(Image credit: Apple)
Apple have refreshed its Mac laptop lineup with new models powered by its next-generation M5 family of chips — bringing meaningful CPU, GPU and AI improvements to both the lightweight Air and the professional-oriented Pro.
MacBook Air with M5 — Ultra-Portable Performance for Everyone
(Image credit: Apple)
The MacBook Air with M5 arrives as the latest step in Apple’s thin-and-light laptop line, but with several key upgrades over its predecessor:
- New M5 chip delivers noticeable gains in general performance and AI tasks over the M4 generation.
- Base storage doubled to 512 GB as standard — good news given larger file sizes today.
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 compatibility for faster wireless connectivity.
- Fanless design means quiet operation and great battery life — ideal for students, commuters and everyday use.
UK Launch & Pricing
- Announced 3 March 2026; pre-orders opened immediately with deliveries beginning 11 March 2026.
- Expected UK pricing starts at around £1,199 for the base M5 MacBook Air.
With its combination of performance, battery life and portability, the M5 Air is a strong choice if you want a premium laptop for everyday productivity, creative apps or light AI-assisted tasks without moving into “Pro” territory.
MacBook Pro with M5 Pro / M5 Max — Power for Pros
(Image credit: Apple)
At the higher end of the lineup are refreshed MacBook Pro models featuring Apple’s more capable M5 Pro and M5 Max chips — tailored for heavy workflows like video editing, software development, 3D rendering and AI-driven tasks.
- M5 Pro & M5 Max chips bring significant performance boosts, especially in multi-core workloads and GPU-heavy applications.
- All models now come with at least 1 TB SSD as standard, a welcome update given growing project sizes.
- Additional pro features include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and support for Thunderbolt peripherals.
UK Launch & Pricing
- These updated Pro laptops were also announced on alongside the MacBook Air and are shipping now in the UK.
- UK base pricing for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts around £2,049–£2,199 (depending on configuration and promotions).
- Higher-end configurations (e.g., M5 Max or 16-inch models) climb significantly above £3,000.
For professionals and creators who need serious compute power — whether it’s for 4K editing, 3D content or local AI modelling — the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros remain among the most capable laptops available today.
Are they any good for gaming?
We sometimes do get asked the gaming question regarding Apple laptops. So, when it comes to gaming, neither the MacBook Air M5 nor the MacBook Pro M5 Pro are “traditional gaming laptops,” but both have actually come a long way thanks to Apple’s improved M5-series graphics and Apple’s Metal API. The base M5 Air can run many games at playable frame rates — especially titles optimised for macOS or with Apple’s MetalFX upscaling — and offers a noticeable GPU uplift over previous gen Apple chips.
The more powerful M5 Pro in the Pro models pushes that further, delivering smooth performance in a range of native and cross-platform games at 1080p, with frame rates often in the 50–70 FPS range on medium settings when titles support Metal or native builds.
However, because macOS still doesn’t have as wide a gaming library as Windows and both models rely on integrated graphics rather than dedicated GPUs, they generally fall short of the sustained high-FPS, max-settings experience you’d get from a dedicated Windows gaming laptop — especially in the latest AAA games. Keep expectations realistic for gaming, and think of these Macs as good for casual and optimised titles, not as replacements for a proper gaming rig.
We still wouldn’t recommend an iMac or MacBook for gamers but it is good to see Apple have improved the gaming performance of their products.
Which to choose?
The Spring 2026 Mac refresh gives Apple fans two clear choices in the UK:
- The MacBook Air M5 is a sleek, capable everyday machine that’s quieter, faster and more efficient than before — a strong pick for students, professionals and general users alike.
- The MacBook Pro with M5 Pro / Max pushes into serious performance territory for demanding workflows and pros who treat their laptops as primary creative stations.
Whichever direction you’re heading, Apple’s latest silicon keeps pushing the envelope on performance per watt — and the UK pricing reflects the premium these machines command in today’s laptop market.
Keep an eye on our website to see when they become available and you can always ask one of our sales team about availability.
