MacBook Air 13-inch with M5 review

MacBook Air with M5 is the most complete everyday laptop on this list for the money. Apple's March 2026 release lists the M5 chip with faster unified memory, 512GB of storage as standard (double the previous generation) and a new SSD that Apple says reads and writes twice as fast. The design stays fanless, so there is no fan noise under load. Apple lists up to 18 hours of battery life, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging and support for up to two external displays, which covers a desk setup with two monitors. The 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display reaches 500 nits, and the 12MP Center Stage camera supports Desk View for video calls. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 come from Apple's N1 wireless chip. The tradeoff is price: at $1,099 for the 13-inch model it costs $500 more than MacBook Neo, and the 15-inch starts at $1,299. Buyers who need Windows-only software should look at Surface Laptop or ASUS Zenbook 14.

Who it is for

most people who want a Mac for everyday work and study

Price

From $1,099 for the 13-inch model ($999 for education).

The 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 starts at $1,099 (U.S.), and $999 (U.S.) for education
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Apple M5 chip in a fanless design that Apple says runs completely silent
• 512GB of storage as standard, configurable up to 4TB
• Up to 18 hours of battery life with fast-charge capability
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging and support for up to two external displays
• 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Starting storage doubled to 512GB compared with the previous generation
• Strength: 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display at 500 nits
• Strength: MagSafe keeps both Thunderbolt 4 ports free while charging
• Weakness: $500 more than MacBook Neo at the US starting price
• Weakness: The 15-inch model starts at $1,299
• Weakness: Runs macOS only, so Windows-only apps need a cloud or virtual option

Key facts

• Starting price: $1,099 (13-inch), $1,299 (15-inch)
• Chip: Apple M5
• Battery: Up to 18 hours
• Storage: 512GB standard, up to 4TB
• Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe

Where it ranks

MacBook Air 13-inch with M5 is No. 1 in our Best Laptops verdict.