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ShopSavvy Answers are well-researched expert answers to common questions about popular products

When will the M6 MacBook Air come out? Should I wait?

Published: March 19th, 2026

Apple's MacBook Air refresh cycle has been consistent enough to make reasonable predictions about M6 timing.

Expected Timeline

Based on the established pattern:

  • M3 MacBook Air: March 2024
  • M4 MacBook Air: March 2025
  • M5 MacBook Air: March 2026
  • M6 MacBook Air: Likely March 2027

That's approximately 12 months from the M5's release.

What M6 Might Bring

Rumors and analyst predictions suggest potential improvements:

  • ProMotion (120Hz display): Possibly the first Air with high refresh rate
  • OLED screen: Possible but may arrive 2027-2028, with Pro getting it first
  • Design refresh: The current chassis design dates to 2022
  • Improved chip: Potential TSMC 2nm enhancements
  • Thunderbolt 5: Faster external connections

Buy the M5 Now If...

  • You need a laptop within the next 6+ months
  • Your current laptop is failing or inadequate
  • You're upgrading from M1, M2, or Intel
  • The M5 MacBook Air meets all your requirements
  • Waiting costs productivity or money

Consider Waiting If...

  • Your current laptop works fine for another year
  • ProMotion/120Hz display genuinely matters to you
  • You want to see potential design changes
  • Patience comes easily
  • Bigger generational leaps appeal to you

The "Always Waiting" Reality

Technology always improves. Wait for M6, and M7 rumors begin. At some point, purchasing becomes necessary. The M5 is excellent today. It's not a gamble.

The Bottom Line

Need it now? Get the M5. Can comfortably wait until spring 2027 with a working laptop? Might be interesting to see what M6 brings.

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Should I buy a refurbished M4 MacBook Air or a new M5?

Published: March 19th, 2026

This is a smart question. Refurbished can be an excellent deal, but the answer depends on the specific discount available.

What Apple Refurbished Actually Means

Apple's certified refurbished products are essentially like-new:

  • Fully tested and certified
  • New battery and outer shell
  • Full 1-year warranty (AppleCare eligible)
  • Same return policy as new
  • All original accessories included

In practice, they're often indistinguishable from new.

Typical Pricing

Apple usually discounts refurbished 15-20%. An M4 that was $999 might be $849-899 refurbished. That's $200-250 less than a new M5 MacBook Air.

When Refurbished M4 Wins

Go refurbished if:

  • The discount exceeds $250 (substantial savings)
  • 256GB storage genuinely meets your needs
  • Wi-Fi 7 isn't relevant to your use case
  • Maximizing value per dollar is your priority
  • You trust Apple's refurbishment process (you should)

When New M5 Wins

Get the M5 if:

  • The price gap is only $100-150
  • You need 512GB (cheaper than upgrading the M4)
  • You want current wireless standards
  • Future-proofing matters to you
  • You prefer factory-new certainty

Caution with Third-Party Refurbished

Non-Apple refurbished sellers can be cheaper, but riskier:

  • Quality varies considerably
  • Warranties are typically shorter
  • May have cosmetic imperfections
  • Battery health is uncertain

Stick with Apple Certified Refurbished for reliability and warranty protection.

The Decision Framework

  • M4 at $799 or less: Compelling deal
  • M4 at $899: Closer call. Consider whether $200 for M5's improvements is worthwhile
  • M4 at $949+: The M5 probably makes more sense

At smaller discounts, the M5's doubled storage, better chip, and newer wireless typically win.

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Is 512GB base storage on M5 worth it over 256GB on M4?

Published: March 19th, 2026

The storage jump from 256GB to 512GB might be the most practical reason to choose the M5 MacBook Air. The math works out surprisingly well.

The Financial Calculation

  • M4 with 256GB: $999
  • M4 upgraded to 512GB: $1,199 ($200 upgrade fee)
  • M5 with 512GB included: $1,099

If you need 512GB, and most people eventually do, the M5 saves $100 while also including a faster chip. That's objectively a better deal.

It's Not Just Bigger. It's Faster.

The M5's SSD isn't just more spacious. It's dramatically faster:

  • 125% faster reads
  • 219% faster writes

This affects app launches, file transfers, and boot times. The system feels snappier.

