Apple MacBook Air M1 vs Apple MacBook Air 15" M5

The MacBook Air 15 with M5 is the stronger machine on every spec that matters: a newer chip, a bigger and sharper screen, four times the memory and storage, Wi-Fi 7, and a 12MP Center Stage camera. The M1 Air is the better fit for light work, students and travel, because it is far lighter and its fanless design stays silent. Owners of the M1 still praise its battery and reliability, but it is several chip generations behind and its 8GB of memory and 256GB drive fill up fast. Buy the M5 if you edit photos or video, run many apps at once, or keep a large library; buy the M1 if portability and simple tasks are the whole job.

• Choose the MacBook Air M1 if you want a light, silent laptop for browsing, writing, video calls and schoolwork, and you do not need to keep large files or many apps open at once.
• Choose the MacBook Air 15 with M5 if you multitask heavily, edit creative work, or want a large screen and room for a big library, and you accept the extra weight.