Apple MacBook Air M5 review: Apple’s thinnest laptop gets an upgrade
Digital Camera World • • technology
Key Points:
- The new MacBook Air with the M5 chip positions itself as a mid-range laptop, offering nearly the processing power of the entry-level MacBook Pro at a lower price, making it suitable for photo and video tasks.
- Pricing starts at $1,099 for the 13-inch model, with upgrades to 32GB RAM and 4TB SSD pushing it to $2,699; a 15-inch model is also available at a higher cost.
- The design is thinner than the MacBook Pro and Neo, featuring a non-wedge shape, multiple color options, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging, and a solid aluminum chassis.
- Performance-wise, the passively cooled M5 MacBook Air delivers strong single-core and GPU performance, suitable for creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, but may throttle under sustained heavy loads compared to the actively cooled MacBook Pro.
- Overall, the MacBook Air with M5 is a highly portable, well-made machine ideal for photographers and everyday users, though power users needing more RAM or sustained performance may prefer the MacBook Pro.
