MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Air M5
If you like how Apple does things, the MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air M5 are two different answers from the same company. This is less a contest than a fine-tuning exercise: both cover the same ground, with only a few meaningful gaps.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Performance MacBook Air M5 wins
Key Differences
-
The MacBook Air M5 has 2 more CPU cores
The difference is minor (10 against 8), but if you’re splitting hairs, the MacBook Air M5 wins it. For email and browsing, you won’t notice the gap; for demanding workloads, the MacBook Air M5 has more muscle.
Design & Size
In overall size, the MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air M5 are close enough that you’d struggle to tell them apart by dimensions alone.
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 11.97 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Depth | 8.46 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.44 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight | 2.73 lb | N/A (not specified) |
Display
Too close to call
In the display category, the MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air M5 land in almost the same place. Neither laptop gives you a reason to choose it on display.
Performance
MacBook Air M5 leads
On performance, the difference is modest, and it favors the MacBook Air M5. The MacBook Air M5 delivers 2 more CPU cores. More CPU cores help with heavy multitasking and work that splits well across cores, like code compiling, video export and rendering. Anyone shopping mainly on performance should start with the MacBook Air M5.
CPU cores
MacBook Air M3: 8 MacBook Air M5: 10 Core types and clock speeds differ between chips, so core count is one indicator among several.
Ports & Connectivity
Names, not numbers: the ports & connectivity rows below show what each one is built with, and it’s worth reading them side by side.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6 in | 13.6 in |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1664 |
| Pixel density | 224 ppi | 224 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | N/A (not specified) |
| Peak brightness (SDR) | 500 nits | N/A (not specified) |
Performance
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M3 | Apple M5 |
| CPU cores | 8 | 10 (winner) |
| Graphics | Apple M3 GPU (8-core) | N/A (not specified) |
| GPU cores | 8 | N/A (not specified) |
| Cooling | Fanless (passive) | Fanless (passive) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Base memory | 8 GB | N/A (not specified) |
| Max memory | 24 GB | N/A (not specified) |
| Base storage | 256 GB | N/A (not specified) |
| Max storage | 2 TB | N/A (not specified) |
Battery Life & Charging
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 52.6 Wh | N/A (not specified) |
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating | 18 h | N/A (not specified) |
| Included charger | 30 W | N/A (not specified) |
Ports & Connectivity
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C / Thunderbolt ports | 2 | N/A (not specified) |
| Other ports | MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | N/A (not specified) |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD | N/A (not specified) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | N/A (not specified) |
| Operating system | macOS Sonoma | macOS Tahoe |
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 11.97 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Depth | 8.46 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.44 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight | 2.73 lb | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,099 | N/A (not specified) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the MacBook Air M3 if…
- you don’t care much about the upgrades in the newer model
Choose the MacBook Air M5 if…
- you compile code, render or run heavy multitasking (10 vs 8 CPU cores)
- you’d rather start with the later of the two generations
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Air M3 or the MacBook Air M5?
On the specs compared here, the MacBook Air M5 makes more sense for most buyers; the MacBook Air M3 doesn’t win a single measurable area.
Is the MacBook Air M5 worth it over the MacBook Air M3?
The MacBook Air M5 adds 2 more CPU cores. That’s welcome, but owners of the MacBook Air M3 who are happy with it can reasonably wait.
Is the MacBook Air M3 bigger than the MacBook Air M5?
The MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air M5 are so close in size that you’d struggle to tell them apart on dimensions alone.
Does the MacBook Air M3 perform better than the MacBook Air M5?
The MacBook Air M5 has the edge in performance thanks to 2 more CPU cores.
Executive Summary
Same family, different trade-offs: that’s how I read the MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air M5. Practically speaking, the MacBook Air M5’s biggest advantage is 2 more CPU cores.
If your days lean on the things a spec sheet can’t capture, I’d pick the MacBook Air M3; if they lean on performance, the MacBook Air M5.
My pick: the MacBook Air M5.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.