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Deal.ai › Compare

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5)

The MacBook Air M4 is the better pick for most shoppers: lighter, quieter, and plenty fast for writing, browsing, spreadsheets and light photo work. The 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 is the step up for sustained heavy work: a 120Hz mini-LED screen, active cooling, more ports and a bigger battery. Owners rate the Air very highly for everyday use; the Pro earns praise from people moving up from older laptops and Windows machines. Neither has a touchscreen.

  • Choose the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 if you want the lightest, quietest Mac for everyday work, school and travel.
  • Choose the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 if you edit video, run local AI models or want a 120Hz screen and more ports.

Prices

  • Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4: $1,074.60 at CompSource (last seen Nov 8)
  • Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5): $1,549.00 at Quick Ship Electronics (last seen Nov 9)
  • Difference: the Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is $474.40 cheaper than the Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5) at the latest prices (Nov 8 and Nov 9)
Apple
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air: M4 w/ 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 512GB SSD - Silver - MW0X3LL/A

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air: M4 w/ 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 512GB SSD - Silver - MW0X3LL/A

4.8(3,500 ratings)
$1,074.60at CompSourceChecked Nov 8
See all prices and details
Visit CompSource
Pros
  • Very light at 2.7 lb and silent, with no fan
  • M4 with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD handles everyday work easily
  • Up to 18 hours of battery and the same speed on battery or plugged in
  • MagSafe charging plus two Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • Rated 4.8 out of 5 by buyers
Cons
  • 60Hz screen looks less smooth than the Pro's 120Hz panel
  • Fanless design throttles during long video exports
  • Only two Thunderbolt ports and one external display
  • No SD card slot or HDMI
Apple
Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)

5(3 ratings)
$1,549.00at Quick Ship ElectronicsChecked Nov 9
See all prices and details
Visit Quick Ship Electronics
Pros
  • M5 GPU with a Neural Accelerator per core speeds up on-device AI and 3D work
  • 120Hz Liquid Retina XDR screen is sharper and smoother
  • Up to 24 hours of battery
  • HDMI, SDXC and three Thunderbolt 4 ports, plus two external displays
  • Six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio and studio-quality mics
Cons
  • Heavier and bulkier to carry every day
  • More laptop than casual users need
  • Fan can spin up under heavy load
  • No touchscreen

What separates them

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5)
Weight2.7 lb, fanless and under half an inch thinNoticeably heavier and thicker, with a fan
Display13.6-inch Liquid Retina, 60Hz, 2560 x 166414.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz ProMotion, 3024 x 1964
ChipM4, 10-core CPU and 10-core GPUM5, 10-core CPU and next-gen 10-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator per core
Sustained performanceFanless, so long exports can slow downActive cooling holds peak speed through long renders
BatteryUp to 18 hoursUp to 24 hours
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe, headphone jackThree Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe, HDMI, SDXC, headphone jack
External displaysOne external display with the lid openUp to two external displays
Speakers and micsFour speakers, three micsSix speakers with Dolby Atmos, three studio-quality mics

Price history

$3,072.00$899.00
Oct 28Nov 12
  • Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4: lowest $899.00 on Nov 8 at bkstr.com; $969.00 on Nov 12.
  • Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5): lowest $1,549.00 on Nov 9 at Quick Ship Electronics; $1,679.00 on Nov 12.

Prices at every store

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4

  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $969.00Checked 3 h ago
    Visit Walmart
  • BarcodesIncNew

    In stock

    $972.09Free shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit BarcodesInc
  • CompSourceNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,074.60Checked Nov 8
    Visit CompSource
  • BarcodesIncNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,080.23Checked Oct 30
    Visit BarcodesInc
All 17 stores and price history →

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5)

  • Quick Ship ElectronicsNew

    In stock

    $1,549.00Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Quick Ship Electronics
  • Quick Ship ElectronicsNew

    In stock

    $1,699.00Free shippingChecked 3 h ago
    Visit Quick Ship Electronics
  • UCLA StoreNew

