Laptops · Model guide · Maker specs
MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
Get the 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 if you want a silent everyday Mac: it comes with Wi-Fi 7, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage as standard.
Product images
MacBook Air 13-inch (M5), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get the 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 if you want a silent everyday Mac: it comes with Wi-Fi 7, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage as standard. Apple doubled the base storage from the last generation and kept it fanless, at 1.23 kg, with up to 18 hours of video streaming. Skip it for the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) if you need HDMI, an SD slot or an XDR screen.
Who it is for
- Students and office workers who want one quiet laptop for everything. There's no fan, it weighs 1.23 kg, and 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage come as standard.
- Owners of an M1, M2 or M3 Air. Against the M3 you gain the 12MP Center Stage camera, Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6E, and a second external display without closing the lid.
- Anyone who keeps a big photo library or local AI models on the laptop: you can order up to 4TB of storage and 32GB of memory.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants a bigger screen. The 15-inch Air (M5) has a 15.3-inch, 2880 × 1864 display, a 10-core GPU as standard and a 66.5Wh battery, and weighs 1.51 kg.
- Video editors and developers who need more than two ports or long stretches at full speed. The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) adds a Liquid Retina XDR screen with ProMotion, HDMI, an SDXC slot, a third Thunderbolt port and fans.
- Light users on a budget. For browsing and writing, a discounted M3 Air has the same 13.6-inch, 500-nit screen; here you're paying for the newer chip, the storage, the camera and Wi-Fi 7.
- Anyone who needs Windows. It runs macOS, so it's no stand-in for a Snapdragon or Intel Windows laptop.
What sets it apart
- 512GB of storage as standard, double the previous generation, with options up to 4TB, a first for the Air.
- The M5 chip: a 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores, an 8-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (10-core optional) and 153GB/s of memory bandwidth.
- Apple's N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6; the M3 Air has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
- A 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, where the M3 Air has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
- Two external displays with the lid open, at up to 6K each, or one at up to 8K. The M3 Air had to close its lid to run a second screen.
Caveats
- The screen hasn't moved on: it's a 13.6-inch, 500-nit IPS panel with no ProMotion, no XDR and no touch.
- Memory is soldered, so choose 16GB, 24GB or 32GB when you order.
- Wi-Fi 7 isn't available in every country, Apple notes.
Key specs
In the same order on every laptop page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | M5: 10-core CPU (4 super, 6 efficiency); 16-core Neural Engine; 153GB/s bandwidth | Apple tech specs; Apple Newsroom, 3 March 2026153GB/s is the memory bandwidth. Apple claims the world's fastest CPU core for M5. |
| Graphics | 8-core GPU standard, 10-core optional; Neural Accelerators; hardware ray tracing | Apple tech specs |
| Memory | 16GB unified memory standard; 24GB or 32GB optional | Apple tech specsSoldered, so it can't be upgraded later. |
| Storage | 512GB SSD standard; 1TB, 2TB or 4TB optional | Apple tech specs; Apple Newsroom4TB is a first for the MacBook Air. |
| Display size | 13.6 inches diagonal; the rounded top corners make the viewable area slightly smaller | Apple tech specs |
| Display type | Liquid Retina, LED-backlit IPS; not touch, not mini-LED XDR | Apple tech specs |
| Display resolution | 2560 × 1664 at 224 ppi | Apple tech specs |
| Refresh rate | No ProMotion or 120Hz mode; Apple gives no refresh rate | Apple tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | Apple tech specs |
| Color | 1 billion colors; P3 wide color; True Tone | Apple MacBook Air specs |
| Dimensions | 1.13 × 30.41 × 21.5 cm (0.44 × 11.97 × 8.46 in), height × width × depth | Apple tech specs |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) | Apple tech specsApple says weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. |
| Chassis material | Aluminum unibody, fanless | Apple Newsroom, 3 March 2026 |
| Finishes | Sky blue, midnight, starlight, silver | Apple Newsroom, 3 March 2026 |
| Battery capacity | 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer | Apple tech specs |
| Battery, wireless web | Up to 15 hours | Apple tech specsApple's January 2026 test on a preproduction 13-inch M5 (10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB, 512GB) browsing 25 sites, brightness 8 clicks from the bottom. |
| Battery, video streaming | Up to 18 hours | Apple tech specsSame test model, streaming 1080p video in Safari over Wi-Fi. |
