Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 8.5 for the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the MacBook Air 13 (M4) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (Geekbench multi 22,600 vs 14,800).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (18h vs 16.8h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (1.24 kg vs 1.6 kg).
- Display: Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) (Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)) vs IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)).
- Cheaper: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (saves about $1,400 CAD).
MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs MacBook Air 13 (M4): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 22,600 against 14,800 for the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) — roughly 53% 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 34 FPS. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) lasts longer away from a charger, running 18 hours in our web-browsing test versus 16.8 hours. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is also easier to carry at 1.24 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 Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) has a 13.6-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2560 x 1664, 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 Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,400 less than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro). Weighed against our test scores (9.0 vs 8.5 overall), the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) 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 Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) and the MacBook Air 13 (M4) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) | MacBook Air 13 (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.0 ✓ | 8.5 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,749 | $1,349 ✓ |
| CPU | Apple M4 Pro (12-core) | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| GPU | Apple M4 Pro GPU (16-core) | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) |
| RAM | 24GB Unified LPDDR5x ✓ | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 256GB |
| Display | 14.2" Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) | 13.6" IPS (Liquid Retina) |
| Brightness | 1020 nits ✓ | 476 nits |
| Battery (web) | 16.8 h | 18 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.6 kg | 1.24 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 22,600 ✓ | 14,800 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 52 fps ✓ | 34 fps |
| OS | macOS | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 8.5 for the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the MacBook Air 13 (M4) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) or the MacBook Air 13 (M4)?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 8.5 for the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the MacBook Air 13 (M4) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) 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 Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for travel.
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