Apple’s latest MacBook Air, powered by the new M5 chip, offers pro-level performance and double the starting storage, but faces fresh competition from the cheaper MacBook Neo. The 13-inch model starts at £1,099, £100 more than last year’s M4 version, but now includes at least 512GB of storage. It sits between the £599 MacBook Neo and the £1,699 M5 MacBook Pro.
The design remains unchanged: a thin, recycled aluminium body with a 13.6-inch screen that is bright and colourful, though still limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, and a headphone jack. The M5 chip delivers a 10-20% performance boost over the M4, and is 75-108% faster than the M1 MacBook Air, even surpassing the M1 Pro MacBook Pro from 2021.
Battery life is excellent, lasting over 17 hours for office work and around 10 hours for video editing. The 512GB SSD is twice as fast as before, improving file transfers. The laptop is made with 55% recycled materials, and the battery retains at least 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles. Trade-in and free recycling are available.
The main drawbacks are the limited port selection (only two USB-C) and the lack of a higher refresh rate screen. However, the combination of build quality, performance, and battery life makes the M5 MacBook Air a top-tier consumer laptop. For those needing Windows or Linux, rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro (£1,619) or Microsoft Surface Laptop (£1,419) may be alternatives, but none match the Air’s overall package.
