Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro
The Verdict
Apple's M4 MacBook Air 15" delivers impressive everyday performance at an attractive entry price, featuring a spacious 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, solid 10-core CPU/GPU configuration, and exceptional 18-hour battery life in a lightweight 3.3-lb chassis. Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro commands a $700 premium for meaningfully faster performance with its 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, superior 1600-nit mini-LED XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion, longer battery endurance (22 hours), and professional connectivity including HDMI and SD card slots. For content creators, video editors, and developers requiring sustained performance, the Pro's extra horsepower and display capabilities justify its cost. However, students, writers, and casual professionals will find the Air entirely sufficient and better value. Choose the MacBook Air 15" M4 unless your workflow demands the Pro's GPU acceleration and high-refresh XDR panel,then the investment pays dividends.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 if…
- →M4 chip delivers massive performance leap over M3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- →16 GB RAM standard — no more $200 upgrade from 8 GB
- →18-hour battery life is genuinely all-day
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro if…
- →Powerful M4 Pro performance in a portable chassis
- →Bright mini-LED ProMotion display
- →Long battery life around 22 hours
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15" M4
Pros
- M4 chip delivers massive performance leap over M3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 16 GB RAM standard — no more $200 upgrade from 8 GB
- 18-hour battery life is genuinely all-day
- Fanless design is completely silent under all workloads
- Gorgeous 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display for content consumption
Cons
- Still limited to 60Hz display — no ProMotion
- Only two Thunderbolt ports — both on the left side
- Base 256 GB storage is tight for a $1,299 laptop
- No HDMI or SD card slot — dongles still required
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro
Pros
- Powerful M4 Pro performance in a portable chassis
- Bright mini-LED ProMotion display
- Long battery life around 22 hours
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports for high-speed I/O
- Excellent build quality and speakers
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Base RAM bumped to 24 GB raises entry cost
- Notch in display divides opinion
- No cellular or touchscreen option
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | macOS Sequoia |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) | 1.60 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Aluminum unibody |
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | — |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | ||
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 3 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 22 hours wireless web |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 72.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 14.2 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 3024 x 1964 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz ProMotion |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 1600 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) | 512 GB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 24 GB unified |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | Apple M4 Pro |
Related Comparisons
- Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs LG gram 14 (2024)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
- Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs HP Spectre x360 14 (2023)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs Dell XPS 14 (2023)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all Apple products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 or the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro.