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MacBook Air 15" M5 (2026)
MacBook AirUpdated 18 Apr 2026

MacBook Air 15" M5 (2026)

Perfect balance of performance and portability with the new M5 chip

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4.9/ 5
£1,169.97from Amazon
Buy now →
🔋22 hours battery
⚖️1.45 kg

Our Scores

Performance9.2/10
Display9.5/10
Battery Life9.7/10
Build Quality9.5/10
Value9.8/10
Overall average9.5/10

Pros

  • Powerful M5 chip delivers Pro-level performance in an Air body
  • Incredibly lightweight at just 1.45 kg
  • Beautiful 15.3" Liquid Retina display with 120Hz
  • Outstanding 22-hour battery life
  • Fanless design remains completely silent
  • Excellent value for the performance offered

Cons

  • Limited to 24GB RAM maximum
  • Single external display support when lid closed
  • Can throttle during extended heavy tasks

Where to Buy

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Full Review

The 2026 MacBook Air 15" with M5 is the laptop most people should buy. It perfectly balances performance, portability, and value, making it ideal for students, creative professionals, and everyday users. The M5 chip is a significant upgrade over the M4. With a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, it delivers performance that rivals many Pro models from just a year ago. Video editing, photo processing, and software development all feel snappy and responsive. The new efficiency cores handle background tasks brilliantly, extending battery life even further. The display has been upgraded to 120Hz, making scrolling and animations incredibly smooth. The Liquid Retina panel is bright, colorful, and perfect for content consumption and creation. At 15.3 inches, it provides ample screen real estate without feeling unwieldy. Despite the larger screen, the Air remains incredibly portable at just 1.45 kg. The fanless design means it's completely silent, even under load. Battery life is exceptional - easily lasting through a full day of work and then some. At £1,299, the MacBook Air 15" M5 offers incredible value. It's powerful enough for professional work, portable enough for daily carry, and efficient enough to last all day. For most users, this is the perfect laptop.

Buy the MacBook Air 15" M5 (2026) on Amazon for £1,169.97.

Specifications

Processor
Apple M5 (10-core CPU)
GPU
10-core GPU
RAM
Up to 24GB unified memory
Storage
Up to 2TB SSD
Display
15.3" Liquid Retina @ 120Hz
Battery
Up to 22 hours
Weight
1.45 kg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MacBook Air 15" M5 (2026) worth the price?

MacBook Air 15" M5 (2026) scores 9.8/10 for value at £1,169.97. It's good value for money — the specs justify the price. Performance is rated 9.2/10.

How long does the MacBook Air 15" M5 (2026) battery last?

Real-world battery life on the MacBook Air 15" M5 (2026) is 22 hours. That's based on typical mixed use — browsing, documents, and light media.

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Neil Andrews

Reviewed by Neil Andrews

Founder & Lead Reviewer, Best Laptop Review UK

Software developer and DevOps engineer with 20+ years of professional experience across software development, database administration, and infrastructure. Neil has been building and repairing computers since the early 1990s and uses Linux, Windows, and macOS daily.

20+ yrs software developmentDevOps & infrastructure engineeringLinux, Windows & macOS daily userHardware builder & repair experience

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