Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 6.9 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $749. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the Aspire 5 15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (Geekbench multi 22,600 vs 7,200).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (16.8h vs 9.4h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (1.6 kg vs 1.75 kg).
- Display: IPS (Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025)) vs Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) (Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)).
- Cheaper: Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) (saves about $2,000 CAD).
Aspire 5 15 (2025) vs MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 22,600 against 7,200 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) — roughly 214% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) averaged 52 FPS versus 16 FPS. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) lasts longer away from a charger, running 16.8 hours in our web-browsing test versus 9.4 hours. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is also easier to carry at 1.6 kg versus 1.75 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) uses a 15.6-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1080, 60Hz), while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) has a 14.2-inch Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) panel (3024 x 1964, 120Hz). The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) measured brighter at 1020 nits, and covered 99% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $2,000 less than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro). Weighed against our test scores (6.9 vs 9.0 overall), the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) offers the better value for the money, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) review and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the Aspire 5 15 (2025) and the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | Aspire 5 15 (2025) | MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 6.9 | 9.0 ✓ |
| Price (CAD) | $749 ✓ | $2,749 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 8540U | Apple M4 Pro (12-core) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 740M (integrated) | Apple M4 Pro GPU (16-core) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 | 24GB Unified LPDDR5x ✓ |
| Storage | 512GB | 512GB |
| Display | 15.6" IPS | 14.2" Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) |
| Brightness | 268 nits | 1020 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 9.4 h | 16.8 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.75 kg | 1.6 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 7,200 | 22,600 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 16 fps | 52 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 6.9 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $749. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the Aspire 5 15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Aspire 5 15 (2025) or the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 6.9 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $749. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the Aspire 5 15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for travel.
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