MacBook Air 15" M5vsSurface Laptop 7
Two of the best ultraportables of 2026. One runs macOS, one runs Windows 12 — here's how they actually compare.
MacBook Air 15" M5
Surface Laptop 7
Side-by-side specs
Pros & cons
For pure portability + battery + creator workflows the MacBook Air M5 still wins. For Windows-native shops or anyone who genuinely uses a touchscreen, the Surface Laptop 7 is a quieter, better-built revision than its predecessors — and Copilot+ is a real differentiator if you use AI daily.
In depth
Both machines hit the same sweet spot: thin, light, all-day battery, and a premium aluminum chassis. The decision is almost entirely about operating-system preference and workflow.
Pick the MacBook Air M5 if: you live on Mac apps (Final Cut, Logic, Xcode), you carry your laptop all day and value the fanless silence, or you already own an iPhone and Apple Watch.
Pick the Surface Laptop 7 if: you're a Microsoft 365 power user, you want the touchscreen, or you specifically want a Copilot+ PC for on-device AI like recall and image generation.
Either choice will easily last 5+ years. Both have excellent build quality and trade-in value.