| Charging | 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max in the box; USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable (2 m); fast charging with a 70W or higher USB PD adapter | Apple tech specs; Apple MacBook Air specs |
| Ports | MagSafe 3; 3.5 mm headphone jack; two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) for charging, DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 up to 40Gb/s | Apple tech specs |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View; 1080p video | Apple tech specs |
| Speakers | Four speakers; Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos | Apple MacBook Air specs |
| Microphones | Three mics with directional beamforming; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes | Apple MacBook Air specs |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; 78 keys (ANSI) or 79 (ISO); 12 function keys; inverted-T arrows | Apple tech specs |
| Trackpad | Force Touch trackpad with Force click, pressure sensing and Multi-Touch | Apple tech specs |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Apple N1 chip: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 6; some Apple listings add Thread | Apple tech specs; Apple NewsroomWi-Fi 7 availability varies by region. |
| Operating system | macOS Tahoe at launch, with Apple Intelligence | Apple Newsroom, 3 March 2026 |
| External displays | Up to two with the lid open: two at up to 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz, or one at up to 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz | Apple MacBook Air specs |
| Security | Touch ID in the keyboard | Apple tech specs |
| Cooling | Fanless; Apple calls it a completely silent design | Apple Newsroom, 3 March 2026 |
| US price | 13-inch from $1,099, $999 education; 15-inch from $1,299, $1,199 education | Apple Newsroom, 3 March 2026Apple's US prices at launch, 3 March 2026. |
| Price band | Mainstream ultraportable ($1,000–$1,400 at US launch) | Based on Apple's $1,099 starting price |
| Announced | 3 March 2026 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 4 March 2026; in stores from Wednesday, 11 March 2026 | Apple Newsroom |
MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15-inch model | MacBook Air 15-inch (M5): 10-core GPU standard, 66.5Wh battery, 1.51 kg, 2880 × 1864 display | Apple tech specs for the 15-inch model |
| MagSafe 3 | Dedicated MagSafe 3 charging port; the Thunderbolt ports also charge over USB-C | Apple tech specs |
| N1 wireless chip | Apple-designed N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 | Apple Newsroom, 3 March 2026 |
| Center Stage and Desk View | 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, which the M3 Air lacks | Apple tech specs |
| Media engine | Hardware H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode | Apple tech specs |
| In the box | 13-inch MacBook Air; 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max; USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable (2 m). Optional at order: 35W Dual USB-C Compact or 70W USB-C adapter | Apple MacBook Air specs |
| Accessibility | VoiceOver, Zoom, Voice Control, Switch Control, Live Captions, and motion, display and text settings | Apple tech specs |
What’s new: twice the storage, the M5 chip and Wi-Fi 7
Apple didn’t redesign the 13-inch Air for M5: it’s still a fanless aluminum laptop, 1.13 cm thick and 1.23 kg, in sky blue, midnight, starlight or silver. What changed is inside.
Storage. The base SSD is now 512GB, which Apple says is double the previous generation, and you can order 1TB, 2TB or 4TB. 4TB is a first for the Air. If your photo library or your local AI models live on the laptop, this is the change that matters most.
Chip. M5 has a 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores, an 8-core GPU with Neural Accelerators and hardware ray tracing, a 16-core Neural Engine and 153GB/s of memory bandwidth. The 10-core GPU is an option. Apple claims the world’s fastest CPU core for M5. For video work, the media engine handles H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW in hardware and decodes AV1.
Memory. 16GB of unified memory is standard, with 24GB or 32GB to order. It’s soldered, so buy what you’ll need for the life of the laptop.
Wireless. Apple’s own N1 chip handles Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 6.
Upgrading from an older Air
| Spec | 13-inch Air (M3) | 13-inch Air (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Base memory and storage | 8GB and 256GB options | 16GB and 512GB |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD | 12MP Center Stage |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
| Two external displays | Only with the lid closed | Yes, with the lid open |
| Screen | 13.6-inch, 500 nits | Same |
From an M3 or older, the camera and the lid-open second display are the changes you’ll notice every day. M1 and M2 owners can compare directly in MacBook Air M1 vs M5 and MacBook Air M2 vs M5. If you have last year’s model, MacBook Air M4 vs M5 lists what one year changed.
