Apple introduced an updated MacBook Air powered by its new M5 chip, bringing faster performance, expanded AI capabilities, and upgraded wireless connectivity. The refresh also doubles the base storage while retaining the thin aluminum design the lineup is known for.
The reveal came as part of Apple's event week, with the main day set for March 4 from 9 a.m. Eastern Time onwards.
This year's event breaks from its traditional keynote-style livestream. Instead of hosting a single broadcast event, the company is organizing what it calls a “special Apple Experience” for invited media across New York, London, and Shanghai.
Meanwhile, the general public can follow along digitally as Apple publishes announcements throughout the day via its Newsroom and official social media channels.
TL;DR
- M5 chip delivers faster CPU and GPU performance with Neural Accelerator in each core
- Base storage increased to 512GB, configurable up to 4TB with faster SSD speeds
- Introduces Wi Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 through Apple’s N1 wireless chip
- Starts at $1,099 for 13 inch and $1,299 for 15 inch, preorders begin March 4
MacBook Air's Colors, Availability And Pricing Details
The MacBook Air with M5 is available in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver, across both 13 inch and 15 inch models.
Preorders begin at 6:15 a.m. PST on Wednesday, March 4, through Apple’s website and Apple Store app in 33 countries and regions, including the United States. General availability starts Wednesday, March 11.
The 13 inch MacBook Air with M5 starts at $1,099 in the United States, with education pricing beginning at $999. The 15 inch model starts at $1,299, or $1,199 for education customers.
With improved AI performance, expanded storage, and next generation wireless connectivity, the updated MacBook Air represents a performance focused refresh of Apple’s most popular laptop.
MacBook Air's M5 Chip Boosts AI Performance And Graphics Capabilities
At the center of the update is Apple’s M5 processor, featuring a 10 core CPU and up to a 10 core GPU. The chip includes a Neural Accelerator in each core, aimed at improving AI driven tasks across apps and system experiences.
Apple says the MacBook Air with M5 delivers up to 4x faster performance for AI tasks compared to the M4 model and up to 9.5x faster than the M1 version. For creative workloads, it enables up to 6.5x faster 3D rendering in Blender compared to M1 and up to 2.7x faster image processing in Affinity.
The chip also incorporates enhanced shader cores and a third generation ray tracing engine to improve gaming and 3D rendering. Unified memory bandwidth increases to 153GB per second, a 28 percent improvement over M4, designed to support smoother multitasking and faster app launches.
“The new MacBook Air with M5 brings incredible performance and even more capability to the world’s most popular laptop,” said John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Engineering.
He added that the system is now “even faster for AI” while maintaining its combination of portability and durability.
MacBook Air Doubles The Starting Storage With Faster SSD Speeds
Apple has doubled the base storage of the MacBook Air to 512GB, up from the previous generation. For the first time, the laptop can be configured with up to 4TB of storage.
The updated SSD technology delivers up to 2x faster read and write speeds compared to the prior generation, which Apple says can accelerate file access and improve workflows for users handling large photo libraries, media files, or on device AI workloads.
The device also offers up to 18 hours of battery life, which Apple notes is six hours longer than Intel based MacBook Air models.
Topics For More Insights
- Apple Event Week: Apple Unveils An Improved iPhone 17e At The Same Price Ahead Of Its March 4 Event
- Apple Event Week: Apple Launches New M4-Powered iPad Air With Faster Performance Just Before Its Event
- Apple Event Week: Apple Launches 14 & 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Pro & M5 Max
- Apple Event Week: Apple Debuts M5 Pro & M5 Max To Power Next-Gen Pro Workflows
- Apple Event Week: New Studio Display & Studio Display XDR Come With Thunderbolt 5 & 5K Retina XDR
MacBook Air's Display, Camera, Ports And macOS Tahoe Integration
The new MacBook Air is available with a 13.6 inch or 15.3 inch Liquid Retina display, offering 500 nits of brightness and support for one billion colors. The design remains thin, light, and fanless.
It features a 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support, a three mic array, and an immersive sound system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports with support for up to two external displays, along with MagSafe charging.
Apple’s new N1 wireless chip enables Wi Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, aimed at improving performance and reliability for users on the move.
On the software side, macOS Tahoe introduces new personalization features and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, including Live Translation in Messages, enhanced Reminders categorization, and more powerful Shortcuts actions that integrate directly with Apple Intelligence models.
Apple also stated that the MacBook Air with M5 is built with 55 percent recycled content, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery.
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