Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)

Name: Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026) — Comparison Review
Item: Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)
Rating: 8.8
Author: Billy G.

By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified Nov 10 by Billy G.

Apple MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip

Apple MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)

Decision sheet: the facts that decide it

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip: 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026): 9 of 13 decision facts sourced.

	Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip	Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)
Price today	$1,120	$3,749.99
Processor	Apple M4 bestbuy.com	Apple M5 Max bestbuy.com
Memory	16 gigabytes bestbuy.com	36 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Storage	512 gigabytes bestbuy.com	2000 gigabytes bestbuy.com
Screen size	14 inches bestbuy.com	16 inches bestbuy.com
Resolution	3024 x 1964 bestbuy.com	3472 x 2266 bestbuy.com
Weight	3.42 pounds bestbuy.com	4.06 pounds bestbuy.com
Ports	3 bestbuy.com	3 bestbuy.com
Graphics	Apple M4 10-core bestbuy.com	Apple M5 Max 32-core bestbuy.com
Starting MSRP	$1,499.00 bestbuy.com	$4,799.00 bestbuy.com

Not yet sourced — Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip: Refresh rate, Brightness, Battery, Battery life. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026): 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 Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip if

Lighter — 3.42 lb vs 4.06 lb (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
Lower starting price — $1,499 vs $4,799 (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)

Pick Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026) if

More memory — 36 GB vs 16 GB (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)
More storage — 2,000 GB vs 512 GB (bestbuy.com, bestbuy.com)

Skip both if

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

Verified Confidence: 88%

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip. And the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026) represent successive generations of Apple's professional notebook lineup, each tuned for different priorities in portability, processing power, and screen real estate. Public specifications and aggregated reviews highlight the 14-inch model's compact aluminum unibody, 24 GB unified memory, and efficient M4 chip as suited to users who value a 3.4-pound weight and a starting price of $1,899, while the larger 16-inch version pairs an 18-core M5 Max processor with 36 GB of memory, a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, and a $4,399 entry point that supports sustained workloads requiring maximum GPU cores and thermal headroom. Battery endurance, keyboard travel, and port selection remain broadly consistent across both, yet screen size and raw compute clearly diverge. Bottom line: choose the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip for lighter everyday professional use or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026) when the extra cores, memory. And display justify the added cost and weight.

Verdict: Both share macOS and Thunderbolt 4 ports, but the 16‑inch wins on raw performance while the 14‑inch wins on portability and price.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip lists at $1,120 while Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026) lists at $3,749.99 — Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip undercuts Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026) by $2,629.99 (235%).

Winner: Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip: 7.5/10

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026): 8.8/10

Spec-by-spec comparison

	Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip	Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)
Screen size	14 inches	16 inches
Resolution	3024 x 1964	3472 x 2266
Panel	LED	OLED
Processor	Apple M4	Apple M5 Max
Graphics	Apple M4 10-core	Apple M5 Max 32-core
Memory	16 gigabytes	36 gigabytes

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2024) with M4 chip

What works

Apple M4 processor provides efficient performance

What doesn't

Weight 3.42 pounds may be noticeable for extended handheld use

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026)

What works

Apple M5 Max with 18‑core CPU delivers top‑tier performance
36 GB memory handles demanding workloads

What doesn't

Trails the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 chip on weight — 4.06 lb vs 3.42 lb
Trails the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 chip on starting MSRP — $4,799 vs $1,499

Bottom line

Our pick: Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max, 2026).

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