MacBook Air M5 vs ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA)
MacBook Air M5 (#1, best overall) vs ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) (#3, best value): in our Student Laptops scoring the MacBook Air M5 totals 9.3/10 and the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) 7.9/10.
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Prices and availability shown are accurate as of Jul 26, 2026 and are subject to change; the merchant's price at purchase applies.
TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| MacBook Air M5 | ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199 | — |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Apple M5 (10-core CPU) | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U |
| RAM | 16GB - 24GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 512GB - 1TB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| GPU | Apple M5 (8-core GPU) | AMD Radeon Graphics (integrated) |
| Display | 13.6" Liquid Retina 2560x1664 | 15.6" OLED FHD 1920x1080 |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs | 3.75 lbs |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | 50Wh battery |
How they differ in real use
Built from our student laptops scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the MacBook Air M5 and the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) made our Top 5 Student Laptops, at #1 (best overall) and #3 (best value). The MacBook Air M5 (2026) is the safest premium student pick because it doubles base storage to 512GB, moves to Apple's faster M5 chip, and keeps the fanless design, long battery life, and durable build that made the M4 generation a top pick before it. ASUS's current Vivobook 15 OLED listing pairs a newer Ryzen 5 7530U processor with the same vivid FHD OLED display that has made this line a budget-OLED favorite for students who spend hours reading and watching lecture recordings.
We score student laptops on Value (30%), Battery Life (25%), Portability (20%), Performance (15%) and Build Quality (10%). On that basis the MacBook Air M5 totals 9.3 out of 10 and the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) 7.9. The widest gap is Battery Life, where the MacBook Air M5 scores 10 against 7 for the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) — hours of real-world use. Performance also separates them: 10 for the MacBook Air M5 versus 7.6 for the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA). The ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) claws back ground on Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Operating System — macOS on the MacBook Air M5 versus Windows 11 on the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA); CPU — Apple M5 (10-core CPU) on the MacBook Air M5 versus AMD Ryzen 5 7530U on the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA); RAM — 16GB - 24GB on the MacBook Air M5 versus 8GB on the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA); Storage — 512GB - 1TB SSD on the MacBook Air M5 versus 512GB SSD on the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA); GPU — Apple M5 (8-core GPU) on the MacBook Air M5 versus AMD Radeon Graphics (integrated) on the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA); Display — 13.6" Liquid Retina 2560x1664 on the MacBook Air M5 versus 15.6" OLED FHD 1920x1080 on the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA).
The MacBook Air M5 lists at $1,199; the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA)'s current price is on the merchant page. Owners praise the MacBook Air M5 for exceptional battery life (up to 18 hours) and silent fanless design; the most common complaint is only 2 Thunderbolt ports. Owners praise the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) for vibrant 15.6" FHD OLED display and newer Ryzen 5 7530U processor; the most common complaint is 8GB RAM is the entry-level configuration.
MacBook Air M5
- Exceptional battery life (up to 18 hours)
- Silent fanless design
- 512GB base storage, doubled from the M4 generation
- Faster M5 chip for multithreaded and AI workloads
- Only 2 Thunderbolt ports
- No ProMotion display (60Hz)
- List price rose after Apple's mid-2026 memory-driven price increase
ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA)
- Vibrant 15.6" FHD OLED display
- Newer Ryzen 5 7530U processor
- Lightweight for a 15.6" laptop (3.75 lbs)
- Comfortable full-size keyboard
- 8GB RAM is the entry-level configuration
- Plastic build
- Limited port selection
Which should you buy?
The MacBook Air M5 is the better fit for students wanting premium and macOS users — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Battery Life and Performance. The ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) is the better fit for media lovers and students wanting OLED, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. The MacBook Air M5 is a poor fit for budget students; the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) is a poor fit for heavy multitaskers needing more RAM.
Choose the MacBook Air M5 if
- Students wanting premium
- macOS users
- Long lecture days
Skip it if
- Budget students
- Windows users
Choose the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) if
- Media lovers
- Students wanting OLED
- Budget-conscious
Skip it if
- Heavy multitaskers needing more RAM
- Rugged use
Common questions
Is the MacBook Air M5 better than the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA)?
In our Student Laptops ranking the MacBook Air M5 scores higher overall, 9.3 to 7.9, with the biggest advantage in Battery Life. The ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA) is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
What is the main difference between the MacBook Air M5 and the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA)?
The headline spec difference is Operating System: macOS on the MacBook Air M5 versus Windows 11 on the ASUS Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505YA). In use, the gap that matters most is Battery Life (10 vs 7 in our scoring): hours of real-world use.