MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro 2025: Which Mac should you buy? Leave a comment
You’ve decided you want a MacBook, but the question of “MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro?” stays. I am not an authorized Apple Genius, however I’ve spent a whole lot of hours utilizing and reviewing each present MacBook Air and MacBook Professional for Laptop computer Magazine, so I am prepared that can assist you discover the best MacBook in your wants.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals: In 2025, the MacBook Air and Professional lineups consist of 4 choices: 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch MacBook Airs and 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch MacBook Execs.
The MacBook Air models are limited to Apple’s M4 chip, while the MacBook Pro features the M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max. Only the Pro models offer the more powerful “Pro” or “Max” chipsets, one of the most apparent differences between the Air and Pro MacBooks. The base MacBook Pro 14-inch blurs these lines with its standard M4 chip.
People often ask me, “Is the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro better?” There is no universal answer to that question; there is only which is better for you. So, let’s find out.
I will compare price, features, performance, battery life, and more to determine whether you should invest in the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro in 2025.
And once we’ve determined whether the MacBook Air or Pro is better for you, our best MacBook deals may also help you safe the perfect value.
MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Specs compared
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Best for most |
Big screen value |
Portable power |
Peak performance |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 |
MacBook Air 13 (M4) |
MacBook Air 15 (M4) |
MacBook Pro 14-inch |
MacBook Pro 16-inch |
|
Price |
||||
|
CPU |
M4 |
M4 |
M4, M4 Professional or M4 Max |
M4 Professional or M4 Max |
|
RAM |
As much as 32GB |
As much as 32GB |
As much as 128GB |
as much as 128GB |
|
Show |
13.6 inches (2560 x 1600) |
15.3 inches (2880 x 1864) |
14.2 inches (3024 x 1964), 120Hz |
16.2 inches (3456 x 2234), 120Hz |
|
Ports |
2 Thunderbolt 3/USB 4, MagSafe, headphone |
2 Thunderbolt 3/USB4, MagSafe, headphone |
3 Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC card, MagSafe, headphone |
3 Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC card, MagSafe, headphone |
|
Graphics |
M4 |
M4 |
M4, M4 Professional or M4 Max |
M4 Professional or M4 Max |
|
Storage |
as much as 2TB |
As much as 2TB |
As much as 8TB |
as much as 8TB |
|
Battery Life (hrs) |
15:42 (examined) |
15:14 (examined) |
18:32 (examined) |
20:46 (examined) |
|
Safety |
Contact ID |
Contact ID |
Contact ID |
Contact ID |
|
Measurement |
11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches |
13.40 x 9.53 x 0.45 inches |
12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches |
14 x 9.8 x 0.66 inches |
|
Weight |
2.7 kilos |
3.3 kilos |
3.4 kilos |
4.7 kilos |
The Quick List
1. Macbook Air 13-inch M4
The MacBook most individuals should purchase
The MacBook Air M4 is the MacBook most individuals should purchase proper now. The M4 chip presents loads of efficiency for many customers. Mix that with virtually 16 hours of battery life and a vivid Retina show, and it is a straightforward choose.
2. MacBook Air 15-inch M4
The most effective inexpensive big-screen MacBook
The MacBook Air 15 crammed a spot in Apple’s laptop computer lineup: an enormous display that does not price $2,500+. Certain, it is simply an M4 Air with an even bigger show, however that is an ideal laptop computer for many individuals.
Greatest MacBook for moveable efficiency
Whether or not you’re enhancing images or movies, creating music, or engaged on an enormous spreadsheet, the MacBook Professional 14 is the way in which to go. The M4’s energy and endurance took one other leap.
4. MacBook Professional 16 (M4 Professional)
Greatest MacBook for peak efficiency
The MacBook Professional 16 with M4 Professional can deal with any process. Whether or not it is the bigger show, greater peak efficiency, or 4 further hours of battery life, the Professional 16 earns its premium value.
Sean Riley
Sean Riley has lined all kinds of tech over his 15 years as a journalist and has reviewed over 75 laptops, tablets, and extra at Laptop computer Magazine since 2020. Now, because the managing editor, he participates in each laptop computer evaluate revealed on Laptop computer Magazine, whether or not as a reviewer or editor. Sean has used MacBooks because the unibody plastic days and has reviewed each present MacBook Air and MacBook Professional, so he has a large breadth of expertise with Apple laptops to assist information you to the suitable alternative.
