MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)

Apart from the newer chip, the M5 update announced on 3 March 2026 is about storage and wireless. The 15-inch Air now starts at 512GB, where the 15-inch M4 started at 256GB, and goes to 4TB instead of 2TB. Apple’s N1 chip replaces Wi-Fi 6E with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, and the 35W Dual USB-C Compact adapter gives way to a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter that can deliver up to 60W.

15-inch or 13-inch?

Both M5 Airs have the N1 chip, a Center Stage camera, a 512GB starting drive and the same battery ratings. The 15-inch costs more and weighs more, and in return you get a bigger screen, more GPU cores and two extra speakers.

Spec	MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)	MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
Screen	15.3-inch, 2880 × 1864	13.6-inch, 2560 × 1664
GPU	10-core	8-core to start
Speakers	Six, with force-cancelling woofers	Four
Battery	66.5Wh	53.8Wh
Rated battery life	Up to 18 hours video, 15 hours web	Same
Weight	1.51 kg (3.3 pounds)	1.23 kg (2.7 pounds)
US launch price	$1,299 ($1,199 education)	$1,099 ($999 education)

If the laptop spends most of its time open on a table, the bigger screen earns its extra weight. If it lives in a bag, the 13-inch is the easier one to carry. MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) vs 13-inch (M5) covers the pair in more detail.

Memory and storage

Every 15-inch M5 comes with a 10-core CPU (4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores), a 10-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, so the choices at checkout are memory and storage. Memory starts at 16GB and goes to 24GB or 32GB; since you can’t add more later, it’s the option to think hardest about. Storage starts at 512GB, with 1TB, 2TB and 4TB options.

Screen and external displays

The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina screen is an LED-backlit IPS panel with 2880 × 1864 pixels at 224 ppi, rated for 500 nits, with P3 wide color and True Tone. It isn’t a touchscreen, and Apple lists no ProMotion or 120Hz mode for it.

With the lid open, it runs two monitors at up to 6K and 60Hz or 4K and 144Hz, or a single one at up to 8K and 60Hz, 5K and 120Hz, or 4K and 240Hz, and the built-in screen stays at full resolution.

Battery and charging

Apple rates the 66.5Wh battery for up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of wireless web browsing. It measured them on preproduction units in January 2026, streaming 1080p video in Safari and browsing 25 websites, so expect fewer hours from heavier work.

The 40W Dynamic Power Adapter connects through a 2-meter USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable, and either Thunderbolt port can charge the laptop too. For fast charging, Apple specifies a USB-C PD adapter of 70W or higher.

Ports, camera and sound

You get MagSafe 3, two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB4 up to 40Gb/s, DisplayPort and charging) and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The 12MP Center Stage camera supports Desk View and records 1080p video, and the three microphones use directional beamforming for Apple’s Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes. The six speakers play Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. The backlit Magic Keyboard has Touch ID and 12 function keys, above a Force Touch trackpad.

When a MacBook Pro makes more sense

The Air’s limits are its screen and its ports. If you need ProMotion, a 1000-nit XDR display, HDMI, an SDXC slot or a laptop with fans, look at the MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) instead.

Coming from a 15-inch M2 or M3

• From the 15-inch M3: the M5 swaps the 1080p camera for 12MP Center Stage and runs two external displays with the lid open, where the M3 needs its lid closed for a second one. You also get the 512GB starting drive and Wi-Fi 7.
• From the 15-inch M2: the 512GB starting drive, the Center Stage camera and the N1 chip are all new to you.

Price

The 15-inch M5 started at $1,299 in the US on 3 March 2026, or $1,199 with education pricing. Pre-orders opened on 4 March 2026 and stores had it from 11 March 2026, in sky blue, midnight, starlight and silver. Apple’s prices and offers change, so check the current price before you buy.