Apple
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
M5 Max · 16.2″ XDR · Up to 128 GB unified
98
/ 100
From $3,499
VS
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) wins by 5
Apple
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
M4 · 15.3″ · Fanless · $1,199
93
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) lands at 98 and MacBook Air 15" (M4) at 93. That puts MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) if…
- ✓~18% perf-per-watt uplift over M4 Max
- ✓570 GB/s memory bandwidth
- ✓New Wi-Fi 7 + TB5
Pick MacBook Air 15" (M4) if…
- ✓Silent fanless M4
- ✓Excellent battery
- ✓Huge bright display
Score breakdown
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
98 cpu 99
gpu 92
display 98
battery 98
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" (M5 Max)
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
Chip
Apple M5 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
—
OS
macOS 16
—
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
Pros
- +~18% perf-per-watt uplift over M4 Max
- +570 GB/s memory bandwidth
- +New Wi-Fi 7 + TB5
Cons
- −Premium pricing unchanged
- −Limited gaming library
- −Ports unchanged
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" (M5 Max) vs MacBook Air 15" (M4)
Which is better, MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) or MacBook Air 15" (M4)? +
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) worth the price? +
At $3,499, MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
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" (M5 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.