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Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro)
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) ($1,499) 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 (M5) | Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499 | $824 |
| Weight | 1510g | 2100g |
| Chip | M5 (up to 10-core CPU / 10-core GPU) | M1 Pro |
| Display | 15.3" Liquid Retina, 500 nits | 16.2" 120Hz mini-LED XDR |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Cooling | Fanless | Active, dual fan |
| Audio | Six speakers, force-cancelling woofers | — |
| Weight | 1.51 kg (3.3 lb) | 2100g (Apple published) |
| Ports | — | 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3 |
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)
- Real two-window workspace, still fanless
- Six-speaker audio beats most laptops outright
- Same 18-hour battery as the 13-inch
- Lightest 15-inch laptop worth owning
- 280 g heavier than the 13-inch
- $200 premium for screen area alone
- Still only two Thunderbolt ports
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 (M5) carries lighter at 1510g. Both are part of our curated ultraportable laptop index — tap through to check current pricing.
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