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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 Pro 14 M4 Pro wins by 1
MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro — M4 Pro · Mini-LED ProMotion · 1.55 kg
Apple

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro

M4 Pro · Mini-LED ProMotion · 1.55 kg

94
/ 100
From $1,999
Specdex verdict

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Air 15" (M4) lands at 93 and MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro at 94. That puts MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro 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 Pro 14 M4 Pro if…

  • ✓Best perf-per-watt portable workstation
  • ✓Mini-LED 1600-nit HDR display
  • ✓Best-in-class speakers
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Winner by scenario

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

Performance

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro

CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro leads on gpu (92 vs 84).

Battery life

MacBook Air 15" (M4)

Unplugged endurance for travel and campus

MacBook Air 15" (M4) leads on battery (96 vs 92).

Display

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro

Panel quality for creative and media work

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro leads on display (96 vs 88).

Value for money

MacBook Air 15" (M4)

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

MacBook Air 15" (M4) more score per dollar ($1,199 vs $1,999).

MacBook Air 15" (M4) 93
vs
94 MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro

Score breakdown

MacBook Air 15" (M4)
93
cpu 92
gpu 84
display 88
battery 96
portability 94
design 0
build 0
MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro
94
cpu 96
gpu 92
display 96
battery 92
portability 0
design 96
build 96

Specs side-by-side

MacBook Air 15" (M4) versus MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro — full spec comparison
Spec MacBook Air 15" (M4) MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro
Chip
Apple M4 (10C CPU / 10C GPU)
—
RAM
16/24/32 GB
▲ 24 / 48 GB unified
Storage
256 GB – 2 TB
▲ 512 GB / 1 / 2 / 4 TB
Display
▲ 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880×1864
14.2″ Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz
Weight
▲ 1.51 kg
1.55 kg
CPU
—
Apple M4 Pro (12-core CPU)
GPU
—
16-core GPU
Battery
—
72.4 Wh

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 Pro 14 M4 Pro

Pros
  • +Best perf-per-watt portable workstation
  • +Mini-LED 1600-nit HDR display
  • +Best-in-class speakers
Cons
  • −8 GB base RAM gone — but storage upgrades pricey
  • −No OLED option
  • −Notch in display

FAQ: MacBook Air 15" (M4) vs MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro

Which is better, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro? +

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro 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 Pro 14 M4 Pro worth the price? +

At $1,999, MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in cpu.

Does MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro 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 Pro 14 M4 Pro? +

MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro — leads on gpu (92 vs 84). CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work.

Which is better for battery life, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro? +

MacBook Air 15" (M4) — leads on battery (96 vs 92). Unplugged endurance for travel and campus.