The screen is the familiar one
The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is an LED-backlit IPS panel: 2560 × 1664 at 224 ppi, 500 nits, P3 wide color with 1 billion colors, and True Tone. There’s no ProMotion, no touch and no mini-LED XDR. If you need XDR brightness or ProMotion, that’s the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Battery and charging
| Mode | 13-inch Air (M5) |
|---|---|
| Video streaming | Up to 18 hours |
| Wireless web | Up to 15 hours |
| Battery | 53.8Wh |
Apple measured both in January 2026 on a preproduction 16GB, 512GB model with brightness 8 clicks from the bottom: 1080p video in Safari over Wi-Fi, and a web test across 25 sites.
The box has a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max and a 2-meter USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. When you order, you can pick a 35W Dual USB-C Compact or a 70W USB-C adapter instead, and the Air fast-charges from a 70W or higher USB PD adapter. Both Thunderbolt ports charge too, so you’re not tied to MagSafe.
Ports and external displays
You get MagSafe 3, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports for charging, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 at up to 40Gb/s. There’s no HDMI and no SD slot, so plan on a dongle if you use either.
Two external displays work with the lid open:
| Displays | Up to |
|---|---|
| Two external | 6K at 60Hz, or 4K at 144Hz |
| One external | 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz, or 4K at 240Hz |
Camera, sound, keyboard and software
The 12MP Center Stage camera records 1080p video. Four speakers handle Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and three beamforming microphones offer Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes for calls. The backlit Magic Keyboard has Touch ID, 12 function keys and inverted-T arrows, above a Force Touch trackpad.
It ships with macOS Tahoe and Apple Intelligence, which comes with availability conditions in Apple’s fine print.
13-inch or 15-inch, Air or Pro
| Spec | 13-inch Air (M5) | 15-inch Air (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 13.6-inch, 2560 × 1664 | 15.3-inch, 2880 × 1864 |
| GPU as standard | 8-core | 10-core |
| Battery | 53.8Wh | 66.5Wh |
| Weight | 1.23 kg | 1.51 kg |
| US price at launch | $1,099 | $1,299 |
The 15-inch is the one to get if you work on the laptop’s own screen all day; the 13-inch is the one you won’t mind carrying. MacBook Air 15-inch vs 13-inch (M5) goes through the rest.
For long renders and more ports, the step up is the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5); MacBook Air M5 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) compares the two.
Price
The 13-inch M5 Air started at $1,099 in the US, or $999 with education pricing, when Apple announced it on 3 March 2026. That’s for 16GB, 512GB and the 8-core GPU. Pre-orders opened the next day, and it reached stores on 11 March 2026. The 15-inch starts at $1,299, or $1,199 for education. Prices and discounts change, so check Apple’s current price before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5 — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — MacBook Air tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Which charger comes in the box?
A 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max and a 2-meter USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. You can swap it for a 35W Dual USB-C Compact or a 70W USB-C adapter when you order, and fast charging needs a 70W or higher USB PD adapter.
Should I get this or the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5)?
The Air, unless you need what the Pro adds: a Liquid Retina XDR screen with ProMotion, HDMI, an SDXC slot, a third Thunderbolt port, fans for sustained work, and a longer video-streaming rating. The Air is the silent one.
Should I get the 13-inch or the 15-inch Air?
The 13-inch if you carry it every day: 1.23 kg against 1.51 kg. The 15-inch has a 15.3-inch 2880 × 1864 screen, a 10-core GPU as standard and a 66.5Wh battery, and starts at $1,299.
Can it run two external monitors?
Yes, with the lid open: two displays at up to 6K and 60Hz or 4K and 144Hz. A single display can go up to 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz.
Can I add memory later?
No. The memory is soldered, so pick 16GB, 24GB or 32GB when you buy. Storage options run from 512GB to 4TB.
Is $1,099 what I'll pay?
Not necessarily. $1,099 is Apple's US starting price from 3 March 2026 for 16GB and 512GB; education pricing is $999, and extra memory, storage or the 10-core GPU raise it.
Official product page: MacBook Air 13-inch (M5). Tech specs: MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) specs.