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