MacBook Professional vs MacBook Air 2025 comparability: Distinction between Air & Professional

Apple’s hottest Mac laptop computer is the MacBook Air, which gives an excellent mixture of options for the standard consumer, however there’s one other MacBook to think about is you’re on the lookout for the very best MacBook – the extra highly effective MacBook Professional.

On this article, we intention to assist those that need to purchase an Apple laptop computer, however aren’t certain what the distinction between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Professional is and whether or not the cheaper Air may be pretty much as good because the Professional.

We’ll clarify the benefits and drawbacks of shopping for a MacBook Air or MacBook Professional, we’ll focus on what makes the MacBook Air so widespread, and we’ll discuss which makes use of every Mac laptop computer is finest suited to.

We’ll additionally look in depth on the numerous specs and options of the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional, so you may see how the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional evaluate when it comes to worth, show, design, processor, graphics, storage, RAM, ports, battery life and extra. We focus on these parts and the opposite variations between the MacBook Air and Professional within the article.

What’s the distinction between the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional?

The MacBook Air and MacBook Professional cater to totally different consumer wants, with the Air being a extra budget-friendly and moveable choice for basic use, and the Professional designed for customers requiring increased efficiency and superior options. These variations embody processing energy, thermal administration, show high quality, and port choice.

The MacBook Air is right for general-purpose customers, college students, and those that prioritize portability and affordability, whereas the MacBook Professional is best fitted to demanding customers, professionals, and creatives who require superior efficiency.

The MacBook Professional encompasses a superior show in comparison with the MacBook Air, with variations in pixel density, brightness, and refresh charges.

The MacBook Professional, geared up with a fan, can maintain excessive efficiency throughout intensive duties like video enhancing or code compilation, whereas the fanless MacBook Air could throttle to take care of temperature throughout extended heavy processing.

The MacBook Air fashions typically provide as much as 18 hours battery life, whereas the 14-inch MacBook Professional fashions lengthen this to 24 hours.

MacBook Professional fashions additionally provide extra in depth port alternatives, together with HDMI and SDXC card slots, along with Thunderbolt ports, whereas MacBook Air fashions solely provide Thunderbolt/USB4 ports and a MagSafe charging port.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional In contrast: Which MacBook is finest?

The query of which MacBook is finest depends upon what you want. The final word and strongest MacBook is the M4 Max powered MacBook Professional, however that will likely be overpowered and prohibitively costly to most individuals. The perfect worth MacBook is the MacBook Air, and it’s not shocking that it’s the hottest Mac, however there are causes to think about the entry-level MacBook Professional, which has a barely increased worth, however is best suited to demanding customers than the Air.

Proper now, whereas we anticipate Apple to replace the MacBook Air with an M5 chip, we’re recommending the M5 MacBook Professional as the very best MacBook for many as a result of it gives such an incredible mixture of worth, efficiency, and options. Nevertheless, when you want one thing with a bit extra oomph then the M4 Professional or M4 Max MacBook Professional will likely be a greater choice.

Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional, M5 – Finest MacBook for most individuals

Professionals

• All MacBook Professional fashions have superior show
• Wonderful battery life

Cons

• Value seems very excessive in comparison with Air

Value When Reviewed:

$1,599

Finest Costs Immediately:

$1,479

$1540.15

$1549

$1599

$1599

Who’s the 14-inch MacBook Professional with M5 for?

The MacBook Professional covers some huge floor when it comes to what’s supplied and therefore will meet the wants of many very totally different customers. On the entry-level is the M5 MacBook Professional, which is extra similar to the MacBook Air than the highly effective M4 Professional or M4 Max MacBook Professional that slot in additional up the vary.

The M5 MacBook Professional is the Mac to decide on when you want a bit extra oomph than the MacBook Air may give, however don’t have the cash for a MacBook Professional with M4 Professional chip. The opposite main causes to decide on the M5 MacBook Professional over the Air are it’s considerably higher display screen, higher battery life, and extra ports.

For those who want extra energy and have the funds, the M4 Professional or M4 Max fashions are those to decide on, and we’ll focus on them in additional element later.

