Written by Rowan
Edited on
5 February 2026
·
16:15
Compare the MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air
Are you looking for an Apple laptop, but can't decide between a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air? The MacBook Air is ideal for on the go thanks to its low weight and compact size. The MacBook Pro is slightly heavier, but also more powerful. That's ideal if you edit many demanding videos, for example. You can read everything on the differences and similarities between the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air here.
MacBook Pro
- The MacBook Pro is available with chips up to the M4 Max, so you can multitask with the most demanding programs.
- The MacBook Pro lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge.
- The largest MacBook Pro size is 16 inches, so you won't miss a single detail.
- If you take your MacBook on the go every day, we recommend a 14 or 13-inch model.
MacBook Air
- The Air is available with chips up to the M4, so you can use demanding programs.
- The MacBook Air lasts up to 18 hours on a single charge.
- The light weight of the MacBook Air makes both the 13-inch and 15-inch models ideal for on the go.
- Due to the limited number of connectors, you're more likely to need a docking station.
Comparison between the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
| MacBook Pro | MacBook Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | M5, M4 Pro, or M4 Max | M4 or M3 chip |
| RAM | Up to 64GB | Up to 24GB |
| Storage | Up to 2TB | Up to 1TB |
| Size | 14 or 16 inches | 13 or 15 inches |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Color | Space Black or silver | Dark blue, light blue, gold, gray, or silver |
Design
MacBook Pro: the largest screen with the most detail
The MacBook Pro has a robust design. You can easily connect all your peripherals to the 7 ports. Enjoy lifelike colors and deep contrasts on the 1600-nit Liquid Retina XDR display. Some models even have an extra nano display. Thanks to this, you can see the screen well in brightly lit rooms and you're less bothered by reflections and light glare. You can choose from the 14 and 16-inch sizes for the MacBook Pro.
MacBook Air: extra thin to be as lightweight as possible
The MacBook Air has a compact design, so you always easily take it with you. Because it's so slim, it does have less ports. The MacBook Air is available in 13 and 15 inches. The 13-inch model easily fits in your bag and only weighs 1.24kg. You can see more details on the 15-inch model, which is especially useful if you edit photos, for example. With 1.51kg, the 15-inch model still doesn't weigh much.
Processing power
MacBook Pro: demanding video and 3D editing
The MacBook Pro is more powerful than the MacBook Air. The MacBook Pro has a fan and the MacBook Air doesn't. The fan ensures better performances during intensive tasks. The MacBook Pro is available with the M5, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. These chips provide more storage and RAM and have more graphic cores as well. This allows you to edit large photo and video files and complex 3D files.
MacBook Air: light videos and basic tasks
The MacBook Air has the M4 or M3 chip. Both processors are mainly suitable for daily and administrative tasks. You can open emails, write reports in Pages, and edit light videos in iMovie, for example. You can also watch your favorite series and browse the internet, of course. The M4 chip is faster than the M3 chip, which saves you time when you render your videos.
Conclusion
The MacBook Pro is more powerful than the MacBook Air. With the 14 or 16-inch MacBook Pro models, you can edit demanding videos or 3D files to the smallest detail. On the MacBook Air, you can open your email, write reports in Pages, and edit light videos. In addition, the MacBook Air is ideal for on the go with its light weight. Even the MacBook Air 15 inches weighs just 1.51kg.
Article by Rowan
Apple expert
