Apple's MacBook Air refresh cycle has been consistent enough to make reasonable predictions about M6 timing.
Expected Timeline
Based on the established pattern:
- M3 MacBook Air: March 2024
- M4 MacBook Air: March 2025
- M5 MacBook Air: March 2026
- M6 MacBook Air: Likely March 2027
That's approximately 12 months from the M5's release.
What M6 Might Bring
Rumors and analyst predictions suggest potential improvements:
- ProMotion (120Hz display): Possibly the first Air with high refresh rate
- OLED screen: Possible but may arrive 2027-2028, with Pro getting it first
- Design refresh: The current chassis design dates to 2022
- Improved chip: Potential TSMC 2nm enhancements
- Thunderbolt 5: Faster external connections
Buy the M5 Now If...
- You need a laptop within the next 6+ months
- Your current laptop is failing or inadequate
- You're upgrading from M1, M2, or Intel
- The M5 MacBook Air meets all your requirements
- Waiting costs productivity or money
Consider Waiting If...
- Your current laptop works fine for another year
- ProMotion/120Hz display genuinely matters to you
- You want to see potential design changes
- Patience comes easily
- Bigger generational leaps appeal to you
The "Always Waiting" Reality
Technology always improves. Wait for M6, and M7 rumors begin. At some point, purchasing becomes necessary. The M5 is excellent today. It's not a gamble.
The Bottom Line
Need it now? Get the M5. Can comfortably wait until spring 2027 with a working laptop? Might be interesting to see what M6 brings.
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How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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