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Deal.ai › Compare

Apple MacBook Air 15" M5 vs Apple MacBook Air M1 13"

Buy the 15-inch M5 Air if you want one machine that handles heavy multitasking, large photo and video libraries, and years of macOS updates without strain. The 13-inch M1 Air is the better pick for a student or light office user who mostly browses, writes and streams, and who wants the smallest, lightest MacBook. The M5 wins clearly on chip, memory, storage, screen size and wireless; the M1 still delivers the same 18-hour battery rating and a Retina display in a 2.8 lb body, and its 4.2-out-of-5 owner rating shows it holds up for basic work.

  • Choose the 15-inch MacBook Air M5 if you run Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365 with many tabs, or large local files and want a big screen with 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage.
  • Choose the 13-inch MacBook Air M1 if your work is web, email, documents and streaming, and you want the lightest, most portable MacBook for school or travel.

Prices

  • Apple MacBook Air 15" M5: $2,284.07 at Walmart (last seen Nov 10)
  • Apple MacBook Air M1 13": $599.00 at Walmart (last seen Nov 5)
  • Difference: the Apple MacBook Air M1 13" is $1,685.07 cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air 15" M5 at the latest prices (Nov 5 and Nov 10)
Apple
Apple CTO MacBook Air 15" with M5 Chip, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, 40W Dynamic

Apple MacBook Air 15" M5

Apple CTO MacBook Air 15" with M5 Chip, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, 40W Dynamic

$2,284.07at WalmartChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Walmart
Pros
  • 32GB memory keeps many apps and browser tabs open without slowdown
  • 1TB SSD holds large photo, video and project files
  • 15.3-inch 500-nit display gives room for side-by-side windows
  • Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and a 12MP Center Stage camera
  • M5 GPU adds ray tracing and faster AI and creative app performance
Cons
  • At 5.42 lbs it is heavy for daily carrying
  • Only two Thunderbolt ports, so docks and hubs are likely
  • Memory and storage are fixed and cannot be upgraded later
Apple
Apple Macbook Air MGN63LL/A 13.3 inch M1 Octa-Core 8GB RAM 256GB Storage

Apple MacBook Air M1 13"

Apple Macbook Air MGN63LL/A 13.3 inch M1 Octa-Core 8GB RAM 256GB Storage

4.2(6,529 ratings)
$599.00at WalmartChecked Nov 5
See all prices and details
Visit Walmart
Pros
  • 2.8 lb body is easy to carry all day
  • Same 18-hour battery rating as the larger Air
  • M1 chip is efficient for web, office and streaming work
  • Retina display and fanless design at the entry level
  • Long software support history and a large owner base
Cons
  • 8GB memory limits heavy multitasking and creative apps
  • 256GB storage fills quickly with photos, video or games
  • Older M1 chip, Wi-Fi 6 and an older camera
  • 13.3-inch screen is cramped for side-by-side work

What separates them

Apple MacBook Air 15" M5Apple MacBook Air M1 13"
ChipApple M5, 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU with hardware ray tracing and a Neural Accelerator per GPU coreApple M1, 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU with a 16-core Neural Engine
Memory32GB unified memory, fixed at purchase8GB unified memory, not upgradeable
Storage1TB SSD256GB SSD
Display15.3-inch Liquid Retina, 2880 x 1864, 500 nits13.3-inch Retina, 60Hz
Weight and size5.42 lbs, thicker 15-inch chassis2.8 lbs, 13.3-inch chassis that fits small bags
WirelessWi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging, 12MP Center Stage cameraTwo Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, 720p camera
Battery ratingUp to 18 hoursUp to 18 hours

Price history

$599.00$379.00
Oct 28Nov 5
  • Apple MacBook Air M1 13": lowest $379.00 on Oct 30 at Walmart; $599.00 on Nov 5.

Prices at every store

Apple MacBook Air 15" M5

  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by AdoramaReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.

