MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: What's changed beyond the Apple silicon

Apple has launched a new MacBook Air with the M5 chip, featuring a $100 price increase across all models. Despite the higher cost, the design, display, and audio remain identical to the M4 model. Key upgrades include faster CPU/GPU performance and double the base storage, now starting at 512GB. The M5 also offers 28% faster unified memory and 4x faster AI performance, particularly beneficial for professionals using demanding applications like 3D rendering. File transfer speeds are also doubled, which should improve tasks like copying large files and importing media, though boot times may see negligible improvement. The new M5 MacBook Air incorporates Apple’s N1 chip, enabling advanced connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Battery life, however, remains unchanged, offering up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of wireless web surfing. For those already owning an M4 MacBook Air, upgrading to the M5 is not recommended due to the minor changes for the price increase. However, users with older MacBook Air models might find the performance and storage enhancements worthwhile, especially professionals. The display, while not OLED, remains a vibrant Liquid Retina LED panel, suitable for outdoor use despite its glossy finish. The audio system is consistent with the M4, offering clear sound from its four or six-speaker setup, depending on the model. The M5 MacBook Air runs macOS Tahoe and leverages Apple Intelligence features, with the M5 chip providing significantly faster processing for AI tasks. Pre-orders begin on March 4, but waiting for full reviews before purchasing is advised to ensure the upgrades justify the cost.