MacBook Air (13-inch, M4): Best for most people
Image 1 of 5
Pros: While the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 looks no different from its predecessor outwardly, multiple changes make it the best MacBook for most people right now. The $100 price cut helps, returning the base MacBook Air to a $999 starting price.
Combined with the bump to 16GB of RAM on the base model, formerly a $200 upgrade, our recommended configuration for the 13-inch MacBook Air is $300 cheaper than last year’s, even without scouting for one of the best MacBook deals.
The MacBook Air’s 13.6-inch show is among the brightest laptops round, and True Tone additionally ensures wonderful shade accuracy, however the vibrancy falls in need of a few of the OLED competitors. Rumors of Apple shifting to OLED sooner or later abound, however not but.
Like its predecessors, the MacBook Air M4 is among the thinnest laptops at solely 0.4 inches. Nonetheless, not like many ultraportable laptops, it may sustain with a formidable workload, due to the M4 chip. Whether or not it was our benchmarks or real-world utilization, the Air M4 was up for any process.
Wanting on the benchmarks, the MacBook Air M4 scored 14,489 on Geekbench 6, simply surpassing the competitors. Our Handbrake video transcoding take a look at took 5 minutes and 40 seconds to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. This blows previous the mainstream common, however nonetheless cannot maintain as much as the MacBook Professional fashions in related assessments. SSD speeds are among the many finest we have seen, with 3,456.2 MBps and three,018.4 MBps in BlackMagic Write and Learn assessments, respectively.
All that efficiency prowess does not harm its battery life, both. If discovering an outlet generally is a problem throughout your day, by no means worry: The Air M4 powered by means of virtually 16 hours of battery life testing in our lab.
Rounding out the additions and upgrades from this yr, the brand new Apple Heart webcam is among the finest I’ve ever examined, the 12MP digicam makes you look your finest in any lighting.
Cons: So what are the downsides? If in case you have a number of peripherals, the pair of Thunderbolt/USB-C ports could also be difficult, however a minimum of you’ve MagSafe 3 to maintain each ports free whereas charging.
Whereas the bottom $999 value for the MacBook Air 13-inch M4 is cheap given what you might be getting, if it’s good to improve RAM or storage, every bounce is one other $200, however neither is user-upgradeable, so do not go away your self brief.
Want extra display actual property? Look no additional than the 15-inch MacBook Air M4. It mirrors the entire strengths of its smaller sibling however with a bigger 15.3-inch show.
See our full 13-inch MacBook Air M4 review.
See our full 15-inch MacBook Air M4 review.
Click to view data in table format
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 |
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x |
MacBook Air 13-inch M3 |
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) |
14,849 |
13,750 |
12,087 |
12,908 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) |
5.40 |
5.16 |
7.40 |
6.17 |
|
SSD Transfer rate (Higher is better, MBps) |
Row 2 – Cell 1 |
1416 |
Row 2 – Cell 3 |
1279.88 |
|
BlackMagic Write (SSD speed) |
3,456.2 |
3,253.3 |
3,058.8 |
Row 3 – Cell 4 |
|
BlackMagic Read (SSD speed) |
3,018.4 |
3,652.6 |
3,030.7 |
Row 4 – Cell 4 |
|
Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) |
85.2 |
86.0 |
83.5 |
111.9 |
|
Battery life (Higher is better) |
Row 6 – Cell 1 |
14.14 |
15.13 |
12.21 |
|
Display brightness (Higher is better) |
463 |
464 |
476 |
354 |
|
sRGB color gamut (Higher is better) |
112% |
219% |
110% |
115% |
|
DCI-P3 color gamut (Higher is better) |
79.6% |
155.4% |
77.8% |
81.7% |
|
Color accuracy (Lower is better) |
0.2 |
0.37 |
0.21 |
0.21 |
|
Sid Meier’s Civ VI: Gathering Storm (1080p) |
40.65 |
20.87 |
41.39 |
32.5 |
|
Borderlands 3 (1080p) |
20.85 |
Row 12 – Cell 2 |
17.08 |
Row 12 – Cell 4 |
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider |
31 |
Row 13 – Cell 2 |
25 |
Row 13 – Cell 4 |
MacBook Air (15-inch, M4): Best affordable big screen
Image 1 of 5
Pros: Getting that big 15.3-inch display on a MacBook for as low as $1,199 is hard to pass up, considering that for years, a large screen MacBook was at least $2,499. While it lacks the 120Hz refresh rate of the Pro models, Apple didn’t skimp on the display, as it offers an excellent 476 nits of brightness in our testing.
