Apple has unveiled a refreshed MacBook Air featuring an M5 chip, contrary to earlier reports suggesting no new model was planned. The tech giant has introduced significant upgrades in performance, memory, and connectivity.
The new MacBook Air starts at $1,099, marking a $100 increase from the M4 version’s $999 starting price. Apple asserts that the M5 chip provides four times faster AI performance compared to the M4 model and up to 9.5 times faster performance than the M1 model. The base model comes equipped with 16GB of RAM, boasting a 153GB/s bandwidth, which represents a 28 percent improvement over the M4 model. Users can configure the device up to 32GB of memory. The starting storage capacity has been doubled to 512GB, with Apple stating that the SSD offers two times faster read and write performance than the previous generation.
The laptop incorporates a new N1 wireless chip, enabling support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. It operates on macOS Tahoe and is compatible with Apple Intelligence features. Additional features include a Liquid Retina display, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and a sound system with Spatial Audio. The device is equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, allowing support for up to two external displays. According to Apple, the laptop can run for up to 18 hours on a single charge.
The M5 MacBook Air is available in both 13-inch and 15-inch models, with the 15-inch version starting at $1,299. The laptop is offered in four colors: sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver. Pre-orders for the new model commence on March 4 at 9:15 AM ET, with in-store availability beginning on March 11 in 33 countries and regions.
