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Upgrading from an M1 MacBook Air: what each new Mac gets you
Your MacBook Air 13″ (2020) scores 100 on both CPU and GPU. Today's MacBook Air 13″ (2026) with M5 scores 203 and 220.
CPU
100
GPU
100
Current Air
MacBook Air 13″ (2026)
M5 (10-CPU/8-GPU), 16GB, 512GB · $1099
CPU
203
GPU
220
Current Air vs M1 Air:
CPU +103%
GPU +120%
Price +$100
Scores are relative: 2020 M1 MacBook Air = 100, so 200 is about twice as fast. How we score
Verdict
- Want a laptop
- MacBook Air with M5: about twice the CPU, 16 GB memory, still silent.
- Pro work
- 14″ MacBook Pro with M5 Pro or Max: three times the M1 Air's CPU or more.
- Work at a desk
- Mac mini with M6: faster than the M5 Air on both CPU and GPU, for less.
- M1 still feels fast
- Keep it. Upgrade when 8 GB memory or waiting time starts to hurt.
Configurations to compare
| Model | Configuration | CPU | GPU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13″ (2020) | M1 (8-CPU/7-GPU), 8GB, 256GB | 100 | 100 | $999 |
| MacBook Air 13″ (2026) | M5 (10-CPU/8-GPU), 16GB, 512GB | 203 | 220 | $1099 |
| MacBook Air 15″ (2026) | M5 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512GB | 203 | 253 | $1299 |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (2026) | M5 Pro (15-CPU/16-GPU), 24GB, 1TB | 300 | 411 | $2199 |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (2026) | M5 Max (18-CPU/32-GPU), 36GB, 2TB | 337 | 629 | $3599 |
| Mac mini (2026) | M6 (12-CPU/12-GPU), 16GB, 256GB | 230 | 327 | $899 |
FAQ
Is the M1 Air still 100 in 2026?
Yes. It is the fixed reference point, so every other score is a multiple of it.
What is the biggest CPU jump from an M1 Air?
M5 Max at 337 — about 3.4× the M1 Air. See the CPU ranking for every chip.
What do the scores mean?
Every Mac is scored against the 2020 M1 MacBook Air = 100. A score of 200 means about twice as fast. These are MacDiff's own relative scores, not Geekbench points.