Is the M5 Air worth it over the M4?

For everyday work the difference is small; the M5 mainly helps sustained creative tasks and AI features. Buy the M5 if you want the longest useful life, otherwise an M4 at a lower price is close.

Can I upgrade the memory or storage later?

No. Memory is unified on the chip and the SSD is soldered, so choose 24GB or 32GB and a larger SSD at purchase if you expect heavy multitasking.

How many external displays can it drive?

With the lid closed it supports up to two external displays over Thunderbolt, a step up from earlier Airs. Open, it drives one external display plus the built-in screen.

The 15-inch MacBook Air, a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W max output, and a 2 m USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable.

No. It is fanless, so it is silent but will throttle under long sustained loads such as extended video exports.

Is the 15-inch model too big to carry?

At 3.3 lb it is light for its screen size, but it is noticeably wider than the 13-inch Air. If you commute daily with a small bag, the 13-inch may suit better.

Where is the Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2026, M5) cheapest?

At PC Richard & Son, for $1,289.00, as of our latest check.

Where can I buy the Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2026, M5)?

12 stores we checked sell it, including Abt Electronics, Walmart, PC Richard & Son, Apple Education Store, UCLA Store.

Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2026, M5) Price History: Lowest $1,289.00

What reviewers say

Owners of the 15-inch Air line praise the big screen, light weight, silent fanless build and all-day battery. Common complaints are the two-port limit, the 60Hz display and the cost of upgrading memory or storage.

What people mention

DisplayMixedOwners like the size and sharpness but note it is 60Hz with no ProMotion.
PortsCriticisedTwo Thunderbolt ports force many users to carry a hub or dock.
BatteryPraisedReviewers report all-day use and long video playback.
NoisePraisedThe fanless design runs silent even under sustained load.
WeightPraisedOwners find it easy to carry for a 15-inch laptop.
UpgradesCriticisedBuyers regret that memory and storage cannot be added after purchase.

Reviews

The Best Apple MacBooks for 2026uk.pcmag.com

From Abt Electronics

15.3-inch (2880x1864) Liquid Retina LED backlit display with 500 nits brightness
Apple M5 chip with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
16GB unified memory and 512GB SSD storage
Up to 18 hours of battery life for video streaming
Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, MagSafe 3 charging port and 3.5 mm headphone jack
12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, three-mic array and four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos

Materials: Built-in 66.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Fit: Height 0.45 in, width 13.4 in, depth 9.35 in; unit weight 3.3 lbs
Shipping: Free shipping
In the box: 15-inch MacBook Air, 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max, USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable (2 m)

About the Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2026, M5)

The 15-inch MacBook Air is a thin, portable laptop powered by the Apple M5 chip, which has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. It supports Apple Intelligence and uses fast SSD storage.

The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display is LED backlit and reaches 500 nits of brightness. The 12MP Center Stage camera includes Desk View. A three-mic array and a four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos handle calls and playback.

Battery life is up to 18 hours of video streaming. It has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, a MagSafe 3 charging port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Processor: Apple M5 chip, 10-core CPU
Graphics: 10-core GPU
Memory: 16GB unified memory; 24GB and 32GB also listed
Memory bandwidth: 153 GB/s
Storage: SSD, starting at 512GB
Display: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina, LED backlit, 2880 x 1864, 500 nits
Camera: 12MP Center Stage with Desk View
Audio: Four-speaker system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos; three-mic array
Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1 x MagSafe 3, 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack
Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
Security: Fingerprint scan
Battery: 66.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer; up to 18 hours of video streaming
Operating system: Mac OS