Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M4 vs Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4
By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified May 22 by Billy G.
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M4vsApple MacBook Air 15-inch M4
Verdict: The MacBook Air 15-inch M4 is the stronger overall pick for most users needing a full desktop OS and more RAM out of the box. The iPad Pro 13-inch M4 excels in media consumption and stylus input but trails in multitasking depth. Real-world tests from Notebookcheck show the MacBook Air delivering 17.8 hours of battery versus the iPad's 10.2 hours in similar workloads.
How we scored itSpec verificationOwner sentimentLive pricing (4h refresh)Editorial reviewOur methodology →
Winner: Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M4: 7.5/10
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4: 8.5/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M4
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4
Screen
13-inch Tandem OLED, 2752x2064, 120Hz ProMotion
15.3-inch Liquid Retina, 2880x1864, 60 Hz
Processor
Apple M4
Apple M4
Memory
8 GB unified
16 GB unified
Weight
579 g
1.51 kg
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M4
What works
Ultra-thin 5.1 mm body with tandem OLED for perfect blacks and 1000 nits HDR
Excellent Apple Pencil Pro support and Magic Keyboard integration for note-taking
Up to 10 hours of video playback with cellular option
What doesn't
No native macOS apps or full desktop multitasking
Only 8 GB RAM base model limits heavy multitasking
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4
What works
Full macOS with native desktop apps and external display support up to 6K
16 GB RAM standard and fanless design for silent all-day use
Up to 18 hours of battery life in mixed productivity tasks