Choosing a Mac laptop has never been more challenging than right now since the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are both so good. They have differences, so let's see what's right for you.
![MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/yKfXlEdEVoWPpXVmdQFMYmNWs2Q=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/MacBook-Air-vs-MacBook-Pro-eb0de2d71c15472aaa6f8779a35b927c.jpg)
Overall Findings
Fantastic performance at entry-level price.
Pro-like design with a much thinner body.
Long battery life.
Super-quiet with no internal fan.
Incredible performance with new M3 Pro and Max chips.
Stunning Retina display with slim bezel.
Easily runs demanding apps.
Available in 14- and 16-inch models.
People don't realize that you can do all your work on a MacBook Air. Which then begs the question, "Why buy a MacBook Pro?" Because for some people, time is money, and you can get specific work done faster with a MacBook Pro. Plus, the screen on the Pro is outrageously good. There are a few more ports on the Pro, making it a little handier in some situations.
Current Models: Each Come With Larger Sibling
13-inch w/Apple M2 processor, 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU | 256GB Storage ($999)
15-inch w/Apple M3 processor, 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU | 256GB Storage ($1,299)
14-inch w/Apple M3 processor, 8-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU | 512GB Storage ($1,599)
16-inch w/Apple M3 Pro processor, 12-Core CPU and 18-Core GPU | 512GB Storage ($2,499)
You can choose from 13-16" for the Air and Pro models.
The Air is available in 13- and 15-inch models, and the Pro is available in 14- and 16-inch models. The regular M2 processor is available with the entry-level Air, with the M3 chip in the other Air models. The M3 Pro and M3 Max are available with the 14- and 16-inch Pro. Only the Pro models have the more advanced screen (which Apple calls Liquid Retina XDR). Fun marketing names aside, it's a far superior screen than what's available on the Air (which has a good screen).
Design: Similar Exteriors But Differences Are There
Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Space Gray.
1080p Webcam.
2 Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3.
13": 2.7 pounds
15": 3.3 pounds
Available in Space Gray, Space Black, and Silver.
1080p Webcam.
Up to 3 Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, MagSafe 3, HDMI, SDXC card slot.
14": 3.4 pounds
16": 4.7 pounds
Previous designs made the differences more apparent, as the MacBook Air has kept its general wedge shape since 2008. With the 2024 model, however, the Air could be seen as a baby Pro, and when placed next to the MacBook Pro, it's never been more apparent that these computers all came from the same family.
Based on specs alone, you wouldn't think there's much difference, but when you pick up the Air after handling the Pro, there's a wow factor. The Air is only a teeny-tiny bit thinner, but you really feel it. Also, boo to Apple for not making the Pro in more colors.
Display: Air's Screen Is Good, But the Pro's Is Wow
13": 2560-by-1664
15": 2880-by-1864
14": 3024-by-1964
16": 3456-by-2234
Both the Air and Pro have what Apple calls Retina displays (a marketing term to describe what Apple feels is a display with enough pixel density to make individual pixels indistinguishable).
The Air has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, while the Pro starts at 600 and can go up to 1,600. The Pro's display also has a refresh rate (up to 120Hz) far better than the Air's (60Hz). It makes scrolling so much smoother that once you return to the Air, you will most certainly see the difference.
Performance
M2 has plenty of power for all everyday tasks.
Up to 18 hours of battery life.
The M3 Pro is a fast chip, and the M3 Max is an insanely fast chip for a laptop.
Up to 22 hours of battery life.
For most people, the MacBook Air is going to be as fast as or likely faster than they need it. Folks who work with large images and process a lot of audio and video would be better served by the MacBook Pro, but the Air can handle the same tasks, albeit a bit more slowly.
The base model M2 Air is so good that we think only people who can't afford to wait for their computer should bother with the MacBook Pro. Or you have cash burning a hole in your pocket. Or you just want one.
Pricing
13": $999-$1,499
15": $1,299-$1,699
14": $1,599-$3,199
16": $2,499-$3,999
Macs have a reputation for being far pricier than the competition, but we've often found the comparisons a little unfair. When you buy a Mac, you also get the operating system and exceptional attention to detail that other makes don't offer.
But there's a hefty price difference between the Air and the Pro. The Air is smaller, lighter, and cheaper.
When you upgrade to the Pro, you get more: more initial RAM (and a higher RAM ceiling), more SSD space (and a higher SSD ceiling), and far more processing power, not to mention the Pro's phenomenal screen.
Specs Comparison
Here are side-by-side specs for the current lineup of 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air and the specs for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Product Name | MacBook Air 13-inch (M2, 2022) | MacBook Air 15-inch (M3, 2024) | Macbook Pro 14-inch (M3 Pro/Max, 2023) | MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Pro/Max, 2023) |
Starting Price | $999.00 | $1,299 | $1,599 | $2,499 |
Weight | 2.7 lbs. | 3.3 lbs. | 3.4 lbs. | 4.7 lbs. |
Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches | 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches |
Warranty | 1 year (limited) | 1 year (limited) | 1 year (limited) | 1 year (limited) |
Platform | macOS Sonoma | macOS Sonoma | macOS Sonoma | macOS Sonoma |
Processor | Up to Apple M3 w/8-core CPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Apple M3 w/8-core CPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Up to Apple M3 Max w/14-core CPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Up to Apple M3 Max w/16-core CPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
Graphics | M2 8- or 10- Core GPU, or M3 10-core GPU | M3 10-Core GPU | M3 10-core GPU up to M3 Max 30-core GPU | M3 18-core GPU up to M3 Max 40-core GPU |
Storage | 256GB to 2TB | 256GB to 2TB | 512GB to 8TB | 512GB to 8TB |
Memory | 8GB, 16GB, 24GB | 8GB, 16GB, 24GB | 8GB to 96GB | 18GB to 128GB |
Ports | 2 Thunderbolt / USB4 / MagSafe 3 | 2 Thunderbolt / USB4 / MagSafe 3 | Up to 3 Thunderbolt / USB4 / HDMI / SDXC / MagSafe 3 | 3 Thunderbolt / USB4 / HDMI / SDXC / MagSafe 3 |
Security | Touch ID | Touch ID | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Audio | 4-speaker system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, 3-mic array | 6-speaker system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, 3-mic array | High-fidelity 6-speaker system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, 3-mic array | High-fidelity 6-speaker system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, 3-mic array |
Colors | Starlight, Midnight, Silver, Space Gray | Starlight, Midnight, Silver, Space Gray | M3: Space Gray, Silver; M3 Pro/Max: Space Black, Silver | Space Black, Silver |
Final Verdict
If you want to be told what to get, get the MacBook Air with as much RAM as you can afford. If you are wondering, "Do I need the MacBook Pro?" then you don't. You'll know if you are working with giant files that take a lot of power to work with. And if that's you, then maybe you need a MacBook Pro.