Returned Macbook Air M5 | Part 2
Some of you have already seen my first post (if not, it is here ). And now I'm coming to tell you that I bought the Air M5 AGAIN (but with a different configuration). Yep, but I'll go into details to explain why I returned it and why I bought it again.
Why I bought it for the first time and returned it:
I love my MacBook Air M1 16 GB 512 GB Gold (Rose Gold). It is stylish and fast enough, and I haven't had any major problems with it. Also, I took care of it since the day I bought it, so it hadn't had any scratches, dents, or any other problems, completely flawless, except for some glare on the keyboard from usage.
I have had it since Feb 2022. I bought it sealed and had many life-changing memories with it.
What I hated - even if I had clean hands, the keyboard was getting shiny after some usage, and it bugs me. Also, it has been slowing down lately, but not to the point where it's impossible to work with it. I loved the design of newer Airs, but didn't have enough reasons to upgrade.
Recently, I started looking into the new MacBook Air M5, and with all the Memorial Day discounts, it was so tempting to make a move. I don't need a big SSD, but I wanted to buy a device with bigger RAM so it would be kinda future-proof for me. There was a discount for 24/1Tb, and I got the Starlight color. I don't use credit cards or take loans, and I had enough to buy it cash, but still, that's a decent amount of money, so I had a bit of buyer's remorse.
And once I moved all the data, I didn't wait long enough for it to be fully indexed and for apps to "settle down"; I didn't notice a significant difference for that huge investment. So I've returned it.
Why I bought it again:
I watched several test videos, comparisons of 16Gb RAM and 24Gb RAM, comparisons of M1 and M5, and I decided to give it a chance again, especially given the discount on a base model - 16/512 for 899. Bought one from Costco this time; they have a 90-day return window. And I bought Midnight Blue, which is really beautiful, my favorite one, but I was afraid of buying it due to the fingerprint issue.
It's the second day of usage, and I have some notes, some of which are not said in any of those YouTube tests:
- I definitely needed to give it a day or two. After apps and the file system are optimized/indexed, it flies.
- The newer Wifi 7, few reviewers even mention that, but M1 Air was pushing max 400-450 Mbps at home, M5 Air is pushing 1000 Mbps, and that's a huge difference you feel right away.
- Midnight Blue is different this time; it's not a fingerprint magnet anymore due to different technology being used to cover it. Looks GREAT!
- Keyboard material is different; it feels dusty, and it doesn't look dirty or shiny after half an hour of work on it.
- There is a difference in speed, definitely, you feel it 12 hours after the setup.
Summary: I'll keep it this time. My lovely, excellent-looking M1 goes to eBay to be sold to the next happy owner. Would I recommend upgrading to M5?
If you have pre 2019 models and 2020-2021 models with 8Gb of RAM, you will feel night and day difference
If you have an M1 or later production M CPU, you can look at it if you just want a new device and have some cash to burn.
Posted May 29, 2026, 7:48 PM UTC