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After using the MacBook Neo for weeks, switching to the Air has been refreshingly sweet

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Why This Matters

The new MacBook Air M5's upgrades, including faster SSDs, Wi-Fi 7, and increased storage, elevate its position in the laptop market, making it a compelling choice for a broad range of users. These enhancements demonstrate Apple's focus on delivering more powerful, future-proof devices that appeal to both consumers and professionals, challenging traditional distinctions between entry-level and premium laptops.

Key Takeaways

Apple MacBook Air M5 (15-inch) 4 / 5 Very good pros and cons Pros 512GB of storage standard

Faster SSD read/write speeds

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6

Same thin and light build Cons Incremental upgrades compared to M4

$100 more expensive

Battery life is about the same View now at Amazon

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Apple's MacBook Air is no longer the baby in the family. In fact, it's looking rather grown up these days. Last year, the MacBook Air got a free upgrade to a baseline 16GB of RAM. This year's MacBook Air M5 follows that up with an increase to 512GB of standard storage. The SSD is also twice as fast as the M4 -- an impressive increase in read and write speeds for just one generation.

With core hardware improvements, form factor maturation, and the addition of the Neo to Apple's lineup, the Air is less the Pro's younger sibling and more the "laptop for everybody", with enough horsepower to compete with the Pro on many tasks. There's even a strong case that it's the scarier competitor to Windows than the Neo, due to its price-to-performance ratio compared to other $1,000 laptops.

Also: MacBook Neo review: My biggest concern with Apple's near-perfect budget laptop

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