Is the MacBook Air 15" M5 worth it for video editing 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.
Editing score
63
/ 100
Unified memory
16–32
GB · 153.6 GB/s
Indicative price ES
~1529 €
✓ 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
Compatibility with editing software
Real-world performance of the MacBook Air 15" M5 on each professional editing application.
Final Cut Pro
Very good. Smooth 4K RAW, ProRes accelerated by hardware. The best Final Cut Pro option without going to Max.
DaVinci Resolve
Very good. Smooth 4K RAW, functional Fusion. For 8K RAW without proxy, the M5 Max is more comfortable.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Compatible and fast via Metal. Accelerated export. Some Adobe AI features are NVIDIA-exclusive on PC.
Blender (Cycles)
Functional via Metal. For simple to medium scenes, very usable. Complex scenes are better on M5 Max or a dedicated GPU.
Which video formats does the MacBook Air 15" M5 memory cover?
Apple unified memory replaces discrete VRAM. The MacBook Air 15" M5 can be configured up to 32 GB.
1080p H.264/H.265
No limitations
4K H.264/H.265
Smooth without proxy
4K RAW / ProRes
Manageable
8K / ProRes RAW
Proxy needed
Hardware-accelerated codecs on the MacBook Air 15" M5
Apple alternatives for editing
FAQ — MacBook Air 15" M5 for editing
Is the MacBook Air 15" M5 worth it for video editing 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. In editing it scores 63/100. With up to 32 GB of unified memory and 153.6 GB/s bandwidth, it handles 4K H.264/H.265 without proxy and 4K RAW with tweaks.
Is the MacBook Air 15" M5 compatible with DaVinci Resolve?
Very good. Smooth 4K RAW, functional Fusion. For 8K RAW without proxy, the M5 Max is more comfortable.
How much unified memory do I need to edit video on a Mac?
For smooth 4K H.264/H.265 in DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro, 16 GB of unified memory is the recommended minimum. For 4K RAW or ProRes 4444, 24–36 GB is ideal. For 8K RAW without proxy, 48 GB or more. The MacBook Air 15" M5 offers up to 32 GB.
Is a Mac M5 or a dedicated Windows GPU better for editing?
For smooth 4K editing, the MacBook Air 15" M5 is highly capable. For 8K RAW without proxy, the M5 Max or a high-end Windows GPU is more comfortable.