At 3.3 pounds and just 0.45 inches thick, it’s a strong contender for the best business laptops or best student laptops for anybody who values a bigger laptop computer that will not overwhelm their laptop bag. Thanks to fifteen hours and 14 minutes of battery life in our testing, it additionally will not name it quits on you early.
It options the identical M4 chip because the 13-inch Air M4. It delivers practically equivalent efficiency outcomes on many duties, though sustained duties like video enhancing tip in favor of the 15-inch mannequin, presumably as a consequence of improved thermal efficiency.
Cons: Not many. I discover the port scenario barely extra irritating on the 15-inch Air because it options the identical pair of Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, MagSafe charger, and headphone/mic jack because the a lot smaller MacBook Air 13-inch. Nonetheless, most of us who want extra ports have way back added a USB-C hub or laptop docking station to our assortment of substances.
See our full MacBook Air 15-inch M4 review.
Click to view data in table format
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
MacBook Air 15-inch M4 |
Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) |
MacBook Air 15-inch M3 |
Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) |
14,921 |
11,157 |
12,052 |
12,455 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) |
4.57 |
8.28 |
6.30 |
5.10 |
|
SSD Transfer rate (Higher is better, MBps) |
Row 2 – Cell 1 |
1007.29 |
Row 2 – Cell 3 |
1016.42 |
|
BlackMagic Write (SSD speed) |
3,335.1 |
2,513.5 |
3,167.1 |
Row 3 – Cell 4 |
|
BlackMagic Read (SSD speed) |
3,012.5 |
2,590.1 |
2,968.2 |
Row 4 – Cell 4 |
|
Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) |
90.0 |
97.7 |
83.5 |
95.0 |
|
Battery life (Higher is better) |
15.14 |
13.51 |
15.03 |
7.24 |
|
Display brightness (Higher is better) |
476 |
342 |
482 |
357 |
|
sRGB color gamut (Higher is better) |
118% |
116% |
109% |
192% |
|
DCI-P3 color gamut (Higher is better) |
83.5% |
82.0% |
77.5% |
136.3% |
|
Color accuracy (Lower is better) |
0.22 |
0.21 |
0.3 |
0.27 |
|
Sid Meier’s Civ VI: Gathering Storm (1080p) |
44.735 |
48 |
Row 11 – Cell 3 |
34.97 |
|
Borderlands 3 (1080p) |
19.38 |
23.66 |
17.3 |
Row 12 – Cell 4 |
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider |
31 |
19 |
Row 13 – Cell 3 | Row 13 – Cell 4 |
MacBook Pro (14-inch): Best for creative pros on the go
Image 1 of 6
Pros: The base MacBook Pro 14 with its M4 chip is an excellent value for those looking for more power than the Air can offer without spending upwards of $2,000. It’s also important to note when comparing against the Air that you start at 512GB of storage, a $200 upgrade for Air buyers. For most users, the base M4 will get the job done, but if time is money for you, then the M4 Pro and M4 Max processors Apple are among the fastest, most power-efficient chips ever built for portable computing.
The base models at both the M4 and M4 Pro levels are better than ever, with the M4 Pro outperforming the M3 Max in many metrics, so consider that before snapping up a deal on the older models. While the base model will be more than enough for most users, you can configure the M4 Max up to 128GB of RAM and an 8TB SSD. Battery life was tested at 18 hours and 32 minutes for the standard M4 configuration, and we would expect fairly similar results from the M4 Pro and M4 Max.
That redesign from 2021 still feels fresh with the 14.2-inch, 3024 x 1964-pixel Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. At 556 nits, this panel is one of the brightest laptop screens ever and both color accurate and vivid enough for creative work.
At 12.3 inches x 8.7 x 0.6 inches and 3.4 pounds, the 14-inch MacBook Pro remains portable despite the power it packs underneath the hood.
The 12MP Center Stage camera is another notable upgrade for the M4 MacBook Pros, it’s the best webcam we’ve ever seen on a laptop with outstanding color accuracy while holding up well in differing lighting conditions. Add in Touch ID, a six-speaker setup, and a comfortable keyboard and the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a lot going for it.
