Apple Unveils MacBook Air With M5 Chip, Updates MacBook Pro Lineup With Advanced AI Features
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple on Tuesday introduced a new MacBook Air powered by its latest M5 chip, along with upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max processors designed to boost performance and artificial intelligence capabilities.
The new MacBook Air with M5 includes a faster CPU and next-generation GPU, with a Neural Accelerator built into each core to enhance AI-driven tasks. Apple said the updates allow the laptop to handle everything from everyday productivity to creative workflows and complex AI operations more efficiently.
MacBook Air now comes standard with 512GB of storage — double the previous starting configuration — and uses faster SSD technology. It can be configured with up to 4TB of storage. The device also features Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for improved connectivity.
The laptop retains its thin aluminum design and includes a Liquid Retina display, a 12MP Center Stage camera, up to 18 hours of battery life, an immersive sound system with Spatial Audio, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports capable of supporting up to two external displays.
Available in 13-inch and 15-inch models, the MacBook Air comes in sky blue, midnight, starlight and silver. Pre-orders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.
“The new MacBook Air with M5 brings incredible performance and even more capability to the world’s most popular laptop,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “With M5, MacBook Air powers through a wide range of tasks, from everyday productivity to creative workloads, and is even faster for AI,” he added.
Apple also refreshed its MacBook Pro lineup with the introduction of M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The company said the updated processors feature a new CPU architecture with what it describes as its fastest core yet, along with a next-generation GPU and integrated Neural Accelerators.
According to Apple, the new MacBook Pro models deliver up to four times the AI performance of the previous generation and up to eight times the AI performance compared with models powered by the M1 chip.
Storage has also been upgraded, with M5 Pro models starting at 1TB and M5 Max models starting at 2TB. The new MacBook Pro also includes the N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity, along with up to twice the SSD performance of earlier versions.
The MacBook Pro is available in space black and silver. Pre-orders open March 4, and the devices will be available beginning March 11.
In addition to the laptops, Apple announced an updated Studio Display designed to pair with Mac computers. The display features a 12MP Center Stage camera with improved image quality and Desk View support, a three-microphone array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
The new Studio Display also includes Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, enabling faster accessory connections and support for daisy-chaining multiple displays. (Source: IANS)
