MacBook Air M5 review: a small update for the ‘just right’ Mac
TL;DR
The 2026 MacBook Air M5 offers minor updates like the M5 chip and Wi-Fi 7, maintaining its excellence but at a higher price. The new MacBook Neo provides a cheaper alternative without overshadowing the Air's superior capabilities.
Not much has changed in the new MacBook Air for 2026: It now has the M5 chip, Wi-Fi 7, and faster storage starting at 512GB instead of 256GB. It's just as outstanding a computer as last year's model, even if it's a shame it's $100 more expensive.
The bigger change has happened to the Air. The MacBook Neo now exists, and it's an awesome little computer for $500 less than the base 13-inch Air. The Neo's existence doesn't invalidate the Air or make it pointless, and I doubt the Neo will cannibalize too much of the Air's sales. The Air is a more capable, faster, and sleeker machine. Having the Neo sit beneath it does paint it in a new light, t …