What it’s good to know in regards to the MacBook Professional with M5

The M5 MacBook Professional was launched in October 2025 and gives the latest Apple processor with an up to date GPU that’s higher geared up for AI than the M4 in its predecessor (and the MacBook Air).

Previous to the M5 replace, this MacBook Professional shared the identical M4 processor because the MacBook Air that arrived in March 2025 and the machines had comparable specs. Nevertheless, whereas these specs appeared comparable on paper the 2 laptops weren’t similar, and now that the M5 has arrived the variations are much more pronounced.

The obvious indication that the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional are totally different beasts is the worth: The 14-inch MacBook Professional begins at $1,599/£1,599. That’s $400/£400 greater than the entry-level MacBook Air. However it might be incorrect to check the $1,599 MacBook Professional with the $999 MacBook Air, which has half the storage and fewer processor cores.

A greater comparability is between the MacBook Professional M5 with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB reminiscence, and a 512GB SSD, and the 13-inch MacBook Air with 512GB SSD for $1,199/£1,199.  So in actuality we’re actually speaking about spending $400 extra to get the 14-inch MacBook Professional. Add on a much bigger display screen with the 15-inch MacBook Air and the distinction is even smaller: the 512GB 15-inch MacBook Air is $1,399. The worth hole isn’t as huge as you may assume.

The M5 is an excellent cause to spend that extra cash. However it’s not all you get. You get a Mac with a greater show, higher warmth administration, higher battery life, higher audio and extra ports. All of these options could also be nicely value the additional expense when in comparison with the MacBook Air. We’ll focus on these variations in much more element later on this article.

There’s additionally much more selection relating to the elements of the MacBook Professional. The M5 fashions can assist as much as 32GB RAM, just like the MacBook Air, however solely the M5 can assist 4TB storage, the Air is restricted to 2TB.

To get the very best deal on a MacBook Professional learn our spherical up of the Finest MacBook Professional offers.

Learn our full

Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M5, 2025) evaluate

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air – Finest worth MacBook

Cons

• Slower than MacBook Professional
• Inferior show to MacBook Professional

Value When Reviewed:

$999

Finest Costs Immediately:

$749.99

$890.11

$899

$999

Who’s the 13-inch MacBook Air for?

The MacBook Air will greater than meet the wants of the bulk, with the added bonus that it’s lighter than the MacBook Professional making it best for anybody who wants to hold their Mac round, equivalent to college students and commuters.

That is additionally the Mac most cost-effective Mac laptop computer you should buy, however you might be able to get it for even lower than Apple sells it for – check out our spherical up of the Finest MacBook Air offers.

What it’s good to know in regards to the MacBook Air, 13-inch

The 13-inch M4 MacBook Air was final up to date in March 2025. It’s the most cost-effective MacBook Air you should buy, beginning at $999/£999. For that you simply get an M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB reminiscence, and a 256GB SSD. 

Spend $200/£200 extra and you will get a barely higher 10-core CPU plus double the storage, at 512GB. That $1,199/£1,199 mannequin is our best choice as you get a greater 10-core GPU and double the storage, and you’ll most likely want that additional storage sooner or later. This mannequin can be comparative to the equally speced entry-level MacBook Professional, which prices $1,599/£1,599. So it can save you $400 for comparable spec, though as we clarify within the part on the M5 MacBook Professional, there are a selection of enhancements you solely get with the MacBook Professional, equivalent to a greater show, higher warmth administration, higher battery life, higher audio and extra ports.

For $1,399/£1,399 you will get extra unified reminiscence (Apple’s title for RAM): 24GB as a substitute of 16GB, however you’ll most likely be pleased with 16GB RAM. These are the usual configurations. There are extra build-to-order choices accessible that embody 32GB unified reminiscence, and 1TB or 2TB SSD.

For those who want a much bigger display screen there’s a 15-inch MacBook Air accessible, mentioned elsewhere on this article.

It’s doubtless that the MacBook Air will acquire an M5 within the spring of 2026

Learn: M4 MacBook Air: Every part it’s good to know for extra info.

