Apple’s MacBook Air keeps getting better, but not every upgrade is worth your money.
When Apple introduced the M1 MacBook Air in 2020, it completely changed expectations for thin and lightweight laptops. Fast-forward to today, and we now have five generations of Apple Silicon MacBook Airs: M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5.
On paper, each new generation promises faster performance, better efficiency, and new features. But in real-world use, how different are they actually?
If you’re wondering whether to upgrade your current MacBook Air or buy a new one, here’s what you need to know.
Watch the full side-by-side comparison of every MacBook Air generation
The Design Has Barely Changed Since M2
The biggest visual redesign happened when Apple launched the M2 MacBook Air.
Compared to the original M1 design, Apple introduced:
- A brighter display
- Improved webcam
- Better speakers
- Larger function keys
- Bigger trackpad
- MagSafe charging
- A more modern flat-edge design
Since then, the M2, M3, M4, and M5 MacBook Air models have looked almost identical.
Most users won’t notice any major physical differences between these newer generations.
The only notable change is that newer models offer slightly improved webcam quality, while M4 and M5 models support Center Stage, which automatically keeps you centered during video calls.
External Monitor Support Has Improved
One of the biggest limitations of early Apple Silicon MacBooks was external display support.
Here’s how it evolved:
M1 MacBook Air
- Supports only one external display
M2 MacBook Air
- Still limited to one external display
M3 MacBook Air
- Supports two external displays, but only when the laptop lid is closed
M4 and M5 MacBook Air
- Support two external displays while still using the built-in screen
For professionals who work with multiple monitors, this is a significant improvement.
The M5’s Biggest Upgrade Isn’t Performance
Most people expect a new chip to be the headline feature.
Surprisingly, the most important upgrade in the M5 MacBook Air may actually be storage.
The base model now includes:
- 16GB unified memory
- 512GB SSD storage
Compared to older base models that shipped with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSDs, this is a huge improvement for everyday users.
More storage means fewer upgrade costs, while 16GB RAM provides much better multitasking performance and future-proofing.
For many buyers, this upgrade alone is more valuable than the raw CPU improvements.
Everyday Performance: M1 Is Still Shockingly Good
This may surprise some people.
For common tasks such as:
- Web browsing
- Microsoft Office
- Google Docs
- Streaming videos
- Note-taking
- Light productivity work
the difference between M1 and M5 is surprisingly small.
Even after several generations of improvements, the M1 MacBook Air still feels fast for basic computing.
Applications launch quickly.
Websites load rapidly.
System responsiveness remains excellent.
Unless you place multiple machines side by side, it’s difficult to notice major differences during normal use.
That’s a testament to how far ahead the original M1 chip was when it launched. If you’re curious how the M1 Air compares against Apple’s newest budget option, our M1 MacBook Air vs MacBook Neo comparison covers that matchup in detail.
See how each generation performs in real-world everyday tasks
Where Newer Models Start Pulling Ahead
The story changes once workloads become heavier.
If your typical day includes:
- 30–40 browser tabs
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Photoshop
- Multiple productivity apps
- Large spreadsheets
then RAM becomes increasingly important.
Older base models with 8GB memory can start feeling constrained.
The newer 16GB configurations found in recent MacBook Airs handle multitasking far better.
You may notice:
- Fewer browser tab reloads
- Smoother app switching
- Better responsiveness under load
- Improved performance when multiple applications run simultaneously
The improvement isn’t dramatic, but it’s noticeable.
Faster SSDs Matter More Than You Think
The M5’s 512GB SSD is significantly faster than many earlier base-model SSDs.
While you won’t notice this every day, it helps with:
- Large file transfers
- App installation
- System responsiveness
- Heavy multitasking
When your Mac runs low on available RAM, macOS temporarily uses storage as virtual memory through a process called memory swapping.
A faster SSD makes this process less noticeable and helps maintain smooth performance.
CPU Performance Continues to Improve
Every generation delivers better CPU performance than the last.
The gains are especially noticeable in professional workloads such as:
- Software development
- Code compilation
- Data processing
- Complex productivity tasks
- Content creation
Short tasks complete faster, while larger workloads benefit from improved multi-core performance.
