New M5 MacBook Air Arrives: Is It Time to Upgrade Your Older Model?

Apple recently unveiled its latest M5 MacBook Air, alongside updates to the MacBook Pro line and the introduction of the budget-friendly MacBook Neo. This fresh wave of powerful machines prompts many users to consider whether it's time to replace their existing MacBook. Our editorial team breaks down the generational differences to help you decide.

The M5 MacBook Air: What's New?

The M5 MacBook Air retains the familiar design, display options, and color choices of its predecessors. The significant enhancements are internal, centered around the new M5 processor. This chip features 10 CPU cores and 8 or 10 GPU cores, mirroring the M4's core count but introducing a new GPU architecture. This design integrates a neural accelerator on each core, boosting AI and ray-tracing capabilities for enhanced performance in demanding applications and games.

Other key upgrades include a raised minimum storage capacity to 512GB, eliminating the smaller 256GB option. The starting price has increased by $100, now $1,099 for the 13-inch and $1,299 for the 15-inch model, though this effectively makes the 512GB configuration $100 cheaper than its M4 equivalent. Additionally, the M5 chip supports faster unified memory (153GBps bandwidth), and its SSDs boast double the read and write speeds of the M4 model. Connectivity also sees an improvement with Apple's N1 wireless chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

For Intel MacBook Air Owners: A Clear Choice

If you are currently using an Intel-based MacBook from the last decade, the recommendation is straightforward: an upgrade to the new M5 MacBook Air is highly advised. Both the 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch M5 models offer larger displays than the older 13.3-inch Intel Air and deliver dramatically superior performance across all metrics, providing a transformative user experience.

M4 MacBook Air Users: Hold Off

Owners of the M4 MacBook Air will find the M5 model to be an evolutionary rather than revolutionary upgrade. Performance gains are modest, ranging from approximately 9% to 18% faster in benchmark tests. The design remains identical, and M-series MacBooks already offer exceptional battery life, typically exceeding 15 hours. The only compelling reason to upgrade from an M4 would be a desire to transition from the 13-inch to the 15-inch model.

Considering the M4's continued strong performance, holding onto your current M4 MacBook Air for at least another year is recommended. The 15-inch M4 model, available at a discount, remains a strong value proposition, costing significantly less than the new M5 equivalent. The 13-inch M4, however, has a smaller price difference to the M5, making the M5 a slightly more appealing choice if buying new.

M3 MacBook Air Users: No Urgent Need

While the M5 Air demonstrates a more substantial performance leap over the M3 model—up to 41% faster in single-core and 71% faster in multi-core tests—most users with a two-year-old M3 Air will not find an urgent need to upgrade. Both the M3 and M5 chips are built on the 3-nanometer process, and the M3 was the first to introduce hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shaders to the GPU.

Given that Apple has maintained the same MacBook Air design since the M2 model in 2022, there's a strong possibility that the forthcoming M6 Air could bring a significant design refresh and potentially even greater performance and efficiency improvements from a new manufacturing process. Waiting for the next generation might prove more beneficial for M3 owners.

M2 MacBook Air Users: Consider the Upgrade

The M2 MacBook Air, released in 2022 with a new design and 13.6-inch display (followed by a 15-inch model in 2023), represents the last generation built on the 5-nanometer process before the transition to 3nm. This results in a more considerable performance gap with the M5, which is up to 59% faster in single-core and 71% faster in multi-core benchmarks.

This notable performance difference, combined with the option to move to a larger 15-inch display if you originally purchased the 13-inch M2 model, makes an upgrade to the M5 Air a more justifiable decision for M2 owners. However, if you are content with your 15-inch M2 model, waiting one more year for a potential M6 and design refresh could still be a viable strategy.

M1 MacBook Air Users: Time to Upgrade

For those who have diligently held onto their M1 MacBook Air since its 2020 debut, the time for an upgrade has definitively arrived. The M5 Air, or even a discounted M4 model, will offer a dramatically faster experience. Beyond raw performance, upgrading will also provide you with the sleeker, flatter design introduced with the M2 Air and the option of a larger 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch display, moving beyond the M1's 13.3-inch screen. Even the newer, budget-friendly MacBook Neo offers superior performance to the M1 Air.

Key Takeaways

  • The M5 MacBook Air introduces internal upgrades including the new M5 chip with enhanced AI and ray-tracing, faster unified memory, Wi-Fi 7, and a standard 512GB SSD.
  • The M5 MacBook Air maintains the same physical design and display sizes as the M2, M3, and M4 generations.
  • Owners of older Intel-based MacBook Airs should upgrade for substantial improvements in performance and display quality.
  • For M4 and M3 MacBook Air users, upgrading is generally not necessary due to incremental performance gains and the potential for larger advancements with future generations (M6 and possible design refresh).
  • M2 MacBook Air owners have a stronger case for upgrading, benefiting from a significant performance boost due to the chip's move to a 3nm process, and the option for a larger display.
  • M1 MacBook Air users are strongly encouraged to upgrade to experience a major leap in speed, a modern design, and larger display options.
Olley News Insight: The tech market often presents incremental updates. For Apple's MacBook Air line, the decision to upgrade hinges less on annual improvements and more on the generational leap in performance and features relative to your current model's age. Consider your personal use case and budget against these insights before making a purchase.