Apple Comparison

MacBook Air M5 vs MacBook Pro M4

$1,049 vs $1,399 — bigger screen or more power? Here's the honest answer.

Apple · Our Pick

MacBook Air M5

9.6 /10

$1,049

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Apple

MacBook Pro M4

9.4 /10

$1,399

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Our Verdict

For most people — buy the Air M5. It's $350 cheaper, has a bigger screen (15.3" option), and the M5 chip is actually faster than the base M4 in the Pro. The Pro earns its price with 120Hz ProMotion, HDMI, SD card, and outdoor brightness — but only if you genuinely need those features.

Side-by-Side Specs

Spec Air M5 Pro M4

Price $1,049 $1,399

Chip Apple M5 Apple M4

CPU Performance Faster ✓ Slightly slower

RAM (base) 16GB 16GB

Storage (base) 512GB 512GB

Display 13.6" / 15.3" Retina 14.2" Retina XDR

Refresh Rate 60Hz 120Hz ProMotion ✓

Brightness 500 nits 1000 nits ✓

Cooling Fanless ✓ Active fan

Battery 18 hours 24 hours ✓

Ports 2x TB4 + MagSafe 3x TB4 + HDMI + SD ✓

Weight 2.7 / 3.3 lbs 3.5 lbs

Who Should Buy Which

Buy Air M5 if...

✓Budget is important

✓Want fanless silence

✓Need bigger screen option

✓Mostly use Wi-Fi and dongles

✓Want fastest everyday chip

Buy Pro M4 if...

✓120Hz display matters to you

✓Use SD card or HDMI daily

✓Work outdoors frequently

✓Need maximum battery life

✓Plan to upgrade to M4 Pro chip

Air M5 15" vs Pro M4

Detailed article comparison

M5 vs M4 — Worth Upgrading?

Is the new chip better?

MacBook Air M5 Review

Full tested review

MacBook Pro M4 Review

Full tested review