Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)

The larger 15.3-inch MacBook Air with the same fanless M5 design, a 66.5 Wh battery and 2,880 x 1,864 display.

  • Everyday, Student
  • 15.3"
  • Apple M5 10-core GPU
  • Apple M5 (10-core CPU)
  • 1.51 kg

PCPR score

8.0

Great

Best price we’ve seen

$1,799Nov 9

Checked recently. Confirm at the retailer.

R1

The short version

The 15-inch MacBook Air shares the 13-inch model's fanless M5 platform with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB or more of unified memory and Wi-Fi 7, but adds a 15.3-inch 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina IPS panel and a 66.5 Wh battery at 1.51 kg. It suits buyers who want more screen area for spreadsheets and video without moving to a MacBook Pro. As with the 13-inch model, memory and storage are soldered, and sustained workloads will be limited by the fanless design.

Pros

  • 15.3-inch 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina IPS display with 500 nits and P3 color, per Apple
  • 66.5 Wh battery, larger than the 13-inch model's 53.8 Wh cell
  • 10-core GPU standard on the 15-inch model
  • Fanless and silent like the 13-inch version

Cons

  • Fanless design limits long sustained workloads, as seen on the 13-inch model
  • RAM and SSD cannot be upgraded later
  • Only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, no HDMI or SD slot

Best for

  • Buyers who want more screen area without a MacBook Pro
  • Students and office workers who use multiple windows

SYS1

Configurations

ConfigurationProcessorGraphicsMemoryStoragePrice
M5 10-core GPU · 16GB · 1TBApple M5 (10-core CPU)Apple M5 10-core GPU16 GB1 TB$1,799
M5 10-core GPU · 24GB · 1TBApple M5 (10-core CPU)Apple M5 10-core GPU24 GB1 TB$1,999

J5

What you can upgrade later

Memory

Unconfirmed

The maker doesn’t publish its slot layout. Check before buying more memory.

Browse memory

Storage

Unconfirmed

Free storage slots aren’t published for this model.

Browse storage

Graphics card

Unconfirmed

Maximum card length isn’t published.

Browse graphics card

Processor

Unconfirmed

A drop-in upgrade depends on the socket and the maker’s BIOS. Check the board before buying a CPU.

Browse processor

Power supply

Unconfirmed

The maker doesn’t say whether the PSU is standard.

Browse power supply

Motherboard

Unconfirmed

The maker doesn’t say whether the board is standard.

Browse motherboard

J3

Full specifications

Core

Built for
Everyday, Student
Processor
Apple M5 (10-core CPU)
Graphics
Apple M5 10-core GPU

Display

Screen size
15.3"
Resolution
2880 x 1864
Panel
IPS
Brightness
500 nits

Memory

Memory
16 GB
Memory type
Unified memory
Storage
1,000 GB

Fit

Memory upgradable
No

Power

Battery
66.5 Wh

Physical

Weight
1.51 kg

Connectivity

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7

Ports & I/O

Thunderbolt / USB4
Yes
Ports
2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, 40 Gb/s), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack

Software

Operating system
macOS

Compatibility notes

  • Same charging and external display behaviour as the 13-inch Air: fast charging needs a 70 W or higher USB-C PD source, per Apple
  • Supports up to two external displays over Thunderbolt/USB-C

P1

Where to buy

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. Prices move quickly, so confirm the final price at the retailer.

AV1

Video reviews

Overview · Review

M5 MacBook Air Review for Software Engineers & Developers

Simon Lee

A developer uses the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air as a daily machine and weighs whether engineers still need a MacBook Pro.

Positive · Review

MacBook Air M5: The Must Buy Laptop of 2026

Just Josh

Review of the MacBook Air M5 in 13 and 15-inch versions, calling it a must-buy laptop of 2026.

AV2

What reviewers and owners say

  • Tom's Guide

    Positive

    Tom's Guide praises the 15-inch M5 Air's fast performance, doubled base storage, Wi-Fi 7, vivid display and battery life, but notes the $100 price bump brings only modest gains over the M4.

    4.5/5 · Review

    Read the source

Summaries are written in our words. Follow the links for each source’s own review.

R9

Common questions

Is the 15-inch Air faster than the 13-inch?

Both use the same M5 chip family; Apple gives the 15-inch model a 10-core GPU as standard and a larger 66.5 Wh battery, and the fanless cooling limits both under long loads.

Can the memory be upgraded later?

No. Tom's Hardware confirmed the 13-inch M5 Air's RAM and SSD are soldered down, and the 15-inch uses the same design approach, so capacity has to be chosen at purchase.

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