Apple
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
M4 · 15.3″ · Fanless · $1,199
93
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) wins by 3
Apple
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)
M4 Max · 16.2″ XDR · Up to 128 GB unified
96
/ 100
From $3,499
Specdex verdict
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Air 15" (M4) lands at 93 and MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) at 96. That puts MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) ahead by 3 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 16" (M4 Max) if…
- ✓Outstanding battery under load
- ✓XDR mini-LED display
- ✓Silent sustained performance
MacBook Air 15" (M4) 93
vs 96 MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)
Score breakdown
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
93 cpu 92
gpu 84
display 88
battery 96
portability 94
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)
96 cpu 97
gpu 90
display 98
battery 96
portability 88
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | MacBook Air 15" (M4) | MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 (10C CPU / 10C GPU) | Apple M4 Max (16C CPU / 40C GPU) |
| RAM | 16/24/32 GB | ▲ Up to 128 GB unified |
| Storage | ▲ 256 GB – 2 TB | Up to 8 TB SSD |
| Display | 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880×1864 | ▲ 16.2″ Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz |
| Weight | ▲ 1.51 kg | 2.14 kg |
| Battery | — | 100 Wh |
| Ports | — | 3× TB5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3 |
| OS | — | macOS 15 |
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 16" (M4 Max)
Pros
- +Outstanding battery under load
- +XDR mini-LED display
- +Silent sustained performance
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited gaming library
- −Ports starboard-heavy
FAQ: MacBook Air 15" (M4) vs MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)
Which is better, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)? +
MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. 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 16" (M4 Max) worth the price? +
At $3,499, MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in display.
Does MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Pro 16" (M4 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.