are any physical changes, they'll likely be subtle. Think improved webcam quality, or tweaks to accommodate the next generation of wireless connectivity (such as Wi-Fi 7 or Bluetooth LE Audio). You never know – Apple could even offer the machine in a new color, just like it did this earlier year with the M4.

Looking Further Ahead

According to reports out of Korea, Apple plans to release a MacBook Air with an improved LCD display in 2027, featuring Oxide TFT technology instead of the current amorphous silicon (a-Si) panels.

The new display technology is said to be a significant upgrade over current MacBook Air screens. Oxide TFT LCD panels offer better power efficiency and improved performance compared to traditional a-Si displays, resulting in sharper images, smoother scrolling, and enhanced battery life.

The transition to Oxide TFT technology should also mean faster pixel response times and more consistent brightness across the screen. In practical terms, this should translate to reduced motion blur when watching videos or gaming, and more uniform lighting without the "clouding" effect sometimes visible on current LCD displays.

Article Link: M5 MacBook Air: Release Date, Features, and Performance Predictions
 
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I know that many people in my circle don’t need the horsepower of a MacBook Pro, but would really love to have ProMotion in an MacBook Air. Maybe this is the year Apple finally brings it to the Air, just like they did with all their iPhones in 2025.
 
I know that many people in my circle don’t need the horsepower of a MacBook Pro, but would really love to have ProMotion in an MacBook Air. Maybe this is the year Apple finally brings it to the Air, just like they did with all their iPhones in 2025.

It's not as noticeable (by me, and I've heard others say the same) on the laptops as the iPhone, so... 50/50 chance?

I should have waited for this, as my MBP stays docked in clamshell mode 90% of the time when home. I do like the ports on both sides, however.
 
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At this point I can get what I need done with a MacBook Air + dock for my mobile setup, so if they go OLED and if the M6 or greater has more than 32GB of RAM I will likely abandon the pro's....however...I am very curious to see what the redesign of the pro brings.
 
Seems like the main upgrade will be the GPU for gaming or ML. If neither of these appeals, picking up an M4 on offer is probably a good idea.

The GPU boost is a bit of a contradiction because the M4 could already play games like CyberPunk at a solid 30 fps and the rumoured M5 improvements could offer a solid 40 fps (which has frame times half way between 30 and 60 fps, giving a much smoother feel than 30 fps)...but the MacBook Air display can't handle this - 40 fps doesn't evenly divide into 60 Hz for the screen. The MBA would need either VRR down to 40 Hz or a 120 Hz panel (with or without ProMotion): neither of which seems likely.
 
I know that many people in my circle don’t need the horsepower of a MacBook Pro, but would really love to have ProMotion in an MacBook Air. Maybe this is the year Apple finally brings it to the Air, just like they did with all their iPhones in 2025.
Honestly care more about port variety (not count) and better screen size options. Both MBA models are too big IMO. The small one should be 13" or so and the potential for a cheap MacBook should be forgotten.

Mid-size for MBA and MBP should both be 14.5" (not too small, not to big) and port variety should be improved. Then MBP made even more pro to make the choice a nicer experience. "Do I want lightweight or do I want ultimate power."

iPhone 17 is the first iPhone in a while that doesn't feel gimped because they want to artificially push you up to the pro model. I'd like to have the experience of buying a MBA feel similarly authentic. It doesn't need four thunderbolt 5, it could rather than two thunderbolt 4 with one on either side for convenience. The other ports ensure both models will play well in all environments, with each other and with peripherals in schools, offices and conference halls without need to have a heavy bulky pro model. Wanting make the pro model thinner misses the point as to what it should be which is the most pro laptop Apple can possibly make. You upsell people to MBP by making it truly pro, not by trying to make it be all things to all people—thin and pro. Powerful and yet reduce the cooling capacity with a thinner housing and possibly less battery life over its potential by thinning out there too.

On top of that I preferred the wedge shaped MBA—to pick up and in use, and its port variety.
 
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Good news for me. I own the base model M4 MacBook Air, which I love. It sounds like the M5 version won’t add anything that I care about.
The only thing that would make the MacBook Air noticeable better for me would be more ports. Mine stays docked with two USB C docks and two external displays almost all of the time. In my perfect world, I’d trade a thunderbolt port for an hdmi port, three USB C ports and a couple USB A ports.
 
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This has piqued my interest regarding the M5 chip. "As for graphics performance, the M5 chip appears to have up to a 36% faster GPU compared to the M4 chip."

Also hope 🙏 they bring promotion to the Macbook Air, would be so nice on the 15 inch variant.
 
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I’ve been comparing the 13 and 15 in-store as I’m considering a switch up.

Maybe an M5Air15 is enough to switch out my M3Air13.

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Without Apple developing its own, on-device, privacy-respecting LLM, it’s a risky bet to purchase the latest and greatest unless you absolutely need it.

If you can. just wait.
 
With the introduction of a lower end MacBook they will need to up the specs a bit more for the MBA to better differentiate. Was kinda hoping we would see that with screen improvements with the M5, but looking more likely it will be the version after.
 
Cool... I bought a M3 Air this year as a stopgap until the OLED MBPs were released, but honestly I think the Air is more than sufficient for my needs. Just need to get more storage next time around.
 
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So, new M5 MacBook Air and a possible A18 Pro powered new entry-level MacBook next year.

I am probably going to get one of them for lightweight private use (Office-stuff, Mail, Photos, iMove, some games probably) so I expect the screen size - price balance will make my choice.
I'd rather have 15" (so, M5 MBA?) but, if it's 2x the price of the expected 13" A18Pro... I will probably get the cheaper one.
Hoping we will get that choice!
 
I know that many people in my circle don’t need the horsepower of a MacBook Pro, but would really love to have ProMotion in an MacBook Air. Maybe this is the year Apple finally brings it to the Air, just like they did with all their iPhones in 2025.
That seems to be what the non-pro chip MacBook Pro exists for; less CPU but with the better screen. It comes with the thicker case and more, heavier battery, though, so it’s not really an Air equivalent.

The 17 got ProMotion by getting the same screen as the 17 Pro, along with a slight size bump to match. Those are OLED, though, so hopefully it doesn’t take that to get promotion on the LCD Air. I wouldn’t mind the 14” screen on the Air, especially with its higher DPI, but that might bump up the weight and would count as enough of a redesign to be unlikely.

Odds are we’ll have to wait for the OLED non-pro Pro which is allegedly lighter to get an Air-sized MacBook with ProMotion, although I’d bet that’d come with an even steeper premium over the Air.
 
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