Apple
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
M4 · 15.3″ · Fanless · $1,199
93
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB wins by 5
Apple
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB
M5 Max · 16GB
98
/ 100
From $3,499
Specdex verdict
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Air 15" (M4) lands at 93 and MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB at 98. That puts MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB ahead by 5 points — a decisive 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 M5 Max · 16GB if…
- ✓M5 generation perf-per-watt leader
- ✓Larger unified memory ceiling
- ✓Improved ray-tracing iGPU
MacBook Air 15" (M4) 93
vs 98 MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB
Score breakdown
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
93 cpu 92
gpu 84
display 88
battery 96
portability 94
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB
98 cpu 98
gpu 96
display 92
battery 96
portability 90
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | MacBook Air 15" (M4) | MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 (10C CPU / 10C GPU) | M5 Max |
| RAM | 16/24/32 GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 256 GB – 2 TB | — |
| Display | 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880×1864 | — |
| Weight | 1.51 kg | — |
| Release year | — | 2025 |
| 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 Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB
Pros
- +M5 generation perf-per-watt leader
- +Larger unified memory ceiling
- +Improved ray-tracing iGPU
Cons
- −macOS-only
- −Memory non-upgradable
- −High-end configs expensive
FAQ: MacBook Air 15" (M4) vs MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB
Which is better, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB? +
MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. 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 M5 Max · 16GB worth the price? +
At $3,499, MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does MacBook Air 15" (M4) or MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max · 16GB 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.