Apple
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026)
$1099
Released 2026-03
Best Laptops · head-to-head
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) is cheaper at $899. Every spec and price links to its source.
Framework
Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025)
$899Cheaper
Released 2025-04
Which is better: the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) or Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025)?
They split the 2 specs we compare evenly. The Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) is the cheaper at $899.
See Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) on Amazon See Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) | Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1099 | $899 |
| Brand | Apple | Framework |
| Released | 2026-03 | 2025-04 |
| Display (in) | 13.6 | 13.5 |
| Resolution | 2560x1664 | 2880x1920 |
| CPU | Apple M5 (10-core, 4 super + 6 efficiency) | AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 or Ryzen AI 9 365 or HX 370 (RDNA 3.5 iGPU, Strix Point) |
| GPU | Apple M5 integrated (8-core or 10-core) | AMD Radeon (RDNA 3.5 integrated, up to 16 CUs) |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 16 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 512 |
| Weight (kg) | 1.23 | 1.3 |
| Battery (Wh) | 53.8 | 61 |
| OS | macOS 26 | Windows 11 Home |
| Ports | MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 3.5mm headphone jack | 4x user-configurable expansion card slots (USB-C 40Gbps, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) |
| Release | 2026-03 | 2025-04 |
Sources — Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026): apple.com (verified 2026-06-15). Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025): en.wikipedia.org (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) and Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (8 of 10). Matching specs are omitted.
- Display (in): Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) 13.6 vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) 13.5
- Resolution: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) 2560x1664 vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) 2880x1920
- CPU: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) Apple M5 (10-core, 4 super + 6 efficiency) vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 or Ryzen AI 9 365 or HX 370 (RDNA 3.5 iGPU, Strix Point)
- GPU: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) Apple M5 integrated (8-core or 10-core) vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) AMD Radeon (RDNA 3.5 integrated, up to 16 CUs)
- Weight (kg): Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) 1.23 vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) 1.3
- Battery (Wh): Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) 53.8 vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) 61
- OS: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) macOS 26 vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) Windows 11 Home
- Ports: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026) MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 3.5mm headphone jack vs Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025) 4x user-configurable expansion card slots (USB-C 40Gbps, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.)
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5, 2026)
Three whitelisted testers lab-reviewed the 13-inch MacBook Air (M5) (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar, Tom's Guide); all rate it the best mainstream ultraportable, praising fast M5 performance, roughly 15.5-hour battery life, and the doubled 512GB base storage with a much faster SSD. Shared gripes: a $100 price hike (no longer $999), an incremental update over the M4, and — noted by Tom's Hardware — the fanless chassis throttling under sustained load. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Fast M5 performance that handles everyday and heavier creative workloads; All-day battery life (~15.5 hours in web testing); Doubled 512GB base storage plus much faster SSD.
Flagged: $100 price increase over the M4 (no longer starts at $999); Only an incremental upgrade over the M4, especially for M4 owners; Display notch remains and there is still no touchscreen.
Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300, 2025)
Across three whitelisted testers (Tom's Hardware and PCWorld lab-tested; Engadget hands-on only), the Ryzen AI 300 refresh is a solid, highly repairable ultraportable let down by battery life and fan noise. The two lab tests measured 9-11 hours of runtime, well behind rivals. Note Tom's Hardware and PCWorld tested different CPU tiers of the same 2025 AI 300 line (HX 370 vs Ryzen AI 7 350). (3 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Unmatched modularity, repairability and cheaper mainboard-only upgrade path; Strong CPU/productivity performance, clear step up over prior Intel/AMD boards; Bright, sharp 120Hz IPS display (480-540 nits measured).
Flagged: Poor battery life, trails competitors by hours (9h11m and just over 11h measured); High up-front price near $2,000, costlier than faster rivals; Persistent fan noise and heat under load.