Set between the MacBook Neo and MacBook Pro, the M5 MacBook Air remains the laptop that I recommend for most people.

Still unbeatable in its balance of price and performance. The M5 chip truly makes this a “do-it-all” laptop and also brings faster storage. Doesn't cut corners in port speeds or keyboard like the MacBook Neo.

Apple often touts the MacBook Air as the world's most popular laptop, and it earned that crown. For years, it's been the best laptop you could buy for around $1,000 and was the cheapest MacBook in Apple's lineup.

But with the introduction of the entry-level MacBook Neo, that calculus has changed. The MacBook Air is now the middle option, which means it needs to justify its $500 price difference over the Neo. To make things worse, the latest M5 refresh is one of the least exciting updates to the device in years, offering almost no significant changes other than the chip inside. It would have been easy ...