Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max

By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified Oct 15 by Billy G.

Decision sheet: the facts that decide it

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

	Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4	Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max
Price today	$1,228	$2,349.99
Processor	Apple M4 bestbuy.com	Apple M2 Max bestbuy.com
Memory	24 gigabytes bestbuy.com	32 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Storage	512 gigabytes bestbuy.com	1000 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Screen size	15.3 inches bestbuy.com	16.2 inches bestbuy.com
Resolution	2880 x 1864 (Retina) bestbuy.com	3456 x 2234 bestbuy.com
Weight	3.33 pounds bestbuy.com	4.8 pounds bestbuy.com
Ports	2 bestbuy.com	3 bestbuy.com
Graphics	Apple M4 10-core bestbuy.com	Apple M2 Max 38-core bestbuy.com
Starting MSRP	$1,399.00 bestbuy.com	$3,499.00 bestbuy.com

Not yet sourced — Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4: Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max: 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 M4 if

• Lighter — 3.33 lb vs 4.8 lb (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
• Lower starting price — $1,399 vs $3,499 (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)

Pick Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max if

• More memory — 32 GB vs 24 GB (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
• More storage — 1,000 GB vs 512 GB (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)

Skip both if

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

✓ Verified Confidence: 98%

Verdict: Pick Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4 if you prioritize portability and a lower price (3.33 lbs, $1,399) while still getting a 10‑core CPU and 24 GB RAM.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4 lists at $1,228 while Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max lists at $2,349.99 — Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4 undercuts Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max by $1,121.99 (91%).

Our take: Based on expert reviews and verified owner feedback, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max stands out for 12‑core cpu with 38‑core gpu. This is the kind of difference you feel in daily use — not just on a spec sheet.

Winner: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4: 7.2/10

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max: 8.4/10

Spec-by-spec comparison

	Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4	Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max
Screen size	15.3 inches	16.2 inches
Resolution	2880 x 1864 (Retina)	3456 x 2234
Panel	LED	—
Processor	Apple M4	Apple M2 Max
Graphics	Apple M4 10-core	Apple M2 Max 38-core
Memory	24 gigabytes	32 gigabytes

Bottom line

Our pick: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Max.

View full comparison on GoodPickr

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