Introduction
If you’re having trouble deciding between the cheaper and lighter MacBook Air 13 (M4) and the more expensive and powerful MacBook Pro 14 (M4), you are reading the right article. At first glance, the MacBook Air and Pro might look a touch similar, but there are some key differences in when it comes to their price, performance, display quality and battery life which you have to look into before making your choice. Let’s walk through these differences and help you choose the right MacBook for your needs.
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Apple MacBook Air 13 (2025) vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 – Comparison Table
| Specification | MacBook Air 13 | MacBook Pro 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Model Name | MacBook Air | MacBook Pro |
| Model Number | MW123LL/A | MW2U3LL/A |
| Year | 2025 | 2024 |
| Processor | Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU | Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU |
| RAM | 16 GB Unified Memory (DDR4) | 16 GB Unified Memory (DDR4) |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Graphics | Apple Integrated Graphics (Shared, 16 GB VRAM) | Apple Integrated Graphics (16 GB VRAM) |
| Display Size | 13.6-inch | 14.2-inch |
| Display Type | LED (Liquid Retina) | mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2560 × 1664 (224 PPI) | 3024 × 1964 (254 PPI) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz (Standard) | 120 Hz (ProMotion) |
| Max Brightness | 500 nits | 1600 nits (HDR Peak) |
| Battery | 53.8 Wh | 72.6 Wh |
| Battery Backup | Up to 18 hours | Up to 22 hours |
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.55 kg |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 11.97″ × 8.46″ × 0.44″ | 12.31″ × 8.71″ × 0.61″ |
| Camera | 1080p + FaceTime HD | 12 MP Front + FaceTime HD |
| Speakers | Stereo Speakers | High-Fidelity 6-Speaker System |
| Mic | Built-in, Beamforming | Studio-grade with Beamforming |
| Keyboard | Backlit, QWERTY, Touch ID | Backlit, QWERTY, Touch ID |
| Touchpad | Multi-touch Clickpad | Force Touch Trackpad |
| Ports | 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), MagSafe 3, 3.5mm | 3x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm |
| Wireless Tech | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Biometric Security | Fingerprint (Touch ID) | Fingerprint (Touch ID) |
| OS | macOS | macOS |
| Use Case | Entertainment, Students, Business | Developers, Gaming, Business |
| What’s in the Box | MacBook Air, 30W Adapter, USB-C to MagSafe Cable (2m) | MacBook Pro, 70W Adapter, USB-C to MagSafe Cable (2m) |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited | 1 Year Limited |
| Amazon Link | Amazon | Amazon |
Key Differences & Highlights
- Performance: The MacBook Pro has a more powerful GPU and also better thermal performance.
- Display: Pro’s mini-LED XDR display supports higher brightness (1600 nits peak) which is really better for HDR content.
- Ports: Pro offers more ports variety as it offers HDMI, SD card reader, 3 USB-C ports.
- Battery Life: Pro has a generally longer lasting battery—22 hours vs 18 hours.
- Audio: Pro includes an amazing 6-speaker system with Spatial Audio vs stereo setup in Air.
- Size/Weight: Air is thinner and lighter—better for portability.
- Cost: MacBook Air is significantly cheaper and is more value for money when it comes to just browsing or low performance work.
MacBook Air 13 vs MacBook Pro 14: Which One Should You Buy?
Which MacBook Is Newer?
The MacBook Air 13 got its M4 chip upgrade in the early 2025, while the MacBook Pro 14 was the first to debut with the M4 chip in late 2024. That means both models are fairly new models. So, if you’re worried about your new MacBook becoming outdated, you don’t need to get worried at all as both of them are pretty much the latest models out there.
Cost and Core Components
The 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) starts at $950-$1000. It comes in packed with a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU with the M4 chip. It has a 16GB of unified memory with a storage of 256GB SSD. It’s built for lightweight and everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing.
On the other hand, the MacBook Pro 14 (M4) starts at $1500-$1600 as it comes with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU. It also comes with 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. It features a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display which is designed for heavy display tasks like professional-grade photo/video editing. While both share the same CPU architecture, the Pro variant’s thermal management, GPU power, and memory bandwidth improve its performance significantly.
Design, Weight, and Portability
In terms of portability, the MacBook Air 13 is the clear winner here. Weighing at just about 2.7 lbs and measuring 0.44 inches thick, it’s ultra-light and is a perfect choice for students or frequent travelers. The MacBook Pro 14 us also not very heavy as it weighs 3.4 lbs and is 0.61 inches thick. MacBook Pro is noticeably bulkier, though still portable.
Despite being thinner, the Air maintains a premium feeling aluminum chassis with an excellent build quality. The Pro’s slightly larger footprint accommodates a better speaker system, more ports, and also improved cooling.
Display and Audio
Display quality is where the MacBook Pro 14 shines the most. Its 14.2-inch mini-LED panel boasts a 3024×1964 resolution, 254 PPI, and a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. Its brightness peaks at about 1,600 nits in HDR which is amazing for video playback. The MacBook Air 13, while no slouch, has a 13.6-inch LED Liquid Retina display with a 2560×1664 resolution, 224 PPI, and a standard 60Hz refresh rate. It maxes out at 500 nits, which is fine but no comparison to the MacBook Pro.
Audio-wise, the Pro again leads with a six-speaker system that supports both Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. The Air features four speakers with decent quality but is far behind the Pro.
Ports and Connectivity
The MacBook Air 13 comes with 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging, and a headphone jack. The MacBook Pro 14, meanwhile, offers more ports. It offers 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC card reader, and MagSafe 3, along with the headphone jack. If you work with external displays, memory cards, or wired peripherals often, the Pro gives you far more flexibility here.
Battery Life and Thermal Design
The Air 13 comes with a 53.8 Wh battery which is capable of offering up to 15 hours and 50 minutes of real-world usage. On the other hand, the Pro 14 packs a larger 72.4 Wh battery which can deliver an impressive 21 hours and 59 minutes even during YouTube streaming tests. That’s a notable jump and this makes the Pro one of the best laptops for battery longevity.
Thermally, the MacBook Air has no fan, which means that it’s whisper-quiet but can throttle under sustained heavy workloads. The MacBook Pro includes an active cooling system, which allows it to maintain peak performance longer which makes it great for creators or developers.
Performance: Benchmarks and Real-World Use
On Geekbench 6, both the MacBook Air 13 and MacBook Pro 14 score similarly on CPU tasks, with the Air having hit up to 15,049 multicore and the Pro reaching 15,134. However, in GPU-bound workloads, the Pro has a clear edge due to its extra GPU cores and better cooling.
In Cinebench 2024, the Air can manage 824 (CPU multicore) and 3,570 (GPU). The MacBook Pro hit 999 and 3,970 respectively. These numbers are another confirmation that the Pro offers a bit more sustained power, which is necessary for creative tasks like video editing.
Verdict
If you’re looking for the MacBook for basic office tasks, the MacBook Air 15 actually is the right choice as it is in the sweet spot with a big screen, good performance, and lightweight portability and comes with a cheaper price. Between the Air 13 and Pro 14, your choice boils down to budget vs performance. The Air 13 is ideal for 90% of users who don’t need any extreme power for their tasks. The Pro 14 justifies its price for users as it gives a great audio and display with extra performance.