Apple has introduced the latest MacBook Air with M5, updating its most commercially successful laptop with a new generation chip, expanded base storage, and upgraded wireless connectivity. The new MacBook Air with M5 will be available in 13-inch and 15-inch versions, with pre-orders beginning March 4 and retail availability starting March 11 in 33 countries.
At the center of this refresh is the M5 chip, which brings a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. Apple says the chip includes a Neural Accelerator in each core, aimed at improving on-device AI processing. According to company benchmarks, the MacBook Air M5 delivers faster AI-related tasks compared to earlier Apple silicon models, including the M1 and M4 configurations. Performance claims include gains in AI video enhancement, 3D rendering in Blender, and image processing in Affinity Photo. As with previous Apple announcements, these figures are based on internal testing under specific configurations.
The MacBook Air with M5 also introduces 153GB/s unified memory bandwidth, a reported 28 percent increase over the M4 generation. In practical terms, that should translate to smoother multitasking and improved responsiveness when running heavier creative or AI workloads. Apple is positioning the M5 MacBook Air as capable of running large language models directly on the device, a notable shift as more AI features move from cloud-based systems to local hardware for privacy and latency reasons.
Storage has been adjusted upward across the lineup. The MacBook Air M5 now starts at 512GB of SSD storage, double the base configuration of the prior model, and can be configured up to 4TB for the first time in the Air series. Apple also states that the new SSD delivers up to twice the read and write speeds of the previous generation, which could reduce load times for large media libraries and complex projects.
Connectivity has been updated with Apple’s N1 wireless chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The laptop retains two Thunderbolt 4 ports and MagSafe charging, with support for up to two external displays. Battery life remains rated at up to 18 hours, consistent with recent Apple silicon MacBook Air models and notably longer than older Intel-based versions.
The design remains largely unchanged: a thin, fanless aluminum enclosure available in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver. The 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch Liquid Retina displays offer up to 500 nits of brightness and support for one billion colors. A 12MP Center Stage camera, three-microphone array, and Spatial Audio-compatible speaker system continue to target remote work and content consumption use cases.
On the software side, macOS Tahoe powers the MacBook Air M5, bringing interface refinements and expanded Apple Intelligence features. These include Live Translation in Messages, updated Reminders categorization, and deeper Shortcuts integration tied to on-device AI models. Some features remain region- and language-dependent, and Apple Intelligence is still in beta.
Apple states that the MacBook Air with M5 uses 55 percent recycled content, including fully recycled aluminum in the enclosure and recycled cobalt in the battery. The company continues to frame these updates within its broader 2030 carbon neutrality target.
Pricing in the UAE starts at AED 4,599 for the 13-inch model and AED 5,499 for the 15-inch model, with discounted education pricing available. As with previous generations, the MacBook Air with M5 targets students, mobile professionals, and business users seeking a lightweight laptop with extended battery life and improved AI performance, rather than a full-scale redesign.