Who Actually Needs 512GB?

You likely need it if you're:

  • Editing photos or videos (media files consume space rapidly)
  • A musician with sample libraries
  • A developer with multiple projects and development tools
  • A gamer (modern games run 50-100GB each)
  • Planning to keep this laptop 4+ years
  • Someone who works offline with local files frequently

Who Can Manage with 256GB?

You might be fine if you're:

  • A student focused on documents and presentations
  • Fully committed to cloud storage (Google Docs workflow)
  • A light user who primarily browses and streams
  • Aggressive about managing storage regularly

The macOS Reality

The operating system consumes 30-40GB. On a 256GB drive, you have approximately 220GB of usable space. On 512GB, it's closer to 475GB. That's more than double the actual working capacity.

The Recommendation

For $100 more, which actually saves money if you need storage, the M5's 512GB base is the smarter choice for most people. Only skip it if you're absolutely certain 256GB will suffice for the laptop's entire lifespan.

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What's Wi-Fi 7 and do I need it on the MacBook Air M5?

Published: March 19th, 2026

The M5 MacBook Air includes Wi-Fi 7, the latest wireless standard. But do you actually need it? Here's what it means in the real world.

What Wi-Fi 7 Delivers

On paper, Wi-Fi 7 is impressive:

  • Theoretical speeds up to 46 Gbps (versus 9.6 Gbps on Wi-Fi 6E)
  • Double the channel width
  • Simultaneous connection to multiple bands
  • Lower latency

In practice, this means faster downloads, smoother video calls, and better performance when many devices compete for bandwidth.

Here's the Catch

You need a Wi-Fi 7 router to benefit. Most people don't have one yet. They cost $300-600 or more.

Your internet is likely the bottleneck. With 100 Mbps from your ISP, Wi-Fi 7 won't make it faster. You're limited by your internet plan, not your wireless standard.

Wi-Fi 6E is already excellent. The M4's Wi-Fi 6E handles essentially everything most people do without issue.

When Wi-Fi 7 Actually Matters Today

  • You have gigabit fiber and want to maximize it wirelessly
  • You already purchased a Wi-Fi 7 router
  • Your workplace or school has Wi-Fi 7 infrastructure
  • You regularly transfer large files over wireless

The Future-Proofing Perspective

If you keep laptops for 4-5 years, Wi-Fi 7 will be mainstream by then. Your M5 will still have modern wireless when Wi-Fi 7 routers become standard and affordable.

The Bottom Line

Wi-Fi 7 is a nice feature, not a compelling reason to choose M5 over M4 today. Think of it as future-proofing rather than an immediate advantage. The storage and performance improvements matter more for most people right now.

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Can the M5 MacBook Air handle gaming?

Published: March 19th, 2026

Can the M5 MacBook Air handle gaming? Yes, actually. Is it a gaming laptop? Definitely not. Here's what to realistically expect.

Better Than M4

The M5's graphics are approximately 31% faster, and you feel it in games:

  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider: 43 fps (up from 36 on M4)
  • 3DMark benchmark: Around 100 fps (up from 70)

That's a solid 20-50% improvement depending on the game.

AAA Games: Playable, Not Amazing

With settings adjusted appropriately:

  • Cyberpunk 2077: About 30 fps with ray tracing on low
  • Baldur's Gate III: Around 30 fps on high settings
  • Total War: Warhammer III: Approximately 30 fps on high
  • Resident Evil Village: 40-50 fps on medium-high

Is 30 fps cinematic gaming? Not really. But it's playable.

Mac-Native Games: Where It Excels

Games built for Apple Silicon run beautifully:

  • Stray: 60 fps
  • No Man's Sky: 45-60 fps
  • Disco Elysium: 60 fps
  • Divinity: Original Sin 2: 60 fps

The Heat Issue

Real feedback from users: "It gets very hot very quickly" during gaming. The MacBook Air has no fans. Short gaming sessions (30-60 minutes) work fine. Extended play causes throttling.

Compatibility Limitations

Many PC games lack Mac versions. Apple's Game Porting Toolkit helps with some Windows titles, but results vary. Don't expect every Steam game to work.

