Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The MacBook Pro 14 offers sustained performance, a Mini-LED display, and more ports for demanding work, while the MacBook Air 15 is lighter, cheaper, and fanless. Choose the Pro for heavy creative work; choose the Air for everyday use and value.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (Geekbench multi 22,600 vs 14,900).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (18.4h vs 16.8h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (1.51 kg vs 1.6 kg).
- Display: Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) (Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)) vs IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)).
- Cheaper: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (saves about $1,100 CAD).
MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs MacBook Air 15 (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 14,900 for the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) — roughly 52% 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 38 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 15 (M4) lasts longer away from a charger, running 18.4 hours in our web-browsing test versus 16.8 hours. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is also easier to carry at 1.51 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 15 (M4) has a 15.3-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2880 x 1864, 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 15 (M4) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,100 less than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro). Weighed against our test scores (9.0 vs 8.5 overall), the Apple MacBook Air 15 (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 15 (M4) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) and the MacBook Air 15 (M4) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) | MacBook Air 15 (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.0 ✓ | 8.5 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,749 | $1,649 ✓ |
| CPU | Apple M4 Pro (12-core) | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| GPU | Apple M4 Pro GPU (16-core) | Apple M4 GPU (10-core) |
| RAM | 24GB Unified LPDDR5x ✓ | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB | 512GB |
| Display | 14.2" Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) | 15.3" IPS (Liquid Retina) |
| Brightness | 1020 nits ✓ | 482 nits |
| Battery (web) | 16.8 h | 18.4 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.6 kg | 1.51 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 22,600 ✓ | 14,900 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 52 fps ✓ | 38 fps |
| OS | macOS | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The MacBook Pro 14 offers sustained performance, a Mini-LED display, and more ports for demanding work, while the MacBook Air 15 is lighter, cheaper, and fanless. Choose the Pro for heavy creative work; choose the Air for everyday use and value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) or the MacBook Air 15 (M4)?
The MacBook Pro 14 offers sustained performance, a Mini-LED display, and more ports for demanding work, while the MacBook Air 15 is lighter, cheaper, and fanless. Choose the Pro for heavy creative work; choose the Air for everyday use and value.
Which is better for performance?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for performance.
Which is better for display?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for display.
Which is better for value?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for value.
Which is better for portability?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for portability.
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