
M5 MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026): Power Up, Price Up, Neo Still Cheaper
Apple’s M5 13-inch MacBook Air arrives with a real performance boost and a higher starting price of $1,099, pushing it above the budget MacBook Neo. The M5 features a 10-core CPU/GPU, faster unified memory, Wi‑Fi 7 and a 1TB base SSD, delivering stronger Geekbench/Cinebench scores and about 17 hours of streaming battery life. However, the Neo remains a much better value for students, and many buyers will find the 15-inch Air a better overall balance of size, performance, and price. The 13-inch is still solid for design or STEM-focused users who need compact power, but it’s no longer Apple’s entry point and not the best value in the lineup.