Apple 15-Inch MacBook Air – Most cost-effective huge display screen MacBook

Professionals

• Giant display screen at a very good worth

Cons

• Comparable Air prices solely barely lower than extra highly effective Professional

Value When Reviewed:

$1,199

Finest Costs Immediately:

$949.99

$1097

$1099

$1199

$1199

Who’s the 15-inch MacBook Air for?

If you would like a much bigger show in your laptop computer and funds doesn’t run to the MacBook Professional, the MacBook Air with 15-inch show will likely be enough.

What it’s good to know in regards to the MacBook Air, 15-inch

The specs of the 15-inch MacBook Air could look similar to the M5 MacBook Professional, however the Air misses out on some essential options of the Professional which has a greater display screen, higher battery life, and extra ports.

If these issues don’t matter for you although then save your cash and select the 15-inch MacBook Air. The most cost effective 15-inch MacBook Air you should buy begins at $1,199/£1,199. For that you simply get an M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB reminiscence, and a 256GB SSD. Notice that the M5 MacBook Professional gives a 512GB SSD for $1,599/£1,599, the equal 15-inch MacBook Air prices $1,399/£1,399, so it’s solely a $200 saving to get like-for-like. We predict $200 is a good worth to pay for the advantages of the MacBook Professional, however it depends upon your funds.

One other factor to notice is that despite the fact that the title of the MacBook Air was all the time meant to indicate that it was a slim and lightweight laptop computer, if you evaluate it to the MacBook Professional you could be shocked to study that the 15-inch Air is just fractionally lighter (3.3 kilos vs 3.4 kilos). It’s nonetheless thinner although (0.45in vs 0.61in) so it would slide into your bag with extra ease.

The M4 MacBook Air was launched in March 2025. We anticipate that will probably be up to date to the M5 in spring 2026.

Learn our full

Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025) evaluate

Apple 14-Inch MacBook Professional, M4 Professional/Max – Strongest Mac laptop computer

Professionals

• Giant display screen at a very good worth

Cons

• Replace to M4 Professional and Max anticipated in first half of 2026

Value When Reviewed:

$1,999 | $2,399

Who’s the 14-inch MacBook Professional, M4 Professional & Max for?

As we mentioned at the start of this text, there are quite a lot of totally different MacBooks, particularly if you have a look at the 14-inch MacBook Professional. We’ve mentioned the MacBook Professional M5 individually, however the MacBook Professional with M4 Professional or M4 Max are for a totally totally different consumer.

Mac customers who want their Mac laptop computer to have important processing energy for demanding duties will need to have a look at the M4 Professional or M4 Max-powered MacBook Professional. That’s professionals such as high-end video creators, digital artists and illustrators, programmers and designers, anybody needing extra oomph than the normal M4 MacBook Professional gives.

The M4 Max chip is much more highly effective than the M4 Professional, and is for professionals equivalent to media producers and software program builders who require important processing energy for multitasking and demanding workloads. This chip supplies extra GPU cores and helps better quantities of RAM than the M4 Professional.

After getting selected the chip you want the following determination is between the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Professional. The 14-inch mannequin will suite those that are ceaselessly on the street and worth portability, or at anybody who will likely be principally working from an exterior monitor when at their desk.

What it’s good to know in regards to the 14-inch MacBook Professional, M4 Professional & Max?

The obvious distinction between the M5 MacBook Professional and the M4 Professional and M4 Max variations is the processor. For readability, whereas the M5 is the latest era Apple chip, it’s not higher than the M4 Professional. For every era, the Professional model of the Apple-made silicon helps extra CPUs and extra GPUs, extra reminiscence, and extra ports, like Thunderbolt 5, that aren’t but supported on the entry-level. It was once the case that solely the Professional and Max variations supplied the Professional Movement show, however that is not the case.

The M4 Professional helps as much as 48GB RAM and 20-core GPU, whereas the M4 Max helps as much as 128GB RAM and a 40-core GPU. Solely the Max helps a most of 8TB storage, in comparison with 4TB within the Professional. The M4 Professional does profit from higher battery life than the Max although (22 vs 18 hours). Count on the M5 Professional and Max to push even additional ahead once they launch, most likely in spring 2026. Learn: MacBook Professional M5 Professional & Max: The place are the Professional MacBooks?

