MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: What's actually different?

Apple has just announced the MacBook Air M5! While the 13- and 15-inch laptops haven’t received a new design, they both now pack the Apple M5 chip, first introduced with the iPad Pro M5 and MacBook Pro M5. Cupertino didn’t settle for a mere chip upgrade, as the company’s thinnest laptop line also introduces connectivity updates and more base storage.

The MacBook Air M4 was already arguably the best laptop for most people, as we noted in our review of the 13-inch and 15-inch models. Apple hasn’t discontinued it either and offers the 13-inch Air M4 for $999, or $100 less than the latest version. Because of that, choosing a MacBook Air model isn’t as straightforward as before.

To help you decide which MacBook Air to get, here are the key differences between the M5 and M4 models, based on what Apple detailed and on our prior reviews.

MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: Specs (starting)

MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: Price

Apple has set the price of the 13-inch MacBook Air M5 at $1,099—a $100 increase over the previous generation’s launch price. The 15-inch MacBook Air is also getting a $100 price bump, and it's now at $1,299.

But as noted in the intro, Apple is keeping the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 in the lineup for just $999. Thanks to that, the M4 is effectively the new entry-level standard, while the M5 takes over as the premium choice.

MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: Design and display

If you were hoping for a Tandem OLED display like the iPad Pro or a thinner chassis, you’re out of luck. The M5 Air retains the same industrial design introduced with the M2. It’s still incredibly thin, light, and available in the same four finishes: Sky Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.

The displays are also unchanged: a 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina panel. That means you’ll get vivid images, only without the 120Hz ProMotion found on the Pro.

Here are our display test results for the previous model, which should align with the M5 Air.

This is a case of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but it does make the older M4 model more appealing if you don’t care about chip speeds.

MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: Performance

When I reviewed the base M5 MacBook Pro late last year, I was impressed by the chip's efficiency. The M5 is a powerhouse, specifically when it comes to single-core tasks and AI processing. However, don’t expect comparable M5 performance on the MacBook Air M5.

Unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air is fanless. While the M5 in the MacBook Pro can sustain high speeds thanks to active cooling, the Air will eventually throttle its performance during heavy video renders or intense gaming sessions to keep temperatures down.

With that in mind, here is a comparison of the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 and 13-inch MacBook Air M4 to give you a general idea of what to expect. But as I said, it won’t be (pardon the pun) apples to apples.

For everyday productivity, you likely won't notice a difference, but for pro-level workloads, the M5 chip inside the Air won't quite match the sustained performance of the Pro.

On a related note, the MacBook Air M5 starts with 512GB of storage instead of 256GB. That's great news if you like to store a lot of files on your MacBook instead of uploading them to your preferred cloud service.

MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: AI and connectivity

The M5 chip features a beefed-up Neural Engine designed to handle local LLMs (Large Language Models) faster than the M4. This should be useful once Apple Intelligence truly becomes useful.

We also get the Apple N1 wireless chip, which brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the Air. If you have a Wi-Fi 7 router, the jump in stability and speed will be noticeable.

Lastly, Apple has upgraded the webcam to a 12MP Center Stage camera. It supports Desk View and keeps you centered in the frame during calls, which is a step up from the older 1080p sensor on the M4.

Your mileage may vary on Desk View (it can be weird, to say the least), but the bump in sharpness should help you look better during video calls.

MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: Outlook

The $100 price hike is a tough pill to swallow, especially since the design remains unchanged. However, the M5 Air is clearly aimed at the future. Between the Wi-Fi 7 support, the improved webcam, AI-optimized silicon, extra base storage, and M5 power and efficiency, it’s a more complete package.

If you’re on a strict budget, the $999 MacBook Air M4 is arguably the best value laptop right now. But if you want the best possible version of Apple’s popular laptop, the M5 Air, even with its price increase, is a notebook worth serious consideration.

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