Apple claims both laptops get 18 hours of battery life. They have identical 53.8Wh batteries. So what's actually different? The test results tell an interesting story.
Normal Indoor Use: Essentially Identical
At typical brightness indoors (around 150 nits):
- M5: Approximately 16 hours
- M4: Approximately 16 hours
They're basically the same. The M4 actually lasted 2 minutes longer in one test, which is statistically meaningless.
Video Playback: M5 Wins
In video playback tests:
- M5: 16 hours 38 minutes
- M4: 14 hours 34 minutes
That's 14% better on the M5 MacBook Air, likely thanks to improved media engine efficiency. Apple didn't even advertise this.
Maximum Brightness: M4 Wins
At full screen brightness:
- M5: 6 hours 39 minutes
- M4: 7 hours 5 minutes
The M4 lasts about 26 minutes longer at maximum brightness. The M5's faster chip requires slightly more power when everything is pushed to the limit.
What This Means Practically
Unless you regularly work outside or in extremely bright environments, this is a non-issue. Both laptops easily last a full workday and more at normal brightness settings.
The 6% difference at maximum brightness only affects outdoor workers or those who prefer blindingly bright screens.
Charging Performance
Both include similar chargers and take about 2 hours for a full charge. No advantage either way.
The Bottom Line
Don't choose between M4 and M5 based on battery life. They're practically identical for real-world use. Make your decision based on storage, performance, or price, knowing battery life is excellent on both.
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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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