Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip vs MacBook Pro M5

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip
MacBook Pro M5

Decision sheet: the facts that decide it

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

MacBook Pro M5: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chipMacBook Pro M5
Price today$1,965$1,599
ProcessorApple M4 bestbuy.comApple M5 bestbuy.com
Memory24 gigabytes bestbuy.com32 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Storage512 gigabytes bestbuy.com1000 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Screen size15.3 inches bestbuy.com14.2 inches bestbuy.com
Resolution2880 x 1864 (Retina) bestbuy.com3024 x 1964 bestbuy.com
Weight3.33 pounds bestbuy.com3.4 pounds bestbuy.com
Ports2 bestbuy.com3 bestbuy.com
GraphicsApple M4 10-core bestbuy.comApple M5 10-core bestbuy.com
Starting MSRP$1,399.00 bestbuy.com$2,399.00 bestbuy.com

Not yet sourced — Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip: Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. MacBook Pro M5: Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. No manufacturer, official or retailer source we read publishes these yet; we don't estimate them.

Pick Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip if

Pick MacBook Pro M5 if

Skip both if

  • Neither publishes refresh rate, brightness, battery or battery life yet.

Verdict: Pick Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip if you prioritize the lower price ($1,399) and lighter weight (3.33 pounds). Pick MacBook Pro M5 if you need the higher‑performance Apple M5 processor and 32 GB of memory. Neither publishes refresh rate, brightness, battery or battery life yet.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip lists at $1,965 while MacBook Pro M5 lists at $1,599 — MacBook Pro M5 undercuts Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip by $366 (23%).

Winner: MacBook Pro M5

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip: 7.2/10

MacBook Pro M5: 8.5/10

Spec-by-spec comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chipMacBook Pro M5
Screen size15.3 inches14.2 inches
Resolution2880 x 1864 (Retina)3024 x 1964
PanelLED—
ProcessorApple M4Apple M5
GraphicsApple M4 10-coreApple M5 10-core
Memory24 gigabytes32 gigabytes

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) with M4 chip

What works

  • Weight is 3.33 pounds, making it very portable
  • Thickness is 0.45 inches, giving a slim profile
  • Starting price is $1,399, the lower of the two

What doesn't

  • Only 2 ports limit connectivity
  • Memory is 24 GB, less than the Pro
  • Storage is 512 GB, half of the Pro

MacBook Pro M5

What works

  • Processor is Apple M5, offering higher performance
  • Memory is 32 GB, supporting heavier workloads
  • Three ports provide more connectivity

What doesn't

  • Weight is 3.4 pounds, slightly heavier
  • Starting price is $2,399, significantly higher

Bottom line

Our pick: MacBook Pro M5.

People also ask

How does dell xps 16 vs macbook pro m5 compare?

The Dell XPS 16 offers a larger 16.3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen and up to RTX 4070 GPU for $2,199, while the MacBook Pro M5 provides superior 20-hour battery life, better speakers, and faster M5 chip performance starting at $1,599. The XPS 16 wins for Windows gaming and creative apps needing NVIDIA acceleration; the MacBook Pro M5 is the better overall laptop for most users.

How does asus rog zephyrus g14 vs macbook pro m5 compare?

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 offers a 14-inch 120Hz OLED display, Ryzen 9 8945HS, up to RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD for $1,699, prioritizing gaming performance. The MacBook Pro M5 provides superior battery life, a Liquid Retina XDR display, and faster unified memory architecture but lacks discrete GPU power for demanding games.

View full comparison on GoodPickr

Related Comparisons

People also compared

Browse all comparisons

Buying guides · In-depth comparisons

View Interactive Comparison →

Affiliate disclosure: GoodPickr may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through partner links on this page. Verdicts are editorially independent and never influenced by affiliate relationships.

GoodPickr · Data-backed product comparisons · Built by Golden Consulting Partners