The MacBook Pro 16-inch is the superior choice for professionals needing maximum performance and a larger, more advanced display, while the MacBook Air 15-inch is better suited for users prioritizing portability, battery life, and silent operation for everyday tasks.
| Attribute | MacBook Pro 16 inch | MacBook Air 15 inch |
|---|---|---|
| Processor (CPU) | Apple Silicon: M1 Pro, M1 Max, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M3 Pro, M3 Max, M4 Pro, M4 Max (depending on the year). Cores vary (10-core, 12-core, 14-core, 16-core). Intel (Older Models): Intel Core i7 or i9 (6-core or 8-core). | Apple M4 chip with 10-core CPU (4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) or Apple M3 chip with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) or Apple M2 chip with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | Apple Silicon: Integrated Apple GPU (16-core, 19-core, 20-core, 24-core, 30-core, 32-core, 38-core, 40-core). Intel (Older Models): AMD Radeon Pro (5300M, 5500M, 5600M) with GDDR6 memory, Intel UHD Graphics. | Apple M4 10-core GPU or Apple M3 with up to 10-core GPU or Apple M2 with 10-core GPU |
| RAM (Memory) | Apple Silicon: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB, 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, or 128GB unified memory (depending on the model). Intel (Older Models): 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB DDR4. | 16GB unified memory, configurable to 24GB or 32GB, some models may have 8GB, soldered and not user-upgradeable |
| Storage Capacity (SSD) | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB SSD (depending on the configuration). | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB SSD |
| Display Size and Resolution | 16-inch (16.2-inch diagonal). Resolution: 3456 x 2234 or 3072 x 1920 (depending on the model). | 15.3-inch (diagonal), 2880 x 1864 native resolution at 224 pixels per inch (Retina Display) |
| Display Technology (e.g., Mini-LED, Liquid Retina) | Liquid Retina XDR display (mini-LED backlight, ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz). Older models: Retina display (LED-backlit with IPS technology). | Liquid Retina display with IPS technology, LED-backlit, 500 nits brightness, Wide color (P3), True Tone technology, Supports 1 billion colors, Covers 100% of the P3 color gamut |
| Battery Life (in hours, typical usage) | Up to 22 hours of Apple TV app movie playback (depending on the model and usage). Up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing (depending on the model and usage). | Up to 18 hours Apple TV app movie playback, Up to 15 hours wireless web, Observed real-world uptime of about 15 hours, Lasted for 14 hours and 59 minutes in a battery test involving continuous web surfing, Battery life of 16 hours and 41 minutes in testing |
| Weight | Around 4.7 to 4.8 pounds (2.1 to 2.2 kg), varying slightly based on the specific configuration. | M4: 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg), M2/M3: 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg) |
| Number of Ports (USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, etc.) | Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port. | Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Keyboard Quality (key travel, responsiveness) | Magic Keyboard with scissor mechanism (1mm key travel). | Magic Keyboard, backlit, Good key throws, feedback, and typing feel, Key travel roughly 1mm, provides a very comfortable and efficient typing experience, Responsiveness of the keys renders the limited key travel a non-issue for some |
| Trackpad Size and Responsiveness | Force Touch trackpad. | Force Touch trackpad, Precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities |
| Operating System | macOS | macOS |
| Price | Not available | Not available |
| Ratings | Not available | Not available |