    $2,284.07+ $13.37 shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Walmart
Prices and history →

Apple MacBook Air M1 13"

  • AmazonRefurbished

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $579.00Checked Nov 1
    Visit Amazon
  • WalmartNew

    Availability unknown

    $599.00Checked Nov 5
    Visit Walmart
  • Best BuyNew

    Availability unknown

    $779.95Checked Nov 2
    Visit Best Buy
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknown

    $779.99Checked Nov 2
    Visit eBay

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 4 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecApple MacBook Air 15" M5Apple MacBook Air M1 13"
colorBlueBlue
Display typeLiquid Retina displayLED
Battery lifeUp To 18 Hours18 h
WirelessWi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Weight5.42 lbs (2.46 kg)2.8 lb
Display size15.3-Inch—
Display resolution2880 x 1864—
Brightness500—
ChipApple M5 Chip With 10-Core CPU And 10-Core GPU—
Memory32GB Unified Memory—
Storage1TB SSD Storage—
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4/USB-C Ports—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecApple MacBook Air 15" M5Apple MacBook Air M1 13"
Camera12MP Center Stage Camera—
actual_color—Space Gray
Brand—Apple
Proc. brand—Apple
Processor—Apple M1
OS—Mac OS
RAM memory—8 GB
Screen size—13.3 in
HD type—Solid State
HD capacity—256 GB

What reviewers say

Apple MacBook Air 15" M5

Owners of the 15-inch Air praise the large screen, silent operation and all-day battery, and most find the M-series chip fast enough for everyday work. Critics note the weight, the two-port limit and that long export or render jobs slow down without a fan.

What people mention
  • PerformancePraisedOwners say the M5 chip handles everyday apps and multitasking without lag.
  • Fanless designMixedReviewers like the silence but note that long heavy jobs slow down without a fan.
  • Battery lifePraisedOwners report getting through a full workday on one charge.
  • DisplayPraisedThe 15.3-inch screen is called bright and sharp, with room for side-by-side windows.

Apple MacBook Air M1 13"

  • 4.2 / 56,529 ratings

Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 6,529 ratings, and Best Buy's page cites 4.9 out of 5 across 12,559 reviews. Owners mostly praise the battery, silence and everyday speed; the recurring complaints are the 8GB memory ceiling and small base storage.

What people mention
  • Battery lifePraisedOwners report getting through a full day of work on one charge.
  • Fanless designPraisedReviewers note it stays silent because it has no fan.
  • MemoryCriticised

Questions and answers

Which is better for video editing?
The 15-inch M5. Its 10-core GPU, 32GB of memory and 1TB SSD handle 4K timelines and large media libraries that would strain the M1's 8GB of memory and 256GB drive.
Which lasts longer?
The M5 has more headroom for future apps and macOS versions because of its newer chip and larger memory. The M1 still works well for basic tasks, but 8GB of memory will feel tight sooner.
Is the M5 worth stepping up to from the M1?
Yes if you edit media, run many apps at once or want a bigger screen. No if you mainly browse, write and stream, where the M1 remains capable.
Which is easier to carry?
The 13-inch M1 at 2.8 lbs is far easier to carry than the 5.42 lb 15-inch M5. If portability is the priority, pick the M1.
Do both have the same battery life?
Both are rated up to 18 hours. Real-world results vary with screen brightness and workload, and the larger, brighter M5 screen draws more power.
Can I upgrade memory or storage later?
No. Both MacBook Air models have soldered memory and storage, so choose the configuration you need at purchase.

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  • Apple CTO MacBook Air 15" with M5 Chip, 10-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, 40W Dynamic vs Apple 13-inch MacBook Air: Apple M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 16GB, 256GB SSD - Space Gray
  • Apple Macbook Air MGN63LL/A 13.3 inch M1 Octa-Core 8GB RAM 256GB Storage vs Apple 13-inch MacBook Air: M4 w/ 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 512GB SSD - Silver - MW0X3LL/A
  • Apple Macbook Air MGN63LL/A 13.3 inch M1 Octa-Core 8GB RAM 256GB Storage vs MacBook Air (2025) M4
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Graphic card
—
Integrated Graphics
Laptop type—MacBooks
Rec. use—College, Business, Photo Editing, Music, School…
Resolution—WQXGA
Display—Retina Display
Core count—8
Proc. speed—3.2 GHz
Video memory—8 GB
Color category—Gray
Refresh rate—60 Hz
Max RAM—8 GB
Material—1
Manufacturer—Apple
Data Storage—128 GB
Solid State Drive Capacity—128 GB
Touchscreen—N
Input / Output Quantity—1
Size Descriptor—Thin
Buyers say 8GB of unified memory is tight with many browser tabs or editing apps, and it cannot be upgraded.
  • StorageCriticisedThe 256GB SSD is called small for photo and video libraries.