Is the MacBook Air 15" M5 worth it for everyday use in 2026?
The MacBook Air 15" M5 offers the same M5 chip as the 13-inch model but with a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display. Ideal for those who need more workspace without giving up the Air's lightness and exceptional battery life.
Everyday-use score
91
/ 100
Unified memory
16–32
GB
Price from
~1529 €
What is the MacBook Air 15" M5 ideal for?
Real-world performance of the M5 on the most common day-to-day tasks.
Office and productivity
Word, Excel, Google Docs, Notion — the M5 handles this effortlessly. Instant response and no heat.
Streaming and entertainment
Netflix 4K, YouTube, Spotify — hardware decoding of H.264, H.265 and AV1. Minimal battery use.
Video calls
Zoom, Teams, Google Meet — the FaceTime 1080p camera and high-quality microphones make any MacBook Air stand out in video calls.
Browsing and multitasking
With 16 GB of memory, opening 20+ tabs in Safari or Chrome plus several apps at once runs smoothly.
Light photo editing
M5 handles Lightroom, Capture One and RAW photo editing smoothly.
Students and basic programming
M5 is excellent for programming: fast compilation, native Xcode and smooth terminals.
✓ Ideal for
- • Same performance as Air 13" with bigger screen
- • 4K H.264/H.265 video editing with more workspace
- • Everyday use, office and multitasking
- • Portability with a generous screen
✗ Limitations
- • Long-duration RAW or ProRes 4444 editing
- • Intensive 3D rendering without active cooling
- • Demanding AAA gaming
Other Apple options for everyday use
FAQ — MacBook Air 15" M5 for everyday use
Is the MacBook Air 15" M5 worth it for everyday use in 2026?
The MacBook Air 15" M5 offers the same M5 chip as the 13-inch model but with a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display. Ideal for those who need more workspace without giving up the Air's lightness and exceptional battery life.
How long does the MacBook Air 15" M5 battery last?
The MacBook Air M5 offers up to 18 hours of web use and up to 22 hours of video. In real use, 12-16 hours of active work are typical, depending on brightness and apps used.
Is 16 GB of memory enough for everyday use?
Yes, 16 GB of unified memory is more than enough for everyday use. You can have 20+ Safari tabs, several active apps and simultaneous streaming with no issues.
What is the MacBook Air 15" M5 not suitable for?
Long-duration RAW or ProRes 4444 editing. Intensive 3D rendering without active cooling. Demanding AAA gaming.