Should You Upgrade from M4 to M5?
No. If you have an M4, keep it.
The M5 is better — faster chip, 16GB RAM standard, Wi-Fi 7. But not $1,049 better when you already have a working M4. Save your money.
Now if you're buying new — always buy the M5. The M4 shouldn't exist at this point.
What's Actually Different
The 16GB Upgrade is the Real Story
The M5 chip improvements are real but evolutionary. The truly meaningful change is 16GB RAM standard.
The M4 shipped with 8GB at the base price — technically workable but showing its age under heavy use. The M5 fixes this permanently. No more "is 8GB enough?" conversations. It is, because it's 16.
The Upgrade Guide
M1 or M2 → Upgrade immediately ✓
3x faster performance. 16GB RAM. The difference is night and day. Do it.
M3 → Consider it ⚠️
Real but modest gains. Worth it if AI performance matters to you. Otherwise wait for M6.
M4 → Don't upgrade ✗
Keep your M4. The gains don't justify $1,049 when you already have a great machine. Wait for M6.
Bottom Line
Buying new? Always the M5 — the M4 is now a discounted previous-gen chip. Already have an M4? Keep it, you made a good choice. Coming from M1/M2? Upgrade now, you'll notice the difference every day.
MacBook Air M5 13-inch