New MacBook Airs come with M5, double the storage, and higher starting prices
The new Air features a faster M5 chip and 512GB base storage, but the entry cost jumps to $1,099.
Apple has refreshed its MacBook Air lineup with new models powered by the M5 chip, marking a significant spec bump alongside a notable price adjustment. The most substantial change is the doubling of base storage from 256GB to 512GB, which Apple states is up to twice as fast as the storage in the previous M4 model. This upgrade, however, comes with a $100 increase in the starting price, pushing the 13-inch model to $1,099 and the 15-inch to $1,299. The new Airs are part of a broader wave of Apple announcements this week, including updated MacBook Pros and iPad Airs, leading up to a special event. Preorders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.
The new M5 chip in the MacBook Air comes in two GPU configurations: an 8-core version and a fully enabled 10-core version, which costs an extra $100. This 10-core chip is a prerequisite for upgrading to higher-tier options like 24GB or 32GB of RAM and storage up to 4TB. The CPU itself features four high-performance 'super cores' and six efficiency cores, and the laptops also include a new Apple N1 chip for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The price increase for the base model strategically creates more room in Apple's portfolio for a rumored, more affordable MacBook, which could be announced imminently. This move positions the Air as a more premium entry in the consumer laptop market.
- Base storage doubled to 512GB, claimed to be 2x faster than M4 Air storage
- Starting price increased by $100 (13-inch now $1,099, 15-inch now $1,299)
- M5 chip offers 8 or 10 GPU cores; 10-core version required for max RAM (32GB) and storage (4TB) upgrades
Why It Matters
Professionals get more capable base hardware, but the price hike shifts the value proposition and may signal a new budget MacBook.