Cons: So, what’s wrong with the laptop? I’ll be honest, not much. It would be great to get Face ID support for facial recognition login since that’s been available on Windows laptops for years. Whereas your mileage might fluctuate, I discover the vent placement makes the MacBook Professional uncomfortable to carry in sure orientations, which is not a significant challenge, nevertheless it’s one thing I have never encountered on a MacBook beforehand.
See our full MacBook Pro 14 M4 review.
Click to view data in table format
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4, 2024) |
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3, 2023) |
HP Spectre x360 (14-inch, 2024) |
Asus Zenbook S14 UX5406S |
Premium laptops average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) |
15,114 |
11,968 |
12,358 |
11,157 |
10,492 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Lower is better, MM.SS) |
04:28 |
05:38 |
07:30 |
08:28 |
06:18 |
|
Battery life (HH.MM) |
18:32 |
17:16 |
11:01 |
13:51 |
13:23 |
|
DCI-P3 Color Gamut (Higher is better) |
80.2 |
81.3 |
85.8 |
82 |
84.7 |
|
Display Brightness (Nits) |
556.6 |
558 |
366 |
555 |
434 |
MacBook Pro 16-inch: Best for peak performance
Image 1 of 5
Pros: This MacBook Pro has everything we love about the 14-inch MacBook Pro but with a large 16-inch display. It has the same M4 Pro and M4 Max chip options along with up to a ludicrous 128GB of memory and up to an 8TB SSD. Battery life is even better, at 20 hours and 46 minutes in our testing, our second-longest result ever and the longest ever for a MacBook. Given the sky-high performance benchmarks, that battery life is almost unbelievable, I’ve speculated before that Apple has a secret pocket dimension in the MacBook Pro chassis, and I’m still not counting that out as a possibility.
If you plan to keep your laptop for 5-7 years or more and particularly are doing creative work or other work that requires data transfers between your laptop and either an SSD or other hardware, then the 16-inch MacBook Pro offers another advantage over its smaller Pro sibling, Thunderbolt 5 ports. While there is little to take full advantage of the new standard at the moment, Thunderbolt 5 docks, external SSDs, and more are starting to arrive and will pick up over the next 12 months.
Cons: You can get most of what is available in the 16-inch MacBook Pro in the 14-inch model for $500 less. If you need the larger panel or Thunderbolt 5 support, then get the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but if that’s not crucial, there is little reason to pay up for the larger laptop.
Also, at 14 x 9.8 x 0.66 inches and 4.7 pounds, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is considerably larger than the 14-inch model, so if you regularly tote your laptop around, that’s worth considering as well.
Like the 14-inch model, I wish Face ID was available, and I’m not a fan of the vent configuration, but these are minor concerns overall.
See our full MacBook Pro 16-inch M4 Pro review.
Click to view data in table format
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) |
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max, 2023) |
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 |
Asus ProArt PX16 2024 |
Premium laptops average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) |
22,822 |
21,182 |
12,141 |
15,286 |
10,492 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Lower is better, MM.SS) |
02:38 |
02:36 |
03:53 |
03:15 |
06:18 |
|
Battery life (HH.MM) |
20:46 |
18:05 |
09:51 |
09:32 |
13:23 |
|
DCI-P3 Color Gamut (Higher is better) |
81.4 |
81.8 |
105.7 |
85.5 |
84.7 |
|
Display Brightness (Nits) |
565 |
558 |
373 |
356 |
434 |
How We Test MacBooks
Image 1 of 3
We put MacBooks through extensive benchmark testing—both synthetic and real-world—before they are handed to our reviewers. We evaluate everything from speed and battery life to display brightness, speaker volume, and system heat.
We use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect a laptop display’s brightness and sRGB color gamut. For performance benchmarking, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 6, BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, and PugetBench for Adobe CC.
We task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution to determine real-world performance. Our real-world graphics tests on MacBooks include Borderlands 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm, and Total War: Warhammer III in 1080p and native resolution settings.
We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video, and our proprietary Laptop Mag Battery Test consists of continuous web surfing over wifi at 150 nits of brightness. Anything over 10 hours is considered strong battery life, a standard every current Macbook easily surpasses.
Following these tests, the laptop is given to our expert reviewers for extensive hands-on testing. Our reviewers will spend days using the laptop as part of their typical workflow to get a sense of the real-world performance and live with the laptop to come away with a thorough understanding of the hardware and software experience. This blended lab testing and hands-on approach allows us to offer you a clear and comprehensive view of every laptop that comes through Laptop Mag.
Why Trust Laptop Mag
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