Compared to Dedicated Gaming Laptops

A $1,099 gaming laptop (ASUS ROG, Lenovo Legion) will significantly outperform the M5 Air in games. But those laptops can't match the Air's battery life, build quality, or macOS ecosystem.

The Verdict

Excellent for: Casual gaming, indie games, Mac-native titles, occasional AAA gaming at reduced settings.

Not recommended if: Gaming is your primary use case. Get a dedicated gaming machine instead.

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Is the M5 MacBook Air good for video editing?

Published: March 19th, 2026

Good news: the M5 MacBook Air handles video editing impressively well. But setting appropriate expectations matters.

Performance by Application

Final Cut Pro runs beautifully. Export times improved from 6:48 to 5:38 compared to M4. That's roughly a minute faster for identical projects. Timeline scrubbing with 4K footage stays smooth. Effects apply responsively.

DaVinci Resolve benefits from the 31% GPU improvement and faster memory. Color grading feels snappier, and Fusion compositions perform better than on M4. Complex projects still push limits, but most work flows smoothly.

Premiere Pro performs solidly for 1080p and 4K projects. Adobe hasn't optimized it quite as well as Apple has with Final Cut, but it's entirely workable.

What the M5 Air Handles Well

  • YouTube videos (1080p and 4K)
  • Social media content
  • Wedding and event highlight reels
  • Color grading with moderate complexity
  • Simpler motion graphics
  • Documentary and interview editing

Where It Reaches Its Limits

Be realistic about these:

  • 8K RAW without proxies (too demanding)
  • Heavy VFX compositing (get a Pro)
  • Projects with 20+ video tracks and extensive effects
  • Extended Cinema 4D or Blender renders

The Thermal Factor

The MacBook Air lacks fans. During extended exports, it warms up and eventually throttles performance to cool itself. The M5 reportedly runs cooler than M4, but for marathon rendering sessions, the MacBook Pro's active cooling provides genuine advantages.

Who Should Choose the M5 Air for Video?

For most video editors, including YouTubers, content creators, and freelancers doing client work, the M5 MacBook Air is excellent. It's portable, has great battery life, and handles typical video work without complaints.

Only heavy-duty professionals working with high-resolution footage and complex effects truly need a MacBook Pro.

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How does battery life compare between MacBook Air M4 and M5?

Published: March 19th, 2026

Apple claims both laptops get 18 hours of battery life. They have identical 53.8Wh batteries. So what's actually different? The test results tell an interesting story.

Normal Indoor Use: Essentially Identical

At typical brightness indoors (around 150 nits):

  • M5: Approximately 16 hours
  • M4: Approximately 16 hours

They're basically the same. The M4 actually lasted 2 minutes longer in one test, which is statistically meaningless.

Video Playback: M5 Wins

In video playback tests:

  • M5: 16 hours 38 minutes
  • M4: 14 hours 34 minutes

That's 14% better on the M5 MacBook Air, likely thanks to improved media engine efficiency. Apple didn't even advertise this.

Maximum Brightness: M4 Wins

At full screen brightness:

  • M5: 6 hours 39 minutes
  • M4: 7 hours 5 minutes

The M4 lasts about 26 minutes longer at maximum brightness. The M5's faster chip requires slightly more power when everything is pushed to the limit.

What This Means Practically

Unless you regularly work outside or in extremely bright environments, this is a non-issue. Both laptops easily last a full workday and more at normal brightness settings.

The 6% difference at maximum brightness only affects outdoor workers or those who prefer blindingly bright screens.

Charging Performance

Both include similar chargers and take about 2 hours for a full charge. No advantage either way.

The Bottom Line

Don't choose between M4 and M5 based on battery life. They're practically identical for real-world use. Make your decision based on storage, performance, or price, knowing battery life is excellent on both.

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How much faster is the M5 chip than M4 in real-world use?

Published: March 19th, 2026

Benchmarks tell one story. Real life tells another. Here's what those impressive-sounding numbers actually mean when using the laptop.

The Numbers

  • Single-core: M5 is 11% faster
  • Multi-core: M5 is 17% faster
  • Graphics: M5 is 31% faster
  • Memory bandwidth: 28% more
  • AI performance: Up to 4x faster
  • SSD speed: Over 2x faster

Impressive on paper. But let's translate this to actual use.

