Verdict: The MacBook Pro 14" M5 outperforms on GPU tasks and display quality per its 10-core GPU and XDR panel specs. The MacBook Air M4 delivers strong value at $600 less with identical CPU core count. Both remain current 2025-2026 models with M-series chips.
MacBook Air M4 lists at $999 while MacBook Pro 14" M5 lists at $1,599 — MacBook Air M4 undercuts MacBook Pro 14" M5 by $600 (60%).
Winner: MacBook Pro 14" M5
MacBook Air M4: 7.5/10
MacBook Pro 14" M5: 8.5/10
| MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Pro 14" M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| display | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR |
| chip | M4 (10-core CPU, 8-core GPU) | M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) |
| memory | 16GB unified | Up to 24GB unified |
| storage | 256GB SSD | Up to 1TB SSD |
Our pick: MacBook Pro 14" M5.
The HP Spectre x360 14 uses a convertible 2-in-1 chassis on Windows with Intel Core Ultra chips. The MacBook Air M4 runs macOS in a fixed aluminum body with Apple silicon.
The Dell XPS 15 runs Windows on Intel Core Ultra chips with a 15.6-inch display and ports including HDMI plus SD card reader. The MacBook Air M4 uses the Apple M4 chip on macOS with a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen and only Thunderbolt ports.
The MacBook Air M4 runs macOS on the M4 chip with a fanless design and starts at lower pricing than comparable Windows ultrabooks. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 uses Intel Core Ultra processors in a carbon-fiber chassis with more ports and a superior keyboard.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 runs Windows with a discrete NVIDIA GPU for gaming while the MacBook Air M4 uses integrated M4 graphics suited only to lighter tasks. The MacBook Air M4 delivers longer battery life in a thinner chassis than the thicker ASUS TUF Gaming A15.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 uses an AMD Ryzen CPU and RTX 4060 GPU while the MacBook Air M4 runs on Apple silicon without discrete graphics. The Zephyrus supports Windows gaming workloads that the Air cannot match.
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