Apple (AAPL) Stock: New M5 MacBook Air Debuts With 512GB Base Storage at $1,099

TLDR

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Apple unveiled its latest MacBook Air featuring the M5 processor, with pricing beginning at $1,099 for the 13-inch variant
The M5 processor offers AI performance gains of up to 4x compared to M4, and reaches 9.5x faster speeds than M1
Base storage capacity has been increased to 512GB, featuring SSD speeds that are 2x faster than the prior generation
The MacBook Pro lineup equipped with M5 Pro processors begins at $2,199
Pre-ordering begins March 4, with devices shipping to customers starting March 11

Apple has revealed its newest MacBook Air powered by the M5 processor, with the 13-inch version priced at $1,099 and the 15-inch model at $1,299.

The updated MacBook Pro featuring the M5 Pro chip carries a starting price of $2,199.

Apple has introduced the new MacBook Pro
– 14” and 16” sizes
– M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
– Now starts at 1TB (M5 Pro) and 2TB storage (M5 Max)
– 2x faster SSD
– Apple N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6
– Nano-texture option
– Thunderbolt 5
– Starts at $2,199 (14” model) and… pic.twitter.com/BKHeDmseUm
— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) March 3, 2026

This latest Air model includes 512GB of base storage — twice the capacity offered with the M4 version — and can be upgraded to 4TB for the first time in the product line.

Storage performance has also received a boost, with the SSD providing twice the read/write performance of its predecessor.

Apple just dropped the new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro & M5 Max 🔥 Built for serious AI + pro workflows
Here’s what’s new:
• Up to 18-core CPU (world’s fastest CPU core)
• Next-gen GPU with Neural Accelerator in every core
• Up to 4x faster AI vs previous gen
• Up to 8x faster… pic.twitter.com/BYHMyjfN9V
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) March 3, 2026

At its core, the M5 processor includes a 10-core CPU paired with up to a 10-core GPU, with each GPU core incorporating a dedicated Neural Accelerator.

According to Apple, the chip achieves AI task performance that’s up to 4x faster than the M4, and reaches speeds up to 9.5x faster than the M1 generation.

Apple also states that web browsing performance is up to 50% quicker than PC laptops equipped with Intel Core Ultra X7 processors.

In creative applications, Apple highlights up to 6.9x faster AI-powered video enhancement in Topaz Video when compared to M1, alongside 3D rendering in Blender that’s up to 6.5x faster.

Under the Hood

The system delivers 153GB/s of memory bandwidth — representing a 28% increase over the M4 — which Apple indicates results in more fluid multitasking and quicker application launches.

The updated Air also incorporates Apple’s N1 wireless technology, bringing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 capabilities to the MacBook Air for the first time.

Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, with capability for connecting up to two external monitors.

Battery endurance remains consistent at up to 18 hours, matching previous generation models.

The construction maintains the fanless aluminum design, offered in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver finishes for both the 13-inch and 15-inch configurations.

Software Side

These laptops arrive preloaded with macOS Tahoe, which incorporates Apple Intelligence capabilities including Live Translation in Messages and enhanced Reminders functionality.

Additional Shortcuts actions now integrate directly with Apple Intelligence models, enabling automated workflows such as extracting data from PDF documents into spreadsheet applications.

A newly introduced Edge Light effect for video conferencing has been implemented, engineered to enhance facial lighting during low-light video calls.

Apple emphasizes that the M5 MacBook Air contains 55% recycled materials, including 100% recycled aluminum used in the chassis, supporting the company’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality throughout its operations by 2030.

Pre-ordering becomes available on March 4, with the refreshed MacBook Air launching in retail locations on March 11.