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While you cant go wrong with either, MacBooks have some notable differences.
As its Air moniker suggests, the MacBook Air is Apples thinnest and lightest laptop thats tailor-made for travel.
MacBook Air 15-inch M4
Then we have the MacBook Pro, which offers superior performance and battery life.
Generally, the MacBook Air is for everyday work while the MacBook Pro is for more demanding workloads.
That said, there is some crossover between the two.
MacBook Air 15-inch M4
So, which laptop suits you better, theMacBook Air M4or theMacBook Pro M4?
Ill break down the key differences to help you decide.
This laptop has four color options: Silver, Starlight, Midnight, and the new Sky Blue.
Then theres the MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,599 for the entry-level 14-inch model.
Color options include Space Black and Silver.
There are higher-end configurations that can bump the price up for each.
That said, the MacBook Air M4 is still generally the more affordable option.
If budget is a concern, youll want the base $999 MacBook Air.
You get sharp and colorful Liquid Retina displays with both laptops.
However, the Pro has several advantages over the Air.
But theres more to consider than just screen size.
This is effectively double the 500 nits the Airs LED-backlit displays can deliver.
Sure, the latter looks smooth enough, but 120Hz gives you smoother scrolling and better performance when gaming.
Lastly, the MacBook Pro has a nano-texture display option that can reduce glares and reflections.
When it comes to the best display possible on a MacBook, the MacBook Pro is the clear winner.
MacBook Air 15-inch M4
However, the MacBook Pro has an edge in this department.
Both Pro models have a six-speaker system featuring two tweeters and four force-cancelling woofers.
This provides deeper bass and an overall richer sound profile.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M4
The Pro laptops also supportDolby Atmosthrough their speakers instead of just headphones.
In short, the MacBook Pro delivers a superior audio experience over the MacBook Air.
In fact, it might be hard to distinguish between the Air and Pro at a glance.
The MacBook Pro has a six-speaker sound system that kicks out better sound quality than any Air.
However, there are differences.
MacBook Air laptops sport a thinner profile than their Pro counterparts.
Conversely, MacBook Pros have speakers flanking their respective keyboard decks.
Resident Evil 4 runs phenomenally on the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro.
The MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports and a headphone jack.
While MacBook Pros have more ports, MacBook Airs have more color options.
It offers excellent tactile response and is very comfortable.
The MacBook Air 15-inch M4 is not big on ports—you get a headphone jack on the right side, two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left and that’s it.
These laptops also have larger keys.
By far, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is one of thebest laptops for battery lifeIve reviewed.
Youll look good during video calls no matter which laptop youre using.
Both the MacBook Air and Pro M4 have great webcams that will help you look your best.
Both MacBooks support Center Stage and Desk View.
While Desk View can be useful, its angle can be too narrow or awkward.
Center Stage is great since it intelligently adjusts your camera to keep you centered on-screen as you move around.
MacBook Air M4 vs MacBook Pro M4: Which one to buy?
I hope Ive given you an idea of which MacBook is for you.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro looks awfully similar to the 15-inch MacBook Air M4 at this point.
But if youre still unsure, heres a quick breakdown.
The MacBook Air is arguably the best MacBook for most people.
Not only are these relatively affordable MacBooks, but theyre also the most portable.
These laptops are also excellent for basic tasks web surfing and watching videos.
They are expensive, but they’re also the most powerful and longest-lasting laptops that Apple makes.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 camera in action(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
MacBook Air 15-inch M4 camera in action(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)