MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M5: which is better for gaming?
Compared across 35 Mac games · High preset · no MetalFX
In short
The MacBook Air M5 (Apple M5) is 35% faster on average than the MacBook Air M4 (Apple M4): 75 vs 56 FPS at 1080p High across the games both can run. It clears 60 FPS in 22 games versus 14.
It is a noticeable jump: the MacBook Air M5 lets you go one step up in quality or resolution in most games.
14 games at 60+ FPS · wins 0 of 35
22 games at 60+ FPS · wins 33 of 35
Average FPS by resolution
| Resolution | MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Air M5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 56FPS | 75FPS | +34 % |
| 1440p | 35FPS | 48FPS | +37 % |
| 4K | 18FPS | 25FPS | +39 % |
Which one for your resolution?
- 1080p: MacBook Air M5, at 75 FPS on average, smooth.
- 1440p: MacBook Air M5, at 48 FPS on average, playable.
- 4K: MacBook Air M5, at 25 FPS on average, though neither is smooth without lowering settings.
Specifications
| MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Air M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 | Apple M5 |
| Generation | M4 | M5 |
| GPU cores | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Geekbench Metal | 49,002 | 65,377 |
| Unified memory | 16 / 24 / 32 GB | 16 / 24 / 32 GB |
| Cooling | Fanless | Fanless |
| Gaming score | 13/100 | 18/100 |
| Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Game performance
Estimate1080p · High
The MacGameFPS verdict
Calibrated on real Mac benchmarks, not spec sheets
Verdict
The MacBook Air M5 wins in 33 of 35 games. It is a noticeable jump: the MacBook Air M5 lets you go one step up in quality or resolution in most games.
FAQ
Which is better for gaming, the MacBook Air M4 or the MacBook Air M5?
The MacBook Air M5: it wins in 33 of 35 games and is 35% faster on average at 1080p High.
Is upgrading from the MacBook Air M4 to the MacBook Air M5 worth it for gaming?
It is a noticeable jump: the MacBook Air M5 lets you go one step up in quality or resolution in most games.
How big is the FPS gap in Cyberpunk 2077?
At 1080p High, the MacBook Air M4 gets about 15 FPS and the MacBook Air M5 about 21 FPS.
Which one for 1440p or 4K gaming?
At 1440p the average is 35 vs 48 FPS, and at 4K 18 vs 25 FPS (MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Air M5).
How much memory should I get?
For gaming, 16 GB is the sensible minimum and 24 GB leaves headroom. The MacBook Air M4 ships with 16, 24, 32 GB and the MacBook Air M5 with 16, 24, 32 GB.
