MacBook Air M3 vs MacBook Air 15 M5
Apple makes both of these, yet the MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air 15 M5 aren’t simply two versions of the same laptop. Close matchups are the hardest to call, and the MacBook Air M3 versus the MacBook Air 15 M5 is one of them.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Performance MacBook Air 15 M5 wins
Key Differences
-
The MacBook Air 15 M5 has a 1.7-inch larger screen
The MacBook Air M3 has the lower figure on screen size (13.6 in), while the MacBook Air 15 M5 reaches 15.3 in. Larger laptops suit desk-bound work and media; smaller ones suit people who work from trains, cafés and lecture halls.
-
The MacBook Air 15 M5 has 2 more CPU cores
A modest but measurable lead goes to the MacBook Air 15 M5: 10 compared with 8. More CPU cores help with heavy multitasking and work that splits well across cores, like code compiling, video export and rendering.
Design & Size
If compact matters to you, the MacBook Air M3 is the one to look at. The MacBook Air 15 M5 is physically larger all round.
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air 15 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
If display matters most to you, this section won’t make the decision for you: they’re level. For display, pick whichever you prefer for other reasons.
Screen size
MacBook Air M3: 13.6 in MacBook Air 15 M5: 15.3 in Screen size also drives overall size and weight, so this choice shapes how portable the laptop really is.
Performance
MacBook Air 15 M5 leads
The MacBook Air M3 comes close on performance, but the MacBook Air 15 M5 does just enough to lead. The MacBook Air 15 M5 has the edge with 2 more CPU cores. For email and browsing, you won’t notice the gap; for demanding workloads, the MacBook Air 15 M5 has more muscle. So if performance tops your list, lean toward the MacBook Air 15 M5.
CPU cores
MacBook Air M3: 8 MacBook Air 15 M5: 10 Core types and clock speeds differ between chips, so core count is one indicator among several.
Ports & Connectivity
On ports & connectivity, the useful details are the names in the table: what each one uses, not a figure we can rank.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | MacBook Air M3 | MacBook Air 15 M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6 in | 15.3 in |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2880 x 1864 |
| 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 15 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 15 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 15 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 15 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 15 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 15 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
- you value compactness over sheer size
Choose the MacBook Air 15 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
- you want the bigger laptop
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Air M3 or the MacBook Air 15 M5?
On the specs compared here, the MacBook Air 15 M5 makes more sense for most buyers; the MacBook Air M3 doesn’t win a single measurable area.
Is the MacBook Air 15 M5 worth it over the MacBook Air M3?
Only if the changes matter to you. Compared with the MacBook Air M3, the MacBook Air 15 M5 offers 2 more CPU cores, which is useful but not essential for everyone.
Is the MacBook Air M3 bigger than the MacBook Air 15 M5?
Going by the official dimensions, the MacBook Air 15 M5 is the larger one: 15.3 in against the MacBook Air M3’s 11.97 × 8.46 × 0.44 in.
Does the MacBook Air M3 perform better than the MacBook Air 15 M5?
Going by the specs, the MacBook Air 15 M5 comes out ahead: it offers 2 more CPU cores.
Executive Summary
When I compare the MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air 15 M5, I try to ignore the names and look only at what changes. To me, the standout is that the MacBook Air 15 M5 offers 2 more CPU cores.
In my head, the MacBook Air M3 is the the things a spec sheet can’t capture pick and the MacBook Air 15 M5 is the performance pick.
My pick: the MacBook Air 15 M5.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.