Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) vs Samsung Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) takes 7.3 weighted points vs 5.5, winning on CPU Benchmark, Pixel Density, Weight. The Samsung Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US counters in a higher tier — worth it if its strengths match your needs.

Winner
Highly Rated

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)

Apple M5 (10 Core) · Integrated (Apple iGPU)

Under $1800
4.8 (748)
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VS

Samsung Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US

Intel Core Ultra 7 258V · Integrated (Intel iGPU)

Under $1800
4.4 (63)
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryMacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US
Gaming3.2/103.5/10
Productivity6/105.8/10
Programming5.4/105.9/10
Engineering / 3D4.2/104.4/10
Student6/105.8/10
Travel / Portability7.2/106.9/10
AI Workloads3.8/104.1/10
Value for Money5/105/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecMacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US
CPUApple M5 (10 Core)Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
PassMark Score27,32219,135
CPU Cores4P+6E4P+4E
GPUIntegrated (Apple iGPU)Integrated (Intel iGPU)
G3DMark Score——
RAM16 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableNo (soldered)No (soldered)
Storage1 TBSSD1 TBSSD
Display15.3″ Liquid Retina16″ AMOLED
Resolution2880x18642880x1800
Refresh Rate60 Hz120 Hz
Pixel Density224 PPI212 PPI
TouchscreenNoYes
Weight3.32 lbs3.7 lbs
Thickness0.45″0.5″
Amazon Rating4.8 ★ (748)4.4 ★ (63)
Value Score5/105/10

CPU Comparison

The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)'s Apple M5 (10 Core) is ~43% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (27,322 vs 19,135). A generational gap you will feel in exports, compiles and heavy multitasking.

GPU & Gaming

Neither carries a dedicated GPU — both fine for esports at low settings, neither for modern AAA gaming.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 6/10 vs 5.8/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but both share a similar power class, so expect comparable endurance.

Display

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026): 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880x1864 @ 60 Hz. Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US: 16″ AMOLED 2880x1800 @ 120 Hz. The Samsung Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US's AMOLED panel is the clear quality win.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026): 16 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD. Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US: 32 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD.

Build & Portability

3.32 lbs / 0.45″ vs 3.7 lbs / 0.5″. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) is 0.4 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 7.2 vs 6.9.

Value

Value scores land 5/10 vs 5/10. Both offer comparable performance for their respective classes.

Final Verdict

Buy the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) — it wins the weighted spec battle. Choose the Samsung Book5 Pro NP964QHA-KG2US only if its specific strengths matter more to you.

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Also Consider

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