Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max)
55.2Performance91.1
29.8Display74.3
67.2Battery99.5
88Portability53.3
2 spec wins — Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)9 spec wins — Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) wins this laptop face-off, 81.9 to 57.4, pulling ahead mainly in display (+45) and performance (+36). Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) 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 (M4)
- Stronger portability score: 88 vs 53
- 42% lower weight: 1.24 kg vs 2.15 kg
- 33% lower thickness: 11.3 mm vs 16.8 mm
- Lower launch price: $999 vs $3,899
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max)
- Stronger performance score: 91 vs 55
- Stronger display score: 74 vs 30
- Stronger battery score: 100 vs 67
- 700% higher storage: 2,048 GB vs 256 GB
- 220% higher Peak brightness: 1,600 nits vs 500 nits
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6 ″ | 16.2 ″+19% |
| Panel type | IPS (Liquid Retina) | Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2560x1664 | 3456x2234 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | 1,600 nits+220% |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-core) | Apple M5 Max (18-core) |
| Graphics | Apple M4 8-core GPU | Apple M5 Max 32-core GPU |
| RAM | 16 GB | 36 GB+125% |
| RAM type | LPDDR5X (unified) | LPDDR5X (unified) |
| Storage | 256 GB | 2,048 GB+700% |
| Storage type | NVMe SSD | SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,700Top 21% | 4,336+17%Top 2% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 14,600Top 46% | 30,057+106%Top 2% |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 54 Wh | 100 Wh+85% |
| Web browsing endurance | 15 h | — |
| Charging | 70 W | 140 W+100% |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.24 kg+42% | 2.15 kg |
| Thickness | 11.3 mm+33% | 16.8 mm |
| Material | Aluminum | Recycled Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm | 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6 |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage | 12MP Center Stage |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS Sequoia | macOS Tahoe |
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