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Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) vs Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro)

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) ($989) vs Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro) ($699) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right ultraportable laptop.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)
Apple
MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)
$989
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro)
Apple
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro)
$699
Ports Returned
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Spec-by-spec
SpecApple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro)
Price$989$699
Weight1510g1600g
ChipM4M1 Pro
Display15.3" Liquid Retina120Hz ProMotion mini-LED XDR
PortsMagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt, headphone3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3
Camera12MP Center Stage—
CoolingFanlessActive fan
Weight1510g (Apple published)1600g (Apple published)
Pros & Cons

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)

  • Large silent laptop at 1510g
  • M4 performance
  • Six-speaker audio
  • 1510g is real weight in a daypack
  • No ProMotion
  • Costs close to a 14-inch Pro used

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro)

  • XDR mini-LED at 120Hz, still excellent
  • Full ports, so no dongles
  • MagSafe returned
  • Genuinely fast for real work
  • 1600g
  • Notch in the display
  • Costs several times an M1 Air
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro) is the better value at $699. If weight matters most, Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) carries lighter at 1510g. Both are part of our curated ultraportable laptop index — tap through to check current pricing.
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