The new M5 MacBook Air has finally arrived, and initial reviews are out. Apple’s mid-tier laptop is now positioned between the budget-friendly MacBook Neo and the high-end MacBook Pro. Despite its lower price point, the M5 MacBook Air is a powerhouse in its own right.
Reviews have highlighted several key areas of improvement over the previous generation M4 model. In terms of CPU performance, the M5 scored well on Geekbench 6, with a multi-core result of 17,276 – a significant jump from last year’s model. This translates to faster video editing and processing tasks.
The M5 also boasts a faster SSD, which is claimed to be up to 2x faster than its predecessor but has been confirmed by reviewers to be even more impressive. Tests have shown read speed improvements of 125% and write speed improvements of 219%, making the storage performance significantly better.
For those with older MacBook Air models (M2 or earlier), the M5 offers a substantial upgrade in terms of chip headroom, memory bandwidth, and storage baseline. This makes it an attractive option for users who require more processing power and responsiveness.
However, reviewers note that the M5 is not meant to entice users of the M4 MacBook Air, as there are only minor changes between the two models. Nonetheless, those looking to upgrade from an older model may find the M5’s performance and features to be a worthwhile investment.
The question now is: should you upgrade to the new M5 MacBook Air? With its powerful performance, faster storage, and improved overall responsiveness, it’s definitely worth considering for those in need of a boost.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/10/m5-macbook-air-reviews-performance-takes-another-leap