MacBook Air · Apple Silicon · 2026
MacBook Air (M5)
The Air’s M5 refresh keeps the familiar 13- and 15-inch designs while moving Apple’s most popular laptop to the latest Apple Silicon generation.
Current-generation Apple Silicon update to the fanless MacBook Air line.
MacBook Air (M5): key facts
When was the MacBook Air (M5) released?
The MacBook Air (M5) arrived on March 11, 2026.
How much did the MacBook Air (M5) cost?
The MacBook Air (M5) launched at $999 in 2026, about $1,009 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple M5 at 4.60 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, 13.6" or 15.3" Liquid Retina display.
Why does the MacBook Air (M5) matter?
Current-generation Apple Silicon update to the fanless MacBook Air line.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple M5 · 4.60 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 10 |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB (up to 32 GB) |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Display | 13.6" or 15.3" Liquid Retina |
| GPU | Apple integrated GPU |
| Ports | Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, MagSafe 3 |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Desktop computer |
| Operating system | macOS |
| Released | March 11, 2026 |
| Discontinued | — |
| Launch price | $999 |
How the MacBook Air (M5) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 1.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 4.60 GHz, the clock is roughly 0.7× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 131,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $999 in 2026, about $1,009 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple MacBook Air technical specifications, Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Open the MacBook Air (M5) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11