    In stock

    $1,699.00+ $8.95 shippingChecked 3 h ago
    Visit UCLA Store
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by vvsalesinc (99.5% positive, 6,700 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $1,698.74Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 18 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecApple 13-inch MacBook Air M4Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5)
Battery life18 h24 h
Data storage512 GB1 TB
Screen size13 in14.2 in
DisplayRetina DisplayRetina Display
Weight2.7 lb6.5 lb
BrandAppleApple
Core count1010
RAM memory16 GB16 GB
Graphic card10-core GPUIntegrated Graphics
OSApple OSMac OS
ColorSilverBlue
Laptop typeMacBooksMacBooks
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecApple 13-inch MacBook Air M4Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5)
ModelMW0X3LL/AMDE04LL/A
Proc. speed1 GHz4.6 GHz
Resolution2560 x 16643024 x 1964 (which is already a mapping)
Operating SystemMac OSMac OS
With Retina DisplayYesYes
Drive TypeSolid State DriveSolid State Drive
Number Of CoresOcta CoreHexa Core
LanguageEnglish / North AmericaEnglish / North America
Available PortsUSB-CUSB-C, HDMI, 3.5 mm Jack

What reviewers say

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M4

  • 4.8 / 53,500 ratings

Owners rate the 13-inch MacBook Air highly, with a 4.8 out of 5 average from 3,500 ratings. They praise its speed, silence and battery life, and the M4 model's camera and display get positive notes.

What people mention
  • PerformancePraisedReviewers say the M4 chip and 16GB of memory keep everyday apps and light editing smooth.
  • Battery lifePraisedOwners report all-day battery life, with Apple claiming up to 18 hours of video playback.
  • NoisePraisedThe fanless design means the Air stays silent even under load.
  • PortsCriticisedSome owners find two Thunderbolt ports limiting and rely on hubs.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M5)

Owners of the 14-inch MacBook Pro line consistently praise the mini-LED display, battery life and quiet performance under load. The most common complaints are the cost of memory and storage upgrades and the weight compared with the Air. Early M5 buyers include first-time Mac owners who say it is already much better than their Dell.

What people mention
  • DisplayPraisedOwners call the mini-LED XDR panel bright and accurate, with 120 Hz scrolling that feels smooth.
  • BatteryPraisedReviewers report getting through a full workday, sometimes more, on one charge.
  • PerformancePraisedCreative apps and AI workloads run fast, and the fans rarely spin up.
  • Upgrade costsCriticisedBuyers dislike paying steep prices for extra memory and storage that cannot be added later.
Reviews
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  • Best Business Laptops - The reviews on this page have been selected by our editors, but have been optimized by our commerce team

Questions and answers

Which is better for college work?
The MacBook Air M4. It runs Office, browsers, notes and video calls without strain, and the lighter weight matters in a backpack. Pick the Pro only if your major involves video editing, 3D or local AI models.
Which lasts longer?
Both are aluminum Macs with similar build quality and years of macOS support. The Pro's fan and bigger battery help it hold peak speed and runtime over long sessions, so heavy users get more useful life out of it.
Is the Pro worth stepping up to?
Yes if you export video, render 3D or run large language models locally. The M5 GPU, 120Hz screen, extra ports and cooling are real gains. For email, writing and streaming, the Air covers it.
Does the Air's fanless design slow it down?
Only under sustained load. Short bursts of editing or compiling are fine. Long exports and renders drop below peak speed, which is where the Pro's fan pays off.
Can both drive external monitors?
The Air drives one external display with the lid open. The Pro drives up to two. If you use a dual-monitor desk setup, the Pro is the simpler choice.
Do either have a touchscreen?
No. Both use a keyboard and trackpad, and both support the same macOS apps and Apple Intelligence features.

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Biometric Security
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Drive Capacity256 GB drive, 512 GB drive, 1 TB drive1 TB drive
Solid State Drive Capacity512 gigabytes512 GB
ProcessorApple M4 10C CPU - 10C GPU—
EditionMacBook Air—
Inputs/OutputsThunderbolt 4, MagSafe, Headphone Jack—
Edition year2025—
Built-in camera information12MP Center Stage camera—
TouchscreenN—
Wireless802.11ax—
Height8.4 in—
AccessoriesAC Adapter—
Included softwaremacOS—
OS VersionmacOS Sequoia—
Main Storage256GB SSD—
Storage TypeSSD—
Storage InterfaceNVMe—
Storage Read Speed3028 MB/s—
Battery Capacity53.8-watt-hour—
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