The one actual drawback is that these fashions include an exceptionally excessive worth although, beginning at $1,999/£1,999 for the M4 Professional and $3,199/£3,199 for the M4 Max.

Apple 16-inch MacBook Professional, M4 Professional/Max – Final Mac laptop computer

Cons

• Replace to M4 Professional and Max anticipated in first half of 2026
• Very excessive worth

Value When Reviewed:

$2,499 | $2,899

Finest Costs Immediately:

$2,199

$2218.09

$2249

$2499

Who’s the 16-inch MacBook Professional for?

The 16-inch MacBook Professional is the final word Mac, however it doesn’t provide higher specs than the 14-inch MacBook Professional. All it gives is a much bigger show and higher battery life – each of which can be crucial consider your determination. It’s a super Mac laptop computer for anybody who’s all the time on the transfer and away from an exterior show. For those who want a giant screened highly effective Mac you should utilize wherever it’s good to be, get the 16-inch MacBook Professional. Check out the Finest Mac screens and shows we’ve reviewed.

What it’s good to know in regards to the MacBook Professional, 16-inch

Just like the 14-inch mannequin, the 16-inch MacBook Professional comes with M4 Professional or M4 Max chip, however in contrast to the 14-inch, there is no such thing as a normal M4 choice right here. The entry worth is a hefty $2,499/£2,499 for an M4 Professional with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB Unified Reminiscence, and 512GB SSD. For those who spec up an equal 14-inch mannequin (utilizing the build-to-order choices for a 20-core GPU), it involves $2,199/£2,199, suggesting that the bigger display screen has a $300 premium hooked up to it.

Nevertheless, it’s not solely the display screen dimension that’s totally different. The larger laptop computer permits for a much bigger battery, and which means higher battery life. The M4 Professional model of the 16-inch MacBook Professional gives 24 hours of battery life and the M4 Max model tops out at 21 hours. That is spectacular, however the M5 14-inch MacBook Professional additionally manages 24 hours. The smaller Professional and Max battery life is 22 for the Professional and 18 for the Max.) The principle consideration right here being that the Max is extra battery guzzling, however that’s a good worth to pay for that additional energy.

However, what are you getting for the additional cash when you select a 16-inch MacBook Professional over the 14-inch mannequin? Apart from the larger display screen and higher battery life, there’s probably not the rest.

Learn our full

Apple 16-inch MacBook Professional (M4 Professional, 2024) evaluate

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional worth and worth for cash

Since funds is usually the principle challenge, we’ll begin with worth and the way a lot you get to your cash.

With no ‘funds’ MacBook Professional accessible, the MacBook Air is the one choice for these on the lookout for a cut price. In case you are on the lookout for the most cost effective choice the $999/£999 MacBook Air would seem like the clear winner. Nevertheless, we suggest spending $200/£200 extra to get the 10-core CPU/10-core GPU 512GB MacBook Air, which is value each additional penny.

The worth of the MacBook Professional is increased, and on on a regular basis duties it performs the identical because the MacBook Air, however it does provide higher efficiency on lengthy, CPU-intensive duties, like picture and video rendering and comparable duties. To not point out the higher display screen, HDMI port, and SDXC Card slot, and extra mentioned beneath. At $200/£200 greater than the 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 and the identical 512GB SSD, it truly represents good worth for cash.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Show comparability

One of many greatest variations between the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional is the standard of the show. There’s much more to separate the shows than diagonal measurements.

• 13-inch MacBook Air: 13.6 inches diagonal, 2,560 by 1,664 pixels
• 14-inch MacBook Professional: 14.2 inches diagonal, 3,024 by 1,964 pixels
• 15-inch MacBook Air: 15.3 inches diagonal, 2,880 by 1,864 pixels
• 16-inch MacBook Professional: 16.2-inches diagonal, 3,456 by 2,234 pixels

You’ll discover from the above that there are considerably extra pixels on the MacBook Professional screens – even when in comparison with a bigger MacBook Air mannequin.

The MacBook Air has what Apple calls a Liquid Retina show. The MacBook Professional has a superior Liquid Retina XDR panel. The picture high quality is considerably higher on the MacBook Professional. Nevertheless, to the common individual the display screen high quality of the MacBook Air will likely be greater than enough.

