16GB vs 24GB MacBook Air M5: Don’t Make This Mistake

2026年5月10日 Andre Creates

The MacBook Air M5 is one of the best laptops Apple has ever made, but the base model can be a trap if your workflow is heavier than basic everyday tasks. In this video, I break down why 16GB of RAM and the base SSD configuration can become a problem in 2026, especially for video editing, heavier multitasking, large files, and long-term ownership.

After real-world use, I realised the issue isn’t the M5 chip itself… it’s the configuration. I’ll show you what happened when I pushed the MacBook Air M5 with my actual workflow, why 24GB RAM makes far more sense for serious work, and why the internal SSD upgrade can now be smarter than buying external storage later.

I also compare the real pricing between Apple’s internal SSD upgrades and popular external SSD options like the Samsung T7, OWC Express 1M2, and OWC Envoy Ultra, so you can decide which MacBook Air M5 configuration is actually worth buying.

If you’re trying to decide between the base MacBook Air M5 and a better upgrade path, this video should save you money and help you avoid a very expensive mistake.

Products mentioned in this video:

* MacBook Air M5 13-inch
* Samsung T7 SSD
* OWC Express 1M2
* OWC Envoy Ultra
* External SSD options for MacBook Air M5
* MacBook Air M5 24GB RAM / 1TB SSD configuration
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Timestamps

0:00 The MacBook Air M5 is incredible… but I made 2 mistakes
0:24 This is not a bad laptop
0:47 The real problem isn’t the M5 chip
1:03 What happened when I used it for real work
1:52 The MacBook Air M5 pricing trap
2:46 The Storage Problem
3:07 The Math no one does (SSD)
6:14 The real numbers
6:51 Who should buy the base model

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Gear i use and/or recommend (Amazon Affiliate)

Mechanical Keyboard – https://www.keychron.com/?ref=ANDRERODRIGUES
Ipad Pro M5 – https://amzn.to/4uV9H5m
Ipad Pro M2 – https://amzn.to/3ZV7o3K
Magic Keyboard – https://amzn.to/40OxNAA
Best Ipad Case – https://amzn.to/4gze3a2
Best Ipad Folio – https://amzn.to/4jJuK5w
Mini USB-C Hub – https://ziketech.com/products/iphone-15-usb-c-extender
PowerBank – https://amzn.to/412I9OD
Trackpad – https://amzn.to/4i3uuNd
SSD Samsung T7 Touch – https://amzn.to/3whOu8L

Macbook Gear:

Benq Display – https://amzn.to/4rEbwlh
Macbook air M5 – https://amzn.to/3O8lRY7
MacBook Pro M5 – https://amzn.to/46wt0re
Macbook Pro M4 Pro – https://amzn.to/3CvmV24
Macbook Pro M3 Max – https://amzn.to/4f4flcR
Mac Mini M2 Pro – https://amzn.to/3XfReOU
Mac Mini M2 – https://amzn.to/3RHOf0y
Mac mini M1 – https://amzn.to/3ZQoeQt
Airpods Pro 3 – https://amzn.to/4bRmsVZ
Mechanical Keyboard – https://www.keychron.com/?ref=ANDRERODRIGUES
Apple Keyboard – https://amzn.to/3TlngZ0
Trackpad – https://amzn.to/4i3uuNd
Apple Mouse – https://amzn.to/3clGWvg
Macbook Stand – https://amzn.to/3B6ISEe
Best Macbook Docking Station – https://amzn.to/3EC9mij
Fastest Macbook TB5 Dock – https://amzn.to/3EC9mij
SSD Samsung T7 Touch – https://amzn.to/3whOu8L
Fastest External SSD – https://amzn.to/4u32WOK

Camera & Audio Gear

Main camera – https://amzn.to/48qUrCG
Main Lens – https://amzn.to/48zNMGo
B-Cam – https://amzn.to/410GQPG
Lens – https://amzn.to/3xeECNA
Key Light – https://amzn.to/4f6SUUW
Lights – https://amzn.to/3YEK2Np
Softbox – https://amzn.to/3HOanSx
Microphone – https://amzn.to/4sMc9Ki

***Some product links are affiliate links, meaning we’ll receive a small commission if you buy something.

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