Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) vs Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5)
Both are good choices with different strengths. The Apple MacBook Air 13 is lighter and is more compact, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 has a bigger screen and has a sharper screen.
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Key differences
- Weight Apple MacBook Air 13 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 13 is 0.3 kg lighter: 1.23 kg against 1.51 kg.
- Screen size Depends on you
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has the bigger screen (15.3" against 13.6"), while the Apple MacBook Air 13 is more compact.
- Sharpness Apple MacBook Air 15 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 15's screen is sharper: 3K against 2.5K.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 13 if…
- You'll carry it every day: at 1.23 kg it's easy to take everywhere.
- You want something compact for small bags and train tables: it has a 13.6-inch screen.
- You do demanding work: its Apple M5 has the power for photo and video editing.
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 15 if…
- You want more room to work: its 15.3-inch screen fits two windows side by side.
- You read, write or edit photos a lot: its 3K screen makes text and images crisper.
- You're often away from a plug: it has the bigger battery (66.5 Wh).
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Apple MacBook Air 13 leads on battery and weight, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 leads on the screen. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
Both laptops are very close on performance.
Their processors are in the same class: both are powerful enough for photo and video editing, and both have 16 GB of memory.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 | Apple M5 |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Apple M5 10-core GPU |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage slots | 0 | 0 |
Screen
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is ahead on the screen.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has the bigger screen (15.3" against 13.6"), while the Apple MacBook Air 13 is more compact. The Apple MacBook Air 13 is more compact, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 has a bigger screen and has a sharper screen.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6" | 15.3" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 3K (2880 x 1864) |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Colour range | Wide colour (P3) | Wide colour (P3) |
| HDR | None | None |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
Battery and size
Each laptop has its strengths on battery and weight.
The Apple MacBook Air 13 is lighter, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 has a bigger battery.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 66.5 Wh |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | MagSafe 3 or USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70 W or higher USB PD power source | Fast-charge capable with 70 W or higher USB PD power source |
| Weight | 1.23 kg | 1.51 kg |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm |
| Materials | 100% recycled aluminium enclosure | 100% recycled aluminium enclosure |
| Colour | Sky Blue | Midnight |
| Colours available | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight |
Ports and wireless
Both have much the same ports and wireless.
You can plug in the same things on either.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C; charging, DisplayPort, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s), 1x MagSafe 3 (charging), 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C; charging, DisplayPort, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s), 1x MagSafe 3 (charging), 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps | 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps |
| External displays (max) | 2 | 2 |
| Card reader | None | None |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Apple N1 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
Both have much the same extras.
From the keyboard to the webcam and login, there is little between them.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 1080p | 12MP Center Stage, 1080p |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 ANSI or 79 ISO keys, 12 full-height function keys, ambient light sensor | backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 ANSI or 79 ISO keys, 12 full-height function keys, ambient light sensor |
| Login | Fingerprint | Fingerprint |
| Number pad | No | No |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gestures | Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gestures |
| Speakers | four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos | six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos |
| Microphones | three-mic array with directional beamforming | three-mic array with directional beamforming |
| Pen | No | No |
| Security | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Software and model
Both run macOS.
So the same apps work on both, and they get the same kind of updates.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Model number | MDHH4B/A | MDVH4B/A |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 |