Laptops · Ranked #3 of 43 · Best all-round laptop

Apple MacBook Air (M5)

88
Highly rated
Average of 8 professional reviews
8 of 8 recommend it · broad agreement
Where the 8 reviews landedRange 80–95

Exact average 88.1 · all scores printed by the outlets

Apple MacBook Air (M5)Image: Apple

8 professional reviewers tested the Apple MacBook Air (M5), and 8 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.

Reviewed by TechRadar, WIRED, Digital Trends and 5 more

The catch: The starting price rose, and the design and display feel dated.

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What 8 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 95
    TechRadarHands-on review · 2026

    A refined, still-best ultraportable that blends strong power, long battery and portability.

    Read TechRadar review
  2. 90
    WIREDHands-on review

    Still the laptop most people should buy, with powerful performance, 16GB of RAM and fast storage.

    Read WIRED review
  3. 90
    Digital TrendsHands-on review · 2026

    A refinement rather than reinvention, but effortless in use with excellent battery life and benchmark gains.

    Read Digital Trends review
  4. 90
    Trusted ReviewsHands-on review · 2026

    Remains the default MacBook for most people, with a great keyboard, silent running and all-day battery.

    Read Trusted Reviews review
  5. 90
    Tom's HardwareHands-on review · 2026

    Still the best choice for most people, offering a slim design, strong performance and battery life, and good base specs.

    Read Tom's Hardware review
  6. 90
    Tom's GuideHands-on review · 2026

    A fantastic laptop with strong performance, great battery life and more base storage.

    Read Tom's Guide review
  7. 80
    Expert ReviewsHands-on review · 2026

    Still fast and dependable, but a price rise and stronger competition from the Neo and Windows laptops weaken its appeal.

    Read Expert Reviews review
  8. 80
    CNETHands-on review · 2026

    A capable upgrade with the M5 chip and larger minimum storage, but it is squeezed by the far cheaper MacBook Neo and the bigger Air.

    Read CNET review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

What critics praise most

Performance7 of 8
Battery life5 of 8

What critics dislike most

Price4 of 8

Other laptops critics rate highly

Apple MacBook Air (M4)Image: Apple
Best overallApple MacBook Air (M4)7 reviews · broad agreement91
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)Image: HP
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)4 reviews · critics agree89
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Image: Apple
Runner-upApple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)7 reviews · critics agree87
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)Image: Apple
Best for creative workApple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)8 reviews · broad agreement86

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Common questions

Is the Apple MacBook Air (M5) worth it?

Most critics think so: 8 of 8 recommend it. The starting price rose, and the design and display feel dated.

Do critics agree about the Apple MacBook Air (M5)?

Broad agreement: scores range from 80 (Expert Reviews) to 95 (TechRadar), a spread of 15 points across 8 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.

What do critics dislike about the Apple MacBook Air (M5)?

Price (4 of 8 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Apple MacBook Air (M5)?

The Apple MacBook Air (M4) (critic score 91), best overall.