M1 Max to M5 MacBook Air: Was it a Mistake?

Was switching from a $4,000 M1 Max MacBook Pro to the M5 MacBook Air a mistake? I test the M5 Air with a heavy multitasking workflow (24GB RAM) to see if the base chip can handle my daily Pro apps. After four years with the 16" M1 Max, I wanted to see if I could ditch the bulk for the 13" Sky Blue Air. This is my real-world "stop-gap" test until the M6 OLED models arrive. 🔍 Quick Summary: The Switch: Why the 16" M1 Max was "locking" me to my desk. RAM Testing: How to use Activity Monitor to see if you actually need 24GB. Pro Workflow: Running trading apps, ChatGPT, and Ecamm Live simultaneously. Media Engine: Where the M5 chip finally hit its limit compared to the Max. The Verdict: Is losing the SD card and Mini-LED worth the portability? 💻 MacBook Air M5 - https://amzn.to/4sTwI7C My Configuration - Chip: M5 (Base) | RAM: 24GB | SSD: 1TB | Color: Sky Blue 🕒 Timestamps: 0:00 - The M1 Max to Air Transition 1:03 - M5 Air Configuration 1:38 - Why I Replaced the 16" M1 Max 2:42 - How to Test Your Own RAM Needs 4:08 - Real World Performance: Trading & Multitasking 5:33 - M5 Air Editing Work Flow 7:00 - MacBook Air GPU History 7:31 - Video Editing & Video Encode Engine Issues 9:06 - Livestream Test Thermal Throttling 9:57 - MacBook Pro OLED Screen vs Air LCD 11:00 - Back to the Dongle Life 11:36 - Macbook Air Battery Life 12:00 - Final Verdict: Was it a Mistake? Thinking about making the switch? Thinking about the Macbook Pro M5 or the MacBook Pro M5 Pro or Max? Let me know your current setup in the comments! If you found this helpful, Subscribe for more real-world tech tests. 👍 #MacBookAir #M5MacBookAir #M1Max #Multitasking #MacBookPro #TechReview 🍿 EVERYTHING You Need to Know about HomePods!    • EVERYTHING You Need to Know about HomePods!   🍿 35 HomePod Tips You Need to Know!    • 35 HomePod Tips You Need to Know!   🟠 My Amazon Storefront - https://www.amazon.com/shop/craigstec... 🎟 Channel membership - Support the channel & member only content: https://geni.us/npIB7zG 💳 BUY ME A COFFEE - Donate to the channel: https://paypal.me/CraigCTT ℹ️ WEBSITE - https://www.craigstechtalk.com 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter:   / craigpoulsen   Instagram:   / craig_poulsen   The links are affiliate links. If you use them and buy something I am paid a commission. **I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.