Apple
MacBook Air 13 M4
M4 · 13.6″ Liquid Retina · 1.24 kg
91
/ 100
From $999
VS
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) wins by 7
Apple
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
M5 Max · 16.2″ XDR · Up to 128 GB unified
98
/ 100
From $3,499
Specdex verdict
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Air 13 M4 lands at 91 and MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) at 98. That puts MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) ahead by 7 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick MacBook Air 13 M4 if…
- ✓$999 starting at 16 GB / 256 GB
- ✓Best perf-per-watt 13″ laptop
- ✓24-hour battery on light loads
Pick MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) if…
- ✓~18% perf-per-watt uplift over M4 Max
- ✓570 GB/s memory bandwidth
- ✓New Wi-Fi 7 + TB5
MacBook Air 13 M4 91
vs 98 MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
Score breakdown
MacBook Air 13 M4
91 cpu 92
gpu 86
display 88
battery 96
design 96
build 96
portability 0
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
98 cpu 99
gpu 92
display 98
battery 98
design 0
build 0
portability 88
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | MacBook Air 13 M4 | MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 13.6″ Liquid Retina, 60Hz | ▲ 16.2″ Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core) | — |
| GPU | 8 / 10-core integrated | — |
| RAM | 16 / 24 / 32 GB unified | ▲ Up to 128 GB unified |
| Storage | ▲ 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB | Up to 8 TB SSD |
| Battery | 52.6 Wh | ▲ 100 Wh |
| Weight | ▲ 1.24 kg | 2.14 kg |
| Chip | — | Apple M5 Max (16C CPU / 40C GPU) |
| OS | — | macOS 16 |
MacBook Air 13 M4
Pros
- +$999 starting at 16 GB / 256 GB
- +Best perf-per-watt 13″ laptop
- +24-hour battery on light loads
Cons
- −No ProMotion 120Hz
- −Single external display on base SKU
- −Notch in display
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
Pros
- +~18% perf-per-watt uplift over M4 Max
- +570 GB/s memory bandwidth
- +New Wi-Fi 7 + TB5
Cons
- −Premium pricing unchanged
- −Limited gaming library
- −Ports unchanged
FAQ: MacBook Air 13 M4 vs MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
Which is better, MacBook Air 13 M4 or MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)? +
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is MacBook Air 13 M4 worth the price? +
At $999, MacBook Air 13 M4 delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in battery.
Is MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) worth the price? +
At $3,499, MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does MacBook Air 13 M4 or MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.