Apple M5 MacBook Air plans: What we know now is that the M5 MacBook Pro is here
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld expects the M5 MacBook Air to launch in spring 2026 as primarily a processor refresh with Apple’s new M5 chip with significant improvements in AI performance.
- The upcoming models are expected to feature 16GB of RAM, 256GB of base storage and Thunderbolt 4 ports as standard, while keeping the current design unchanged.
- Pricing remains uncertain due to potential tariffs, though Apple may sell M4 and M5 versions alongside the M5, likely starting at $1,099.
M5 MacBook Air: In summary
- The M5 MacBook Air is expected to launch in spring 2026.
- Refreshing the processor with the expected new M5 chip.
- No other design or specification changes are expected.
- UK and European customers will likely need to purchase their own power adapter.
Now that the M5 MacBook Pro is here, it’s only a matter of time before the M5 MacBook Air arrives. There is likely to be a delay of several months between the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro and the M5 MacBook Air, so we expect to see the M5 MacBook Air in the first half of 2026.
A spring launch seems most likely: Apple’s M4 MacBook Air was released in March 2024, about a year after the M3 version was released, and Apple seems to be on a yearly cycle with the MacBook Air. We expect that the next generation MacBook Air could be released in the spring of 2026.
We can get a good idea of what to expect now that the M5 chip has arrived on the scene, with Apple describing the M5 as a “big leap” in AI performance. The M5 features a new 10-core GPU architecture with a Neural Accelerator in each core, which Apple says means it can provide “more than 4x the GPU processing power compared to the M4.”
How these gains translate to the MacBook Air remains to be seen, as the MacBook Air is typically slightly less powerful than the equivalent MacBook Pro due to cooling space limitations. We’ll be running tests on the M5 chip soon, so we’ll get a better idea of what to expect.
This article will track what’s being written and rumored about the upcoming MacBook Air, as well as offer perspective based on Apple’s current lineup.
M5 MacBook Air: Specs
For the M4 MacBook Air, Apple upgraded the built-in camera to 12MP Center Stage and the ports from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4.
With all those recent changes in mind, the M5 MacBook Air doesn’t have anything else that clearly needs an upgrade. So the new MacBook Air is likely to be a bit more than just a processor refresh.
We can get an idea of what to expect based on the existing M4 MacBook Air and the new M5 MacBook Pro.
As usual, the entry-level MacBook Air’s specs will likely include a GPU with fewer cores, and the mid-range MacBook Air will likely match the entry-level MacBook Pro’s specs, but with half the storage.
That’s one spec we’d like to see change: the 256GB SSD is on the small side. However, given how long it took Apple to get rid of the 8GB RAM configuration, Apple may stick with the base 256GB SSD model for a few more generations.
All models will start with the 16GB RAM configuration, as it has been since Apple introduced it midway through the M3 cycle (October 2024).
So expect the following:
- M5 with 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4
- M5 with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4
- M5 with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4
We’ll include that information here as we compare the M5 chip, but expect gains on the M4 chip.
Build-to-order options for up to 32GB of memory will also be available. It’s unknown if the 4TB SSD option that’s now available on the M5 MacBook Pro will be available, but we don’t expect it.
In the UK and Europe, Apple left the power adapter out of the box, so it’s likely that the MacBook Air will do the same when it launches.
In July, AppleInsider reported that the codenames for the new laptops were J813 (13-inch Air) and J815 (15-inch Air).
MacRumors reported in December 2025 that references to the M5 MacBook Air appeared in a set of leaked Apple files.
M5 MacBook Air: Design
The current design for the MacBook Air was introduced in 2022. Since it’s only a few years old, we don’t expect it to change with the release of the M5.
With the M4 MacBook Air, Apple introduced Sky Blue to replace Space Grey, but it’s unlikely we’ll see any new colors this generation.
Apple introduced Sky Blue as a color option with the M4 MacBook Air.
Eugene Wegmann
M5 MacBook Air: Display
Rumors have reported the company’s plans to implement OLED displays in its MacBooks, with the MacBook Pro getting the new display first, but that likely won’t happen until 2026.
The MacBook Air could follow in 2027, but it’s also possible that Apple will continue to offer a standard Liquid Retina display to keep the lines separate, like with the iPhone and iPad.
M5 MacBook Air: Release date
- It is expected in the first half of 2026
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in March 2025 that Apple was working on an M5 MacBook Air, but did not mention when it would be ready. But we can guess based on the availability of the M5 series chips that are now available in the M5 iPad Pro and M5 MacBook Pro.
There is likely to be a delay of several months between the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro and the M5 MacBook Air, so we expect to see the M5 MacBook Air in the first half of 2026.
A new MacBook Air could arrive even sooner: On September 28, 2025, Gurman announced that various M5 models would arrive between “the end of the year and the first quarter of next year”, and listed the M5 MacBook Air as well as the M5 MacBook Pro, both of which he said were “close to mass production”.
On October 16, Gurman announced that the M5 MacBook Air is scheduled for release in spring 2026.
M5 MacBook Air: Price
We don’t expect prices to change, especially since MacBook Pro prices haven’t changed.
When Apple launched the M4 MacBook Air, it also cut the price of all models by $100, bringing the base model down to $999.
We haven’t read any pricing reports for the M5 MacBook Air. Apple will likely offer similar configurations to the M4, but it remains to be seen if the new lower prices will stick. The threat of tariffs from the US government is a looming issue that could affect prices. Apple could also keep the M4 at $999 and start the M5 Airs at $1,099 as before.
Here are the prices for the current standard M4 MacBook Air configurations.
| MacBook Air model | OUR | United Kingdom | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 inches, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD | 999 dollars | £999 | $1,399 | $1,699 |
| 13 inches, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD | $1,199 | £1,199 | $1,699 | $1,999 |
| 13 inches, 24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD | $1,399 | £1,399 | $1,999 | $2,299 |
| 15 inches, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD | $1,199 | £1,199 | $1,699 | $2,099 |
| 15 inches, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD | $1,399 | £1,399 | $1,999 | $2,399 |
| 15 inches, 24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD | $1,599 | £1,599 | $2,299 | $2,699 |