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MacBook Air 15" (M4) — M4 · 15.3″ · Fanless · $1,199
Apple

MacBook Air 15" (M4)

M4 · 15.3″ · Fanless · $1,199

93
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
MacBook Air 15" (M5) wins by 1
MacBook Air 15" (M5) — M5 · 15.3″ Liquid Retina · 1.51 kg
Apple

MacBook Air 15" (M5)

M5 · 15.3″ Liquid Retina · 1.51 kg

94
/ 100
From $1,299
Specdex verdict

MacBook Air 15" (M5) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Air 15" (M4) lands at 93 and MacBook Air 15" (M5) at 94. That puts MacBook Air 15" (M5) ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick MacBook Air 15" (M4) if…

  • ✓Silent fanless M4
  • ✓Excellent battery
  • ✓Huge bright display

Pick MacBook Air 15" (M5) if…

  • ✓Larger 15.3″ panel at 2880×1864
  • ✓10-core CPU + 10-core GPU standard
  • ✓Up to 18 hours video playback
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Performance

MacBook Air 15" (M5)

CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work

MacBook Air 15" (M5) leads on gpu (88 vs 84).

Battery life

Tie

Unplugged endurance for travel and campus

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Portability

MacBook Air 15" (M4)

Weight, size, and carry-everywhere comfort

MacBook Air 15" (M4) leads on portability (94 vs 88).

Display

MacBook Air 15" (M5)

Panel quality for creative and media work

MacBook Air 15" (M5) leads on display (90 vs 88).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

MacBook Air 15" (M4) 93
vs
94 MacBook Air 15" (M5)

Score breakdown

MacBook Air 15" (M4)
93
cpu 92
gpu 84
display 88
battery 96
portability 94
MacBook Air 15" (M5)
94
cpu 92
gpu 88
display 90
battery 95
portability 88

Specs side-by-side

MacBook Air 15" (M4) versus MacBook Air 15" (M5) — full spec comparison
Spec MacBook Air 15" (M4) MacBook Air 15" (M5)
Chip
Apple M4 (10C CPU / 10C GPU)
Apple M5 chip (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU)
RAM
16/24/32 GB
16 GB unified (base)
Storage
256 GB – 2 TB
▲ 512 GB / 1 / 2 / 4 TB SSD
Display
15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880×1864
15.3″ IPS LED, 2880×1864 at 224 ppi
Weight
1.51 kg
1.51 kg
Battery (video)
—
Up to 18 hours
Battery (web)
—
Up to 15 hours
Ports
—
MagSafe 3, 2× Thunderbolt 4, 3.5 mm
OS
—
macOS 16

MacBook Air 15" (M4)

Pros
  • +Silent fanless M4
  • +Excellent battery
  • +Huge bright display
Cons
  • −Only 2 TB3 ports
  • −Single external display (M4 base)
  • −No ProMotion

MacBook Air 15" (M5)

Pros
  • +Larger 15.3″ panel at 2880×1864
  • +10-core CPU + 10-core GPU standard
  • +Up to 18 hours video playback
Cons
  • −Heavier at 1.51 kg
  • −2× Thunderbolt 4 (not TB5)
  • −No ProMotion

FAQ: MacBook Air 15" (M4) vs MacBook Air 15" (M5)

Which is better, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Air 15" (M5)? +

MacBook Air 15" (M5) scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is MacBook Air 15" (M4) worth the price? +

At $1,199, MacBook Air 15" (M4) delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in battery.

Is MacBook Air 15" (M5) worth the price? +

At $1,299, MacBook Air 15" (M5) delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in battery.

Does MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Air 15" (M5) 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.

Which is better for performance, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Air 15" (M5)? +

MacBook Air 15" (M5) — leads on gpu (88 vs 84). CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work.

Which is better for portability, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Air 15" (M5)? +

MacBook Air 15" (M4) — leads on portability (94 vs 88). Weight, size, and carry-everywhere comfort.