Normal Laptop Tasks: No Perceptible Difference

Web browsing? Both feel instant. Documents? Instant. Email? Instant. Video calls? Smooth on both. Streaming? Perfect either way.

The M4 was already ridiculously fast for everyday tasks. The M5 is even faster, but "faster than instant" still just feels instant.

Photo Editing: Marginal Improvement

Lightroom exports and batch processing complete somewhat quicker. Professional photographers editing large volumes might save a few seconds here and there. Casual photo editing shows no real difference.

Video Editing: Noticeable Gains

Final Cut Pro exports dropped from 6:48 to 5:38 on identical projects. That's roughly a minute faster. YouTubers producing regular content will appreciate this. The extra memory bandwidth also helps when scrubbing through 4K footage.

Gaming: The Biggest Visible Difference

This is where the M5 MacBook Air genuinely shines compared to M4:

  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider: 43 fps (up from 36 fps)
  • General gaming performance improved by 20-50%

If you game on your MacBook, this matters.

The Honest Summary

For approximately 80% of users doing normal computer tasks, the M5 feels identical to the M4. The improvements that matter in daily use? The dramatically faster SSD and better gaming performance.

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Should I upgrade from my M4 MacBook Air to the M5?

Published: March 19th, 2026

The direct answer: no, M4 MacBook Air owners should not upgrade to M5. Here's why.

Why Upgrading Doesn't Make Sense

The difference between M4 and M5 is essentially invisible for everyday use. Reviewers consistently describe the experience as "almost identical," and they're accurate.

The benchmarks look impressive: 11-17% faster CPU, 31% better graphics. But when browsing the web, writing documents, or doing light creative work, you won't feel it. The M4 was already overkill for normal tasks.

The Financial Reality

Even selling your M4 at a good price today, you'll still absorb several hundred dollars in depreciation. That's real money spent on improvements you likely won't notice.

When Upgrading Actually Makes Sense

Consider the M5 only if:

  • Your 256GB storage is genuinely full and you need more space
  • You do serious AI/machine learning work professionally
  • You specifically need Wi-Fi 7 for work requirements
  • Your M4 broke and needs replacement anyway

If none of those apply, skip it.

If You Actually Want to Upgrade

Coming from an M3, M2, or especially an M1 MacBook Air, the M5 represents a genuinely worthwhile jump. Those users see 38-75% improvements that translate to noticeable daily differences.

My Advice: Wait for M6

If the upgrade itch persists, hold out until next spring. Apple tends to deliver bigger changes every other generation. The M6 might bring ProMotion displays or design changes that actually matter.

Your M4 MacBook Air remains an excellent machine in 2026. Enjoy it.

Read More

Is the M5 MacBook Air worth $100 more than the M4?

Published: March 19th, 2026

Short answer? Yes, it probably is. Here's the math that makes the case.

The Storage Calculation Makes This Simple

The M5 MacBook Air starts with 512GB of storage. The M4 starts with 256GB. To upgrade the M4 to match, Apple charges $200 extra.

The math:

  • M4 with 512GB = $999 + $200 = $1,199
  • M5 with 512GB = $1,099

You save $100 AND get a better chip. If you think you'll need the storage space, this becomes straightforward.

What Else That $100 Buys

Beyond the storage advantage:

  • A chip that's 11-17% faster overall
  • Graphics approximately 31% better for gaming and creative work
  • AI tasks running up to 4x faster
  • An SSD that's more than twice as fast
  • Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6E

Individually, perhaps none of these justify $100. Together? A compelling package.

When the M4 Still Makes Sense

The M4 becomes the better choice if:

  • You find it on sale for $799 or less (an excellent deal)
  • You genuinely won't exceed 256GB of storage
  • Every dollar counts and you just need a capable MacBook

Who Should Go M5

  • Anyone who would upgrade the storage anyway (you're actually saving money)
  • Video editors, photographers, and developers who benefit from extra performance
  • People planning to keep their laptop for 4+ years
  • Anyone wanting the latest wireless standards

The Bottom Line

At just $100 more, which effectively saves money if you need storage, the M5 MacBook Air is the smarter purchase for most people shopping right now.

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