Among Apple’s 2026 releases, there’s no doubt that the new MacBook Neo has stolen show. With its competitive pricing, the Neo redefines the entry level laptop from Apple, upending the status quo and directly challenging the PC market. It’s little wonder that these bright, colourful laptops have set the tech world abuzz.

With the Neo priced at RM2,499, where does this leave the MacBook Air—which, until now, has been the most affordable of Apple’s notebooks?

Apple released its latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models this year, now powered with M5 chips. The M-series of chips have been a game-changer for Mac computers ever since the first Apple silicon chip replaced Intel in 2020. But how much does the latest M5 push things forward?

First, let’s talk about the price. The new M5 Air models start at RM4699 for the 13". While the M4 model is no longer available on the official Apple website, you may find other official resellers shifting the M4 models for around RM600 less.

One of the most significant upgrades lies in the hardware, which is optimised for AI work. The M5 models feature a faster CPU and a “next-generation GPU” with built-in Neural Accelerators. In layman’s terms, Neural Accelerators are dedicated to running AI tasks, allowing for faster image generation, transcription and interaction with local LLMs. This allows the system to handle AI and graphics workloads more efficiently in parallel.

Compared to the M4, there’s also double the starting storage at 512GB, which can now be upgraded to up to 4TB for the first time. There’s also a higher unified memory of 153 GB/s (about 28-30% higher than the M4). 

Across various other specs, the M5 is similar to the M4: both have a Liquid Retina display, excellent battery life of up to 18 hours, and high performing mics, cameras and speakers. And both are available in the same, tasteful colourways: Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight and Midnight.

So, AI advancements aside, the M5 isn’t reinventing the wheel. But perhaps that’s the point. There will always be splashy, game-changing releases, like the Neo (and the long-awaited foldable Apple phone). But those in the Apple ecosystem know exactly why it’s hard to leave, and it’s because Apple steadily improves its products—even those that are already performing well, like the MacBook Air.

In comparison, the Neo runs on an iPhone 16 Pro chip. It’s a smart, disruptive move because it will get a whole new range of people into the Apple ecosystem. High school and college students will be first in line. Closely behind them, the retirees who want a simple, functional, and well-made laptop for an affordable price. Expect a lot of Neos to be gifted to teenagers and grandparents come Christmas time.

But the MacBook Air is the model which makes sense for professionals. Of course, some creatives will require the more powerful MacBook Pro for advanced design, video editing and audio software. But for the majority, the MacBook Air ticks all the boxes. It’s powerful enough to handle video and photo editing, while allowing for efficient multitasking across everything else—from streaming to endless Slack updates.