Apple Refreshes MacBook Air with M5 Chip and Major Upgrades
Apple has officially launched the new MacBook Air, featuring the latest M5 chip, which brings significant performance enhancements and key feature updates. The base storage has been doubled to 512GB, and Wi-Fi 7 support is now included, all while retaining the iconic slim, fanless design that has made it a global favorite among laptop users.
Powerful M5 Silicon and AI Acceleration
The headline upgrade is the M5 silicon, equipped with a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. Apple claims that AI tasks are now up to four times faster compared to the previous M4 model, thanks to a Neural Accelerator integrated into each GPU core. In practical applications, this translates to up to 1.9 times faster AI video enhancement in Topaz Video and 1.5 times faster 3D rendering in Blender versus the M4 Air.
Memory bandwidth has received a 28 percent increase to 153GB/s, promising smoother multitasking and improved overall system responsiveness. Despite these performance boosts, battery life remains unchanged at up to 18 hours, matching the endurance of the M4 generation.
Enhanced Storage and Connectivity Features
Perhaps the most consumer-friendly change is the base model now shipping with 512GB of storage instead of 256GB, accompanied by an SSD that is twice as fast for read and write speeds. For the first time, users can configure storage up to 4TB, a significant advantage for creators managing large photo or video libraries.
Apple’s new N1 wireless chip introduces Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the Air lineup, offering better speeds and more reliable connections. Beyond these updates, the MacBook Air retains its successful features, including the Liquid Retina display in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, a 12MP Center Stage camera, MagSafe charging, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports with dual external display support.
The new Air runs on macOS Tahoe, which features a refreshed Liquid Glass design and deeper integration with Apple Intelligence, enhancing user experience and functionality.
Pricing and Availability in India
Pre-orders are now open, with availability starting from March 11. In India, the 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 starts at Rs 1,19,900, while the 15-inch model begins at Rs 1,44,900. Apple is also offering No Cost EMI options starting at Rs 18,317 per month with instant cashback.
For context, the previous M4 MacBook Air launched at Rs 99,900, making this a notable price increase. However, the doubled storage and advanced chip upgrade partly justify the higher cost, positioning it as a premium offering in the laptop market.
