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Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro)
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) ($989) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro) ($824) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right ultraportable laptop.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) | Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $989 | $824 |
| Weight | 1510g | 2100g |
| Chip | M4 | M1 Pro |
| Display | 15.3" Liquid Retina | 16.2" 120Hz mini-LED XDR |
| Ports | MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt, headphone | 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3 |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage | — |
| Cooling | Fanless | Active, dual fan |
| Weight | 1510g (Apple published) | 2100g (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 16-inch (M1 Pro)
- Enormous, excellent XDR display
- Full port selection
- Sustained performance for heavy work
- Best speakers in a laptop
- 2100g, this is luggage
- Large footprint needs a real bag
- Fan is audible under heavy load
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro) is the better value at $824. 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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