MacBook Air M4: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.
| MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price today | Price not yet checked | Price not yet checked |
| Processor | Apple M4 bestbuy.com | Apple M5 Max bestbuy.com |
| Memory | 24 gigabytes bestbuy.com | 36 gigabytes bestbuy.com |
| Storage | 512 gigabytes bestbuy.com | 2000 gigabytes bestbuy.com |
| Screen size | 13.6 inches bestbuy.com | 16.2 inches bestbuy.com |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 bestbuy.com | 3456 x 2234 bestbuy.com |
| Weight | 2.73 pounds bestbuy.com | 4.7 pounds bestbuy.com |
| Ports | 2 bestbuy.com | 3 bestbuy.com |
| Graphics | Apple M4 10-core bestbuy.com | Apple M5 Max 32-core bestbuy.com |
| Starting MSRP | $1,199.00 bestbuy.com | $4,399.00 bestbuy.com |
Not yet sourced — MacBook Air M4: Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max: Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. No manufacturer, official or retailer source we read publishes these yet; we don't estimate them.
Verdict: The Air M4 offers lighter (2.73 lb vs 4.7 lb) and lower starting price ($1,199 vs $4,399); the Pro 16 M5 Max counters with more memory (36 GB vs 24 GB) and more storage (2,000 GB vs 512 GB). Neither publishes refresh rate, brightness, battery or battery life yet.
MacBook Air M4 lists at $999 while MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max lists at $3,499 — MacBook Air M4 undercuts MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max by $2,500 (250%).
Winner: MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max
MacBook Air M4: 7.2/10
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max: 8.8/10
| MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6 inches | 16.2 inches |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 3456 x 2234 |
| Panel | LED | — |
| Processor | Apple M4 | Apple M5 Max |
| Graphics | Apple M4 10-core | Apple M5 Max 32-core |
| Memory | 24 gigabytes | 36 gigabytes |
Our pick: MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max.
The HP Spectre x360 14 features a 14-inch 120Hz OLED touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, up to 32GB RAM, and starts at $1,300, while the MacBook Air M4 has a 13.6-inch 120Hz Liquid Retina display, M4 chip with 10-core GPU, up to 24GB unified memory, and starts at $1,099. The Spectre offers 2-in-1 versatility and better port selection, but the Air M4 delivers superior battery life, performance consistency, and macOS ecosystem integration.
The Dell XPS 15 features a 15.6-inch 3.5K OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 processors, up to 64GB RAM, and starts at $1,999, while the MacBook Air M4 has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, M4 chip with 10-core GPU, up to 24GB unified memory, and starts at $1,099. The XPS 15 offers superior screen size, raw multi-core performance for heavy workloads, and discrete GPU options, but the Air M4 delivers far better battery life, lighter 2.7 lb build, and silent fanless operation.
The MacBook Air M4 has a 13.6-inch 2560x1664 display, 16GB unified memory, up to 2TB SSD, 18-hour battery, and starts at $1099. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 features a 14-inch 1920x1200 or 2.8K OLED option, up to 64GB LPDDR5x RAM, up to 2TB SSD, 15-hour battery, and starts at $1479.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a Ryzen 7 7735HS, RTX 4060 GPU, 144Hz 15.6-inch display, and starts at $1,100, while the MacBook Air M4 uses an 8-core M4 chip, 16GB unified memory, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen, and starts at $1,099. The ASUS delivers far higher gaming performance and upgradeable storage, but the MacBook Air M4 offers better battery life, quieter operation, and a lighter 2.7 lb build.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 offers a 14-inch 120Hz OLED display, Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU, RTX 4070 GPU, and 32GB RAM for $1,699, delivering superior gaming performance. The MacBook Air M4 has a 13.6-inch 120Hz LCD, M4 chip with 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory starting at $1,099, and excels in battery life and macOS efficiency.
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