Apple is preparing to launch a refreshed MacBook Air with the M5 chip next week, bringing significant performance improvements while maintaining the laptop's familiar design. The new model will adopt Apple's third-generation 3-nanometer M5 processor, which debuted in last year's iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models.

The M5 chip delivers up to 15 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance and 30 percent faster GPU performance compared to the M4. Key upgrades include third-generation ray-tracing, enhanced shader cores, and a 16-core Neural Engine that promises better energy efficiency and potentially improved battery life. Unified memory bandwidth increases to 153GB/s, representing nearly a 30 percent improvement over the M4.

Apple will continue offering the MacBook Air in 13-inch and 15-inch configurations with the same aluminum unibody design, fanless thermal system, and Retina LCD display. The laptop retains two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports and is expected to start at $1,099, though DRAM shortages could make memory upgrades more expensive. While the core design remains unchanged, rumors suggest Apple may introduce an OLED display after launching OLED MacBook Pro models in late 2026.