Compare · Updated 1 Nov 2026
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14
Get the MacBook Air. Far cheaper, silent and faster for photos and video. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is lighter, with the best keyboard on a laptop and real ports, at a business price.
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Which one is for you?
MacBook Air 13 (M5)
The best value, photo or video editing, an iPhone? Then it's the Air.
Is the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) worth it?ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14
Get the X1 Carbon if this sounds like you: work on Windows, hours of typing every day, projectors or USB-A gear.
Is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 worth it?Key differences
MacBook Air 13 (M5)ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14
Weight
1.23kg
0.98kg (OLED model)✓
Keyboard
Very good
The best on a laptop, with TrackPoint✓
Ports
Two USB-C, MagSafe
Three Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI✓
Performance
Faster for photo and video, silent✓
Quick for office work, fans
Memory
16GB
32GB✓
Related pages
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Expert Reviews, TechRadar: MacBook Pro 14, Expert Reviews: MacBook Pro 16, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 1 Nov 2026How we decide