What's Coming in the M5 MacBook Air

[MacRumors]

Along with the low-cost MacBook, Apple could introduce a refreshed version of the MacBook Air next week. Most of the focus will be on the new machine, but the MacBook Air is expected to get some useful internal updates.

M5 Chip

The next-generation MacBook Air will adopt the M5 chip, which Apple already introduced in the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models that came out last year.

Apple's M5 chip uses third-generation 3-nanometer technology, and it features up to a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU with 3.5x faster performance than the M4 chip.

The M5's multithreaded CPU performance is up to 15 percent faster than the M4, and it offers 30 percent faster GPU performance. Apple added a Neural Accelerator to each GPU core to improve the speeds of GPU-based AI workloads. Unified memory bandwidth is 153GB/s, which is close to a 30 percent improvement over the M4's memory bandwidth. Unified memory architecture lets the chip use a single memory pool for running AI models on device, boosting GPU performance, and improving multithreaded performance in apps, so an upgrade there is meaningful. RAM will continue to start at 16GB, with 24GB and 32GB available as upgrade options.

Third-generation ray-tracing, second-generation dynamic caching, and enhanced shader cores bring improvements to gaming and other system-intensive tasks. An updated 16-core Neural Engine is more energy efficient than before, so we could see battery life improvements.

Storage tiers are likely to stay the same, starting at 256GB with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB available as upgrade options.

Design

The MacBook Air got a design overhaul in 2022, and there are no signs that Apple is planning for an updated chassis in 2026. Apple often uses the same design for several years before updating, and design refreshes are usually tied to major new features.

There are rumors that the MacBook Air will get an OLED display sometime after Apple launches new MacBook Pro models with OLED technology in late 2026, so we could be waiting for OLED before we get another major design update.

We're expecting Apple to release the same 13-inch and 15-inch size options in 2026. Both will feature the same aluminum unibody design and fanless thermal system, along with a Retina LCD display.

The MacBook Air is likely to continue to offer two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, and the same speaker, microphone, and camera setup.

Pricing

MacBook Air pricing is not expected to change, and it should continue to start at $1,099. There is a possibility that memory upgrades will be more expensive due to DRAM shortages that have driven prices up.

Release Date

Apple CEO Tim Cook teased product announcements that are set to start on Monday, so we could see the MacBook Air as soon as next week.

Article Link: What's Coming in the M5 MacBook Air

 

[Justin Cymbal]

MacBook Air pricing is not expected to change, and it should continue to start at $1,099

I thought it currently started at $999 - is it now $1,099?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

An opportunity for more ports.

 

[SF7]

MacBook Air starts at $999, not $1099.

 

[Mactagonist]

The only change I want to see is 5g built in.

Hotspot is fine, built in is better.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

and a 60hz screen. yipee

 

[Saturn1217]

I don't expect any changes. The M4 Macbook Air is getting pretty close to perfect for the laptop form factor.

Eventually (I realize this is not coming in the M5) I would like to see one more usb-c port on the other side of the machine.

And I would like to see OLED and a brighter display eventually. I don't care about 120hz. Just brighter so I can use mine next to a window at a coffee shop easily.

That's basically it. Otherwise this machine is perfect.

 

[rodpascoe]

I don't expect any changes. The M4 Macbook Air is getting pretty close to perfect for the laptop form factor.

Eventually (I realize this is not coming in the M5) I would like to see one more usb-c port on the other side of the machine.

And I would like to see OLED and a brighter display eventually. I don't care about 120hz. Just brighter so I can use mine next to a window at a coffee shop easily.

That's basically it. Otherwise this machine is perfect.

It's nice to see someone not moaning on here and being unrealistic for a change, the changes you want are realistic and I'd love them too.

I have an M2 Air and I love it, best laptop I've owned in 30+ years and I've probably had more than most.

 

[Someyoungguy]

Is the GPU “30% faster” or “3.5 times as fast”??

 

[Nyx1]

Mini LED finally arrived on air

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I don't expect any changes. The M4 Macbook Air is getting pretty close to perfect for the laptop form factor.

Eventually (I realize this is not coming in the M5) I would like to see one more usb-c port on the other side of the machine.

And I would like to see OLED and a brighter display eventually. I don't care about 120hz. Just brighter so I can use mine next to a window at a coffee shop easily.

That's basically it. Otherwise this machine is perfect.

Well said. A port on both sides is really the thing I would like on the Air, as well.

Well...I liked the wedge form factor better than the current design, but that's long gone.

 

[CSAppleFan]

Its $999. Have you ever wondered why so many of the tech pros whether it be on these types sites or YouTube creators that always get prices incorrect or product information wrong. I listen to the Macworld podcast weekly and they're always getting stuff wrong. Just funny to me lol.

 

[turbineseaplane]

So the same machine with a new chip

Riveting stuff.

Sorry, I meant the "all new Macbook Air M5!"

 

[Pezimak]

All it will be getting is an M5 chip and nothing else? Thought that was obvious?

 

[Astuces iOS]

🥲 As a MacBook Pro user now, I don’t think I could ever go back to the air…

 

[August West]

MacBook Air starts at $999, not $1099.

And is on sale for $799 pretty often it seems. $749 on Cyber Monday

 

[dgdosen]

I've got an M3 with 16GB of ram, and in hindsight, that was shortsighted for what I'm doing. Will definitely change to an M5 32GB.

 

[teh_hunterer]

I get it not having an OLED or Mini LED display, but I am hoping they bump it up to a 120hz display. Apple can still do a nice 120hz LCD display, as anyone with an M1 iPad Pro can attest.

 

[onedrunkhorse]

But will it be built for Apple Intelligence?

 

[Dark_Omen]

I don't expect any changes. The M4 Macbook Air is getting pretty close to perfect for the laptop form factor.

Eventually (I realize this is not coming in the M5) I would like to see one more usb-c port on the other side of the machine.

And I would like to see OLED and a brighter display eventually. I don't care about 120hz. Just brighter so I can use mine next to a window at a coffee shop easily.

That's basically it. Otherwise this machine is perfect.

I'm not sure what you mean. The Macbook Air is still much too fat.

0.16 > 0.44 inch thickness over the last 18 years is not progress. Yeah I understand the back part was thicker than the current "uniform" slab design, but other companies have caught up with their own ultra books.

Apple should've kept making the Air thinner while keeping the Pro as the option with longer battery life. The current MBA should be about as thick as the iPhone Air on the bottom and the top.

 

[jb333]

🥲 As a MacBook Pro user now, I don’t think I could ever go back to the air…

what are your reasons and use?

 

[Satch111]

An opportunity for more ports.

It won't get more ports.

 

[DocMultimedia]

An updated chip? With a miserable OS?

 

[lambertjohn]

and a 60hz screen. yipee

I love my M4 Air with 60hz screen. It's clear, crisp and a joy to use. So yippee for me too!!

 

[Howard2k]

For the base model - same price seems great. But the memory pricing increase - ouch. It was already expensive.

I won't be buying anyway, but with this and the Ax-based MacBook it seems like it's going to be a great few weeks for those in the market for a new laptop.