It’s not simply fewer pixels although. Each Airs have a most brightness of 500 nits, which is half of the Professional’s 1,000 nits in regular use, or a 3rd when you’re operating HDR content material at a max of 1,600 nits of which the MacBook Professional is succesful. That is achieved by the Professional show incorporating mini-LEDs relatively than the Air’s normal LCD display screen.

Maybe the largest distinction although is that the Professional options ProMotion, that means that the refresh fee tops out at 120Hz, once more double that of the Air’s 60Hz refresh fee. This helps maintain scrolling and animations easy and crisp. Any of those shows will likely be nice for on a regular basis use and lengthy hours of labor, however the Professional has the sting relating to options.

And there’s extra. With the M4 MacBook Professional, Apple launched a nano-texture glass choice that has a matte-like end for $150. This selection shouldn’t be accessible on the MacBook Air, and if it’s good to minimize down the glare from the show, it’s a characteristic to think about.

All of that is moot if you’ll plug your Mac right into a show, in fact, through which case you should buy a show that gives you the display screen high quality you want.

Foundry

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Efficiency Distinction

There’s a cause why there’s a “Professional” within the title. The MacBook Professional is best suited to professional customers, by which we imply inventive professionals, graphic designers, photographers, movie makers, 3D animators, programmers, and so forth. A MacBook Air can be greater than enough for house customers, college students, and workplace employees, however as quickly as you begin to push it with one thing extra demanding, like film enhancing software program, or a pc recreation, you may discover it heats up and slows down a bit, at the very least compared to how a MacBook Professional would cope with the dame calls for. That’s why we are likely to suggest the MacBook Air to those that transcend the standard consumer.

Regardless of this, if you’re upgrading an outdated pc, the MacBook Air will really feel tremendous speedy no matter you’re doing with it.

We now have the information beneath to point out simply how a lot better MacBook Professional efficiency is in comparison with the MacBook Air.

The chart beneath exhibits the Geekbench outcomes for the varied processors.

The MacBook Air is slower as a result of to ensure that it to be so compact it’s fanless, which suggests it’s much less in a position to handle warmth, and subsequently could run slower in an effort to maintain cool when you actually push it. If it’s energy you want then, because the benchmarks present, a MacBook Professional could have the sting.

Nevertheless, that’s to not say that the M4 MacBook Air is gradual. As you may see from the scores above, the M4 shoots forward of the M3, M2 and M1, in reality it even scores above the M3 Professional. The M4 MacBook Air is lots highly effective sufficient for most individuals, and certain manner higher than any outdated Mac you’re changing.

If you actually need a robust machine you may need to contemplate the M4 Professional MacBook Professional.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Processor

All of Apple’s laptops are powered by Apple’s silicon and proper now the most recent Apple chip is the M4, which comes within the following varieties: M4, M4 Professional and M4 Max. To study extra about all of the Mac processors learn our Mac processor comparability.

In the case of the processor specs the MacBook Professional and MacBook Air truly look fairly nicely matched, as proven by this desk.

Nevertheless, there’s a distinction when it comes to how nicely the processors carry out within the totally different fashions, as you may see from the Geekbench and Cinebench outcomes beneath. A equally specced MacBook Professional performs higher than the MacBook Air, albeit solely barely higher.

• The M4 15-inch MacBook Air scored 14680 within the a number of CPU Geekbench and 3907 within the GPU check for Cinebench 2024. The 13-inch MacBook Air outcomes are comparable.
• The M5 14-inch MacBook Professional scored 18013 within the a number of CPU Geekbench and 5867 within the GPU check for Cinebench 2024.
• The M4 Professional 16-inch MacBook Professional scored 22406 within the a number of CPU Geekbench and 9297 within the GPU check for Cinebench 2024.

Foundry

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: RAM (unified reminiscence)

Previous to October 2024, many Macs shipped with simply 8GB RAM as normal. Lately a Mac could wrestle with simply 8GB RAM so Apple has upped this allocation, and since October 2024 all MacBook Air and MacBook Professional ship with at the very least 16GB RAM as normal. There’s an choice to extend unified reminiscence to 24GB or 32GB within the M4 MacBook Professional and Air.

