Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max)
44.5Performance78.2
29.8Display74.3
66.7Battery66.6
88Portability71
3 spec wins — Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3)9 spec wins — Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) wins this laptop face-off, 73.4 to 53.5, pulling ahead mainly in display (+45) and performance (+34). Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3)
- Stronger portability score: 88 vs 71
- 27% lower thickness: 11.3 mm vs 15.5 mm
- 23% lower weight: 1.24 kg vs 1.62 kg
- 15% higher Web browsing endurance: 15 h vs 13 h
- Lower launch price: $1,099 vs $3,199
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max)
- Stronger performance score: 78 vs 45
- Stronger display score: 74 vs 30
- 300% higher storage: 1,024 GB vs 256 GB
- 220% higher Peak brightness: 1,600 nits vs 500 nits
- 174% higher charging: 96 W vs 35 W
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6 ″ | 14.2 ″+4% |
| Panel type | IPS (Liquid Retina) | Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2560x1664 | 3024x1964 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | 1,600 nits+220% |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M3 (8-core) | Apple M4 Max (14-core) |
| Graphics | Apple M3 8-core GPU | Apple M4 Max 32-core GPU |
| RAM | 16 GB | 36 GB+125% |
| RAM type | LPDDR5 (unified) | LPDDR5X (unified) |
| Storage | 256 GB | 1,024 GB+300% |
| Storage type | NVMe SSD | SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,050Top 33% | 3,864+27%Top 14% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 12,000Bottom 17% | 23,035+92%Top 9% |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 53 Wh | 72 Wh+38% |
| Web browsing endurance | 15 h+15% | 13 h |
| Charging | 35 W | 96 W+174% |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.24 kg+23% | 1.62 kg |
| Thickness | 11.3 mm+27% | 15.5 mm |
| Material | Aluminum | Recycled Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm | 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD | 12MP Center Stage |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS Sonoma | macOS Sequoia |
Related comparisons
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3)vs HP OmniBook Ultra 14VSApple MacBook Air 13 (M3)vs Dell XPS GooglebookVSApple MacBook Air 13 (M3)vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)VSApple MacBook Air 13 (M3)vs Acer Predator Helios 16 (2024)VSApple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max)vs AI Master M7000VSApple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max)vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Max)VSApple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max)vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro)VSApple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Max)vs HP ZBook Ultra G3a (2026)VS