Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M4 vs Apple 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.
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
What doesn't
- 60 Hz display lacks the smoothness of ProMotion
- No touch input or stylus support
Bottom line
Our pick: Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4. It edges out the alternative on full macos with native desktop apps and external display support up to 6k. That said, Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M4 still wins on ultra-thin 5.1 mm body with tandem oled for perfect blacks and 1000 nits hdr — consider it if that single trade matters most for your use.
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