Developers using Xcode, for example, will appreciate faster build times compared to older models.
However, for casual users, these gains may not justify an immediate upgrade.
AI Performance Is Improving, But Does It Matter Yet?
Apple has heavily promoted its Neural Engine and AI capabilities.
Every Apple Silicon chip includes dedicated hardware designed for machine learning and AI workloads.
While the M4 and M5 offer stronger AI performance than earlier generations, the practical impact remains limited for many users today.
Most people still spend far more time using browsers, productivity apps, and communication tools than AI-powered features.
As AI software evolves, these improvements may become more meaningful.
For now, they’re not a major reason to upgrade.
Creative Workflows: Small Improvements for Most People
If you edit photos or videos occasionally, almost every Apple Silicon MacBook Air performs well.
Applications such as:
- Final Cut Pro
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- DaVinci Resolve
- Photoshop
run surprisingly well across all generations.
For basic video editing, the experience remains excellent even on older models.
The biggest differences appear when working with:
- Large projects
- Complex effects
- Noise reduction
- High-resolution footage
- Professional production workflows
Content creators who regularly push their machines may appreciate newer models, but casual creators probably won’t notice a dramatic difference.
Gaming Has Improved More Than Expected
Mac gaming has historically been an afterthought.
That’s beginning to change.
Starting with the M3 generation, Apple introduced hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
This technology significantly improves graphics performance in supported games and 3D applications.
The M3, M4, and M5 all benefit from these advancements, while the M5 delivers the strongest gaming performance of the group.
Although a MacBook Air isn’t designed as a gaming laptop, newer generations handle modern games much better than many people expect.
Heat and Cooling
Every MacBook Air uses a fanless design.
That means:
- Silent operation
- No fan noise
- Simpler internal design
The trade-off is heat.
During everyday tasks, all models remain cool and comfortable.
Under heavy workloads such as:
- Video rendering
- Gaming
- 3D rendering
the chassis can become noticeably warm.
Fortunately, thermal behavior remains fairly consistent across generations.
For typical productivity work, heat is rarely an issue.
Battery Life Keeps Getting Better
Battery life has always been one of the MacBook Air’s greatest strengths.
While Apple claims similar battery performance across generations, real-world testing tells a different story.
Newer models generally last longer, especially under heavier workloads.
The M5 offers some of the best battery life in the lineup and can provide roughly an extra hour or more compared to older models.
Battery health also matters.
An older M1 that has been used daily for several years will naturally deliver shorter battery life than a brand-new M5.
So, Which MacBook Air Should You Buy?
Keep Your Current MacBook Air If:
- It’s meeting your needs
- You mainly browse the web
- You use email and office apps
- You don’t feel limited by performance
For most users, upgrading from M2 to M5 won’t feel revolutionary.
Upgrade If You Have an M1 Base Model
If you’re still using:
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
and you’ve owned it for several years, upgrading to the M5 makes a lot of sense.
You’ll gain:
- More memory
- More storage
- Better battery life
- Improved external display support
- Faster performance
- Longer software support
Buying New Today?
The M5 MacBook Air is currently the easiest recommendation.
Its combination of:
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Excellent battery life
- Improved display support
- Strong performance
- Long-term software updates
makes it the best value in Apple’s current MacBook Air lineup. For a deeper look, our M5 MacBook Air review covers performance benchmarks and real-world testing in detail.
The only exception is if you can find an M4 at a substantial discount.
Otherwise, the M5 offers the most complete package and should comfortably serve most users for many years.
Final verdict on which MacBook Air to buy in 2026
Final Thoughts
The most surprising thing about comparing every Apple Silicon MacBook Air isn’t how much the M5 has improved.
It’s how well the original M1 has aged.
Apple got so much right with its first Apple Silicon laptop that even years later, it remains a capable machine for everyday work.
That said, the M5 represents the most polished version of the MacBook Air yet. It doesn’t reinvent the formula, but it refines it in all the right ways.
If you’re buying a MacBook Air today and plan to keep it for the next five to seven years, the M5 is the model that makes the most sense.