For those who want extra reminiscence you have to to look to the MacBook Professional with M4 Professional or M4 Max. With the M4 Professional you may stand up to 48GB unified reminiscence, whereas the M4 Max can assist as much as 128GB reminiscence.

Our recommendation is to get as a lot RAM as you may afford if you purchase the Mac, as you may’t improve it later.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Storage

Apple gives a 256GB storage choice on the entry-level for each the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air. The entry-level MacBook Professional begins at 512GB. There’s the choice so as to add 1TB or 2TB SSD to for the MacBook Air, the M5 MacBook Professional positive factors assist for 8TB SSD.

Whereas a 2556GB SSD may show to be sufficient for you, particularly when you use iCloud or different cloud primarily based providers to complement your storage. However 512GB could be a greater choice, as we discovered, see: Right here’s proof {that a} 256GB SSD is simply too small for a Mac in 2025.

Another excuse to keep away from the 256GB mannequin: in earlier generations, there have been some considerations about this 256GB SSD, with studies that its SSD is as much as 50 p.c slower on learn speeds and 30 p.c on write speeds. We discovered that these observations have been certainly true once we ran our personal set of assessments utilizing Blackmagic Disk Pace Check on older MacBook fashions. In newer occasions, this has gave the impression to be much less of a problem. This can solely matter if you’re utilizing apps that entry the SSD typically, so it could not make a distinction in typical use.

If you would like a fair larger SSD it’s good to have a look at the MacBook Professional fashions with the M4 Professional and M4 Max which may assist as much as 8TB SSD.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Design

Foundry

Following a redesign of the MacBook Air in June 2022, you can have been forgiven for pondering you have been a MacBook Professional. Gone is the tapered edge for which the Air was well-known, changed with a extra uniform design. The MacBook Air remains to be thinner – albeit fractionally – however it is usually very barely bigger than the outdated model of the Air, due to the larger display screen.

Each the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional have a notch on the high of the display screen as see on some iPhone fashions. It’s not a nasty factor, however some individuals don’t like notches. The notch conceals the FaceTime digital camera, which, with the introduction of the M4 MacBook Air, is now the identical 12MP Heart Stage digital camera with assist for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording on all fashions.

Regardless of the presence of the iPhone-like notch, MacBooks don’t provide Face ID for unlocking. As a substitute all MacBook’s have a Contact ID sensor constructed into the keyboard, so you may simply faucet your finger on there to unlock issues and enter passwords.

Eugen Wegmann

One key distinction between these MacBooks is the colour selections. There are 4 shade selections for the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air: Midnight (darkish blue), Starlight (gold), Sky Blue and Silver. Apple launched the Sky Blue choice with the M4 MacBook Air and discontinued the Area Grey choice (to the dismay of some). The Starlight shade is paler gold, whereas Midnight is near black with a darkish blue hue.

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional provide solely Silver and Area Black choices.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Dimensions

Foundry

Apple refers to them because the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch and 15-inch MacBook Professional. The measurements are primarily based on the display screen dimension, however these numbers are literally not correct. Right here’s what the true display screen measurements are:

• The display screen on the 13-inch MacBook Air measures 13.6-inches diagonally.
• The display screen on the 15-inch MacBook Air measures 15.3-inches diagonally.
• The display screen on the 14-inch MacBook Professional measures 14.2-inches diagonally.
• The display screen on the 16-inch MacBook Professional measures 16.2-inches diagonally.

A bigger show doesn’t essentially imply the Mac is larger and heavier although. The 15-inch Air is thinner, so it not solely weighs lower than the 16-inch MacBook Professional, it is usually lighter than the 14-inch MacBook Professional as a result of followers wanted for warmth dissipation within the extra highly effective machine.

• 16-inch MacBook Professional, M4 Professional: 4.7 kilos (2.14 kg), M4 Max: 4.7 kilos (2.15 kg)
• 14-inch MacBook Professional, M4 Professional: 3.5 kilos (1.60 kg), M4 Max: 3.6 kilos (1.62 kg)
• 14-inch MacBook Professional, M5: 3.4 kilos (1.55 kg)
• 15-inch MacBook Air, M4: 3.3 kilos (1.51 kg)
• 13-inch MacBook Air, M4: 2.7 kilos (1.24 kg)

From the figures above, you’ll discover that the M4 Professional and M4 Max fashions weigh a bit bit greater than the M5 MacBook Professional.

