Should I buy a used M4 or M5 MacBook Air?
Buy the M4 unless the M5 is cheaper than a new one. The M5 adds a faster chip, Wi-Fi 7, and a 512GB SSD. Apple launched the 13-inch at $1,099 in March 2026, and early November used asks sat around $1,200. That is the wrong direction for a used buy.
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$400$600$800$1,000$1,200
Side by side
Shaded with a red rule: the better side for a typical buyer. Not a lab score.
Air 13-inch M4Air 13-inch M5
Typical price
Better here: About $900
About $1,199
Memory
16GB is standard. It can be ordered with 24GB or 32GB. It cannot be upgraded later.
16GB is standard. Configurable to 24GB or 32GB.
Storage
256GB is the base. 512GB is more comfortable if you store photos or projects locally.
Better here: 512GB is standard, and Apple says this SSD is about twice as fast as the M4 Air’s.
Screen
13.6-inch Liquid Retina, about 500 nits.
13.6-inch Liquid Retina, about 500 nits. Same screen idea as the M4.
Ports
MagSafe, two Thunderbolt ports, and a headphone jack. No HDMI and no SD card slot.
MagSafe and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. No HDMI.
External displays
Two external displays, with the lid open.
Two external displays, with the lid open.
Camera
12MP Center Stage. It keeps you in frame on calls.
12MP Center Stage.
Noise
Silent. There is no fan.
Silent. There is no fan.
Weight
2.7 lb
About 2.7 lb, in the same thin fanless body as the M4 Air.
Battery
Apple’s figure is up to 18 hours of video.
Apple’s figure is up to 18 hours of video, or about 15 hours of wireless web.
Speed
The sweet spot. Comfortable for school, photo work, and most coding.
Better here: Faster than the M4, especially for on-device AI tools. Everyday browsing feels closer than the price gap suggests.
US eBay asking ranges as of November 11, 2026.