MacBook Air M4: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.
MacBook Pro 14" M5: 13 of 13 decision facts sourced.
| MacBook Air M4 | MacBook Pro 14" M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price today | Price not yet checked | Price not yet checked |
| Processor | Apple M4 bestbuy.com | Apple M5 bestbuy.com |
| Memory | 24 gigabytes bestbuy.com | 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB apple.com |
| Storage | 512 gigabytes bestbuy.com | 1TB SSD base apple.com |
| Screen size | 13.6 inches bestbuy.com | 14.2 in apple.com |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 bestbuy.com | 3024x1964 apple.com |
| Refresh rate | Not yet sourced | 120 Hz apple.com |
| Brightness | Not yet sourced | 1600 nits apple.com |
| Battery | Not yet sourced | 72.4 Wh apple.com |
| Battery life | Not yet sourced | Up to 24 hours video streaming; up to 16 hours wireless web apple.com |
| Weight | 2.73 pounds bestbuy.com | 3.4 lb apple.com |
| Ports | 2 bestbuy.com | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack apple.com |
| Graphics | Apple M4 10-core bestbuy.com | Apple M5 10-core bestbuy.com |
| Starting MSRP | $1,199.00 bestbuy.com | $2,399.00 bestbuy.com |
Not yet sourced — MacBook Air M4: Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. No manufacturer, official or retailer source we read publishes these yet; we don't estimate them.
Verdict: The Pro's 10-core GPU and XDR panel give it clear edges for creative work over the Air's base M4 configuration. Choose based on whether budget or power is the priority.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6 inches | 14.2 in |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 3024x1964 |
| Panel | LED | — |
| Processor | Apple M4 | Apple M5 |
| Graphics | Apple M4 10-core | Apple M5 10-core |
| Memory | 24 gigabytes | 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB |
Our pick: MacBook Pro 14" M5.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a 14-inch OLED touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and 2-in-1 design starting at $1,100, while the MacBook Air M4 has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, M4 chip with superior battery life up to 18 hours, and starts at $1,099. The Spectre provides greater versatility for touch and pen input, but the Air M4 delivers better performance and efficiency for macOS users.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a larger 15.6-inch 3.5K OLED display and up to RTX 4070 GPU for $1,899, while the MacBook Air M4 has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen, integrated M4 chip, and starts at $1,099. The XPS 15 delivers stronger creative performance and ports but is heavier and has shorter battery life than the 18-hour Air M4.
The MacBook Air M4 has an 18-hour battery and starts at $1099 while the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 offers up to 15.5 hours and starts at $1499 with a 2.8K 120Hz OLED option. The Air M4 is lighter at 2.7 lbs with fanless silence but the X1 Carbon provides superior keyboard, TrackPoint, and Thunderbolt 4 ports plus better Linux and enterprise support.
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, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen, and starts at $1,099. The ASUS delivers far higher gaming performance and upgradeable RAM/storage, whereas the MacBook Air M4 offers better battery life, quieter operation, and macOS efficiency.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 offers a Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU, RTX 4070 GPU, 120Hz 14-inch OLED display, and up to 32GB RAM starting at $1,599, while the MacBook Air M4 has an 8-core M4 chip, 10-core GPU, 60Hz 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, and 16GB unified memory from $1,099. The Zephyrus G14 delivers far superior gaming and creative performance with dedicated graphics, but the MacBook Air M4 provides better battery life around 18 hours and a lighter 2.7 lb build.
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