Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (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 6,000).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (16.8h vs 16.2h web).
- Lighter: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) (1.35 kg vs 1.6 kg).
- Display: Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) (Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)) vs IPS (Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025)).
- Cheaper: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) (saves about $2,300 CAD).
MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs Chromebook Plus 514 (2025): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 22,600 against 6,000 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) — roughly 277% 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 12 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 16.2 hours. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is also easier to carry at 1.35 kg versus 1.6 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) uses a 14.2-inch Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) panel (3024 x 1964, 120Hz), while the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) has a 14-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1080, 60Hz). 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 Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $2,300 less than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro). Weighed against our test scores (9.0 vs 7.5 overall), the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) review and Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) and the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) | Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.0 ✓ | 7.5 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,749 | $449 ✓ |
| CPU | Apple M4 Pro (12-core) | MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 |
| GPU | Apple M4 Pro GPU (16-core) | Arm Mali (integrated) |
| RAM | 24GB Unified LPDDR5x ✓ | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 128GB |
| Display | 14.2" Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) | 14" IPS |
| Brightness | 1020 nits ✓ | 316 nits |
| Battery (web) | 16.8 h ✓ | 16.2 h |
| Weight | 1.6 kg | 1.35 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 22,600 ✓ | 6,000 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 52 fps ✓ | 12 fps |
| OS | macOS | ChromeOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) | 1-year limited |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) or the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025)?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (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.
Real tests. Smarter laptop decisions.
Get top-tested laptop picks, Canadian deal alerts, and buying advice.