And as you may see from the beneath, the 13-inch MacBook Air dimensions aren’t a lot smaller than these of the 14-inch MacBook Air. Given that there’s truly solely half an inch (0.6in) distinction in display screen dimension, this shouldn’t be shocking.

• 16-inch MacBook Professional: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches (35.57 x 24.81 x 1.68cm)
• 15-inch MacBook Air: 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches (34.04 x 23.76 x 1.15cm)
• 14-inch MacBook Professional: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches (31.26 x 22.12 x 1.55cm)
• 13-inch MacBook Air: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches (30.41 x 21.5 x 1.13cm)

Apple

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Battery life and charging

IDG

In the case of battery life, based on Apple, the MacBook Air gives 18 hours battery life when video streaming, whereas the 14-inch M5 MacBook Professional gives an 24 hours video streaming, based on Apple. The principle cause for this distinction is that the 14-inch MacBook Professional has a bigger battery: 72.4 watt-hours in comparison with 66.5 watt-hours within the 15-inch MacBook Air and 53.8 watt-hours within the 13-inch Air. The battery within the 16-inch MacBook Professional is even larger at 100 watt-hours.

• MacBook Air, 13-inch, M4, 18 hours battery life (Apple)
• MacBook Air, 15-inch, M4, 18 hours battery life (Apple), 1,076 minutes, just below 18 hours (our check)
• MacBook Professional, 14-inch, M5, 24 hours battery life (Apple), 27 hours and quarter-hour (our check)
• MacBook Professional, 14-inch, M4 Professional/M4 Max, 22 hours battery life (Apple)
• MacBook Professional, 16-inch, M4 Professional/M4 Max, 24 hours battery life (Apple), 26 hours (our check)

It’s not simply how lengthy the battery lasts that issues, but in addition the charging pace. The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Air ships with a 30W adapter, the opposite 13-inch Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air ship with a 35W energy adapter. You may choose as a substitute for a 70W adapter for quick charging at no additional value (except you’re shopping for the entry-level mannequin, through which case the 70W or 35W adapter prices $20/£20).

Relying on the place on the planet you reside, the 14-inch MacBook Professional M5 ships with a 70W charger, with the chance to change to a 96W charger for $20, which you want for quick charging. For those who occur to reside within the U.Ok. or Europe and need to have a Energy Adapter to your M5 MacBook Professional then you need to pay additional: £59 for the 70W and £79 for the 96W. Count on the facility adapter to be faraway from the field in European nations when Apple updates the opposite Mac laptops in 2026.

The M4 Professional MacBook Professional ships with a 70W adapter, there’s the choice of a 96W charger for $20/£20. You want a 96W adapter to quick cost the 14-inch MacBook Professional. The 16-inch mannequin ships with a 140W adapter, which permits for quick charging.

Every 14-inch MacBook Professional may be quick charged the 96W adapter and the MacBook Air may be quick charged with a 70W adapter (not included). See our comparability check of Apple’s MacBook Air chargers in addition to the finest USB-C charger to your MacBook.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Ports, growth and show assist

Through the years it’s felt like Apple has been on a mission to take away ports from Macs in an effort to make them slimmer and slimmer. This has been a drawback for a lot of, though typically when you want extra or totally different ports you may simply plug in an adapter or a dock (learn: Finest USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac).

The MacBook Air gives a MagSafe charging port alongside two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports. It might assist two 6K exterior shows, which is yet one more than the M3-powered MacBooks may. See: How one can join two or extra exterior shows to an M1, M2, M3 or M4 MacBook.

The M5 MacBook Professional gives a 3rd Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port, in addition to HDMI and SDXC ports. It might assist as much as two exterior 6K shows, or one 8K show and a 4K show.

The M4 Professional and M4 Max MacBook Professional provide three Thunderbolt 5/USB‑C ports in addition to the HDMI and SDXC ports.

