MacBook charger
Apple’s new MacBook M5 offers major performance gains and doubled base storage, but UK and EU buyers face a surprising catch. Pexels

Apple's latest release brings a significant performance boost, yet customers in certain regions face a surprising trade-off. While the New MacBook arrives with the powerful M5 chip and increased storage, the retail box is getting notably thinner for those in the UK and EU.

This shift means that while your new laptop will run faster than ever, you will likely need to supply your own power brick to keep it running.

M5 Chips and Storage Upgrades

Apple took the wraps off the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models on Tuesday, opting for M5-series chips and increased base storage to tempt buyers in a sluggish PC market where memory costs continue to climb.

The update boasts a new MacBook Air with the M5 chip under the hood. Aside from that, the Tim Cook-led tech giant unveiled premium MacBook Pro models running on M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon. According to the company, these latest processors provide a major boost to overall speed and more power for handling AI tasks directly on the device.

The 13-inch New MacBook Air starts at $1,099 (£822) and now offers 512GB of storage as standard, doubling the capacity of the previous entry-level model. Previously, buyers had to spend $1,199 (£896.80) to reach that 512GB mark, so this new starting price effectively serves as a discount for those seeking more space.

The Move to Silicon Efficiency

Starting in 2020, Apple moved away from Intel processors in favour of its own M-series silicon to boost speed and battery endurance. This transition has helped the new MacBook stand out from Windows-based rivals by offering a level of efficiency that traditional PC manufacturers struggle to match.

Starting at $2,199 (£1644.75), the 14-inch New MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip now includes a 1TB drive as standard, doubling the 512GB found in previous entry-level models. By increasing these internal specs while keeping the main price points steady, Apple is repeating a value-driven strategy seen across its latest laptop lineup.

Market Pressures and Component Costs

The new MacBook arrives as the broader PC industry navigates a period of inconsistent demand, with manufacturers slashing prices to attract customers. Many consumers and companies have put off buying new hardware after the massive wave of laptop sales seen during the pandemic.

Memory chips like DRAM and NAND flash are essential for laptop speed and storage, but their prices have soared as manufacturers shift their focus to the high-demand AI sector. While these internal upgrades offer a significant performance boost, shoppers in certain markets will find that the New MacBook experience now comes with one less item in the box.

Regional Charger Removal in the UK and EU

MacRumors reports that Apple has removed the power adapter from the box for its latest MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro models across the UK and several EU countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. While this may surprise some, the shift actually began last year when the base 14-inch MacBook Pro first arrived without a charger.

The report also notes that anyone requiring a power adapter must purchase one separately, either at the time of purchase or later.

Elsewhere, Apple continues to include a charger in the box for these Macs at no extra cost. In the US, the MacBook Neo includes a 20W USB-C Power Adapter—usually priced at $19 (£14.21)—while the 16-inch MacBook Pro still comes with a 140W brick that retails for $99 (£74.05). Regardless of where they are purchased, all new MacBook models worldwide still ship with a USB-C or MagSafe 3 charging cable included.

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