Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) vs MSI Prestige 16 AI+
The real choice here is the system: the Apple MacBook Air 15 runs macOS and the MSI Prestige 16 AI+ runs Windows. On the specs, the MSI Prestige 16 AI+ has the edge: it has more memory and has more storage.
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Key differences
- Operating system Depends on you
They run different systems: the Apple MacBook Air 15 runs macOS and the MSI Prestige 16 AI+ runs Windows. Pick the one that runs the apps you rely on.
- Memory MSI Prestige 16 AI+ wins
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ has 32 GB of memory against 16 GB, so it has more room for big projects and heavy multitasking.
- Storage MSI Prestige 16 AI+ wins
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ has twice the storage: 1 TB against 512 GB.
- OLED screen MSI Prestige 16 AI+ wins
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ has an OLED screen, with true blacks and richer colour than the Apple MacBook Air 15's LCD.
- Ports MSI Prestige 16 AI+ wins
Only the MSI Prestige 16 AI+ has HDMI and USB-A.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 15 if…
- You own an iPhone or prefer a Mac: it runs macOS and works smoothly with Apple devices.
- You carry your laptop a lot: it's the lighter of the two at 1.51 kg.
- You do demanding work: its Apple M5 has the power for photo and video editing.
Choose the MSI Prestige 16 AI+ if…
- You need Windows programs or want to play PC games: it runs Windows 11, which runs almost anything.
- You keep lots of tabs and apps open: 32 GB of memory gives it more room.
- You store lots of photos, videos or games: it has 1 TB of storage.
- You watch a lot of films and video, or edit photos: its OLED screen has true blacks and rich colour.
- You plug things in: it has HDMI (for TVs and monitors) and USB-A (for older USB accessories).
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe MSI Prestige 16 AI+ leads on performance, the screen and ports and wireless; elsewhere the two are closely matched. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ is ahead on performance.
It has more memory and has more storage, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | MSI Prestige 16 AI+ |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 355 |
| Graphics | Apple M5 10-core GPU | Intel Graphics |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5X-7467 |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Storage slots | 0 | 1 |
Screen
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ is ahead on the screen.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ has a slightly bigger screen: 16" against 15.3". It has an OLED screen, has a touchscreen and has a slightly bigger screen, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | MSI Prestige 16 AI+ |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 15.3" | 16" |
| Resolution | 3K (2880 x 1864) | 3K (2880 x 1800) |
| Aspect ratio | — | 16:10 |
| Panel | IPS | OLED |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Brightness | 500 nits | — |
| Colour range | Wide colour (P3) | 100% DCI-P3 (typical) |
| HDR | None | DisplayHDR True Black 600 |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
Battery and size
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is ahead on battery and weight.
It is a little lighter, and the MSI Prestige 16 AI+ doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | MSI Prestige 16 AI+ |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 66.5 Wh | 81 Wh |
| Charger | — | 65 W |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 PD) |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70 W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.59 kg |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 357.7 x 254.3 x 11.9-13.9 mm |
| Materials | 100% recycled aluminium enclosure | Aluminum alloy chassis |
| Durability | — | MIL-STD-810H/G |
| Colour | Midnight | Gray |
| Colours available | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight | Platinum Gray |
Ports and wireless
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ is ahead on ports and wireless.
It has HDMI and USB-A, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | MSI Prestige 16 AI+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (DisplayPort, PD 3.0 charging), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1 (8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz), 1x 3.5 mm combo audio jack |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Card reader | None | None |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1775 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
The MSI Prestige 16 AI+ is ahead on extras.
It has Copilot+ AI features, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | MSI Prestige 16 AI+ |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage, 1080p | 1080p + IR |
| Webcam privacy | — | physical shutter |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 ANSI or 79 ISO keys, 12 full-height function keys, ambient light sensor | Backlit, Copilot key, smudge-resistant |
| Login | Fingerprint | Fingerprint |
| Number pad | No | — |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gestures | Action Touch Pad (customizable gestures) |
| Speakers | six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos | 2x 2W speakers + 2x 2W woofers, Hi-Res Audio Ready |
| Microphones | three-mic array with directional beamforming | 3-mic array |
| Pen | No | — |
| Security | Touch ID | dTPM 2.0, fTPM 2.0, Microsoft Pluton, fingerprint reader, webcam shutter |
Software and model
They run different systems, so this comes down to the apps you use.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | MSI Prestige 16 AI+ |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | MDVH4B/A | 9S7-262223-088 |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 |