The M4 Professional has can assist the identical variety of exterior shows because the M5. The M4 Max can assist as much as 4 exterior shows: three 6K shows and one 4K show, or two 6K and one 8K show.

As but Thunderbolt 5 has solely arrived on the Professional and Max fashions, it doubles the bidirectional information bandwidth from 40Gbps to 80Gbps and, for show connections, it could obtain speeds of as much as 120Gbps utilizing Bandwidth Enhance. It additionally helps as much as 240W of energy supply downstream, a considerable improve from Thunderbolt 4’s 100W.

Connectivity for all MacBook fashions is by way of Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E. All Mac laptops provide a 3.5mm headphone jack. 

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MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Audio and digital camera

The entire MacBooks within the present era provide a 12MP Heart Stage digital camera that mechanically retains the consumer within the heart of the body. The digital camera additionally helps Desk View, which may present the desk area in entrance of the laptop computer. That is an improve from the M3 MacBooks, which solely supplied a 1080p FaceTime digital camera.

The 15-inch MacBook Air has a profit over the 13-inch MacBook Air mannequin: if encompasses a six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers, in comparison with a four-speaker sound system. Apple describes the speaker system within the 14-inch MacBook Professional as a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, indicating that it’s superior to that within the 15-inch Air. Apple additionally refers to a “studio-quality three-mic array with excessive signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming” within the 14-inch Professional, whereas each Air fashions provide solely a “three-mic array with directional beamforming”.

The MacBook Professional has a greater speaker system than the MacBook Air: six-speaker arrays relatively than a four-speaker sound system. The sound on the MacBook Professional is described by Apple as “Excessive Constancy,” by which we assume Apple is indicating it’s superior to the Air.

MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional: Shopping for recommendation

So which MacBook must you select? In case you are on a funds it needs to be the MacBook Air and also you received’t be disenchanted. For those who want a bit extra energy than the Air can provide, and a greater high quality show, the M5 MacBook Professional will see you good. However when you want much more energy you’ll must fork out for the M4 Professional or M4 Max MacBook Professional fashions.

If one issue that’s essential to you is the display screen dimension, the 15-inch MacBook Air provides you with a bigger display screen for much less cash than the 14-inch MacBook Professional. Simply remember that display screen high quality is inferior to that on the dearer mannequin. After all, if you’ll plug your Mac into an exterior show every time you’re at your desk this shouldn’t be a choice breaker. See our round-up of the finest shows for Mac.

If it’s show high quality that issues, the XDR, ProMotion show of the MacBook Professional will meet your wants. There’s additionally the choice of a non-glossy Nano-texture show with the MacBook Professional that doesn’t exist for the Air.

We suggest getting the very best machine you may afford on the time of buy since you received’t have the ability to improve down the road. On the time of your buy be sure to add enough RAM and storage to your wants. For extra assist with this learn: How a lot RAM, SSD, GPU, CPU do you want in a Mac?

Fortunately, you don’t must pay full worth for a MacBook Air or MacBook Professional, take a look at our finest MacBook Air offers and finest MacBook Professional offers articles for the very best reductions accessible.

Lastly, a phrase of warning: if you’re tempted purchase a used Intel-powered MacBook (one which predates Apple’s transfer away from Intel to provide its personal chips from 2020) we strongly suggest that you simply don’t purchase it as Apple is unlikely to assist Intel Macs for for much longer. Only a few Intel Macs can run macOS Tahoe and Apple has confirmed that 2026’s replace to macOS won’t run on any Intel Macs. Learn: How lengthy does Apple assist Macs.

We additionally aid you select the Finest Mac in our purchasing information. For getting recommendation on the finest Home windows laptops, see our sister web site PCWorld.

Why you may belief Macworld’s recommendation

Macworld has been protecting every little thing Apple associated since our first challenge which arrived alongside the unique Mac in 1984. No one is aware of Apple higher, besides most likely Apple, however the distinction is that we’re fully neutral. We’re made up of a crew of consultants with a long time of experiences with Macs and different Apple merchandise, and between us we’ve reviewed each Apple product that means we’re uniquely positioned to supply shopping for recommendation.