Apple Launches New M5 MacBook Air And Pro: Specs, Pricing, And No Power Adapter In EU Or UK

Apple has introduced updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by its new M5 family of chips, bringing performance improvements, expanded storage options, and updated wireless connectivity across its laptop lineup.

M5 MacBook Air

The new MacBook Air with M5 starts at $1,099, reflecting a $100 increase over the previous M4 generation. However, the base configuration now includes 512GB of storage, doubling the prior 256GB standard. All models continue to ship with 16GB of unified memory, with options to configure 24GB or 32GB. Maximum storage has also increased, rising from 2TB on the M4 model to 4TB on the M5 version.

In addition to expanded storage, Apple has upgraded SSD speeds and introduced support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 through its new N1 wireless chip, replacing Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Battery life remains rated at up to 18 hours. The included charger is now a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W maximum output.

Available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, the M5 MacBook Air retains its thin aluminum design and features a Liquid Retina display, 12MP Center Stage camera, Spatial Audio support, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports with the ability to drive up to two external displays. Color options include sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver. Pre-orders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.

M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro

Apple has also launched new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring the higher-end M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. While the external design remains unchanged from the 2021 redesign, internal upgrades focus on processing power, graphics, storage, and connectivity.

The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips include up to an 18-core CPU with six high-performance “super cores” and up to 12 additional performance cores, delivering up to 30 percent faster overall performance. Graphics capabilities are enhanced with Neural Accelerators integrated into each GPU core, enabling significantly faster large language model (LLM) processing and a reported 50 percent graphics performance increase compared to the previous generation.

Storage configurations now start at 1TB for M5 Pro models and 2TB for M5 Max models, alongside faster SSD performance. The N1 wireless chip also brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support to the MacBook Pro lineup.

Battery life remains similar to the prior generation, with modest gains in M5 Max configurations, offering up to 20 hours on the 14-inch model and up to 22 hours on the 16-inch version.

Pricing begins at $2,199 for the 14-inch M5 Pro model and $2,699 for the 16-inch version, with higher prices for M5 Max configurations. Pre-orders open March 4, with shipments beginning March 11.

No Power Adapter Included (some markets)

Apple’s new M5 MacBook Pro will not include a power adapter in the box for customers in the United Kingdom and European Union, following regional regulations under the “Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment” (WEEE) directive. While Apple continues to ship power adapters with its products in the United States, this policy reflects an ongoing effort to reduce electronic waste in certain markets.

Previous devices, such as the iPad Air and iPad Pro, were already affected by this change. In contrast, older MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips still include 70W and 96W USB-C power adapters, and M4 MacBook Air models include 30W and 35W USB-C adapters. As Apple transitions future MacBook updates to the M5 generation, it is expected that power adapters will no longer be bundled in affected regions.

Filed in Apple >Computers. Read more about Apple, Macbook Air and Macbook Pro.