Back-to-school time always brings some of the best deals on laptops, and this year is no exception. Amazon is offering insane deals on both the entry-level M4 MacBook Air ($799) and the baseline M4 MacBook Pro ($1299). While my gut reaction is in awe at how much power and value you get from the M4 MacBook Air at $799, after I stopped to think about it, the M4 MacBook Pro at $1299 could actually be the best bang for buck computer out on the market, but is it worth the $500 price difference?
That is what I wanted to break down in this post. Both are exceptional values, but what exactly are you getting from the MacBook Pro that justifies the extra $500? Let’s get into it.
Similiarities
Even with a $500 price gap, these two machines share more than you might expect. So, before diving into the differences, I want to share some context on how alike these two machines are, especially from a performance standpoint. Let’s highlight where they overlap.
Design and size
Visually, both the M4 MacBook Air and M4 MacBook Pro look pretty much the same. They both have that signature unibody aluminum design that feels premium, durable, and sleek. Of course, both are easy to carry around and comfortable to use on a desk, lap, or carry in your backpack. The MacBook Air is a tad lighter and smaller than the MacBook Pro:
- MacBook Air: 2.7 lbs (for the 13.6in version)
- MacBook Pro: 3.4 lbs (for the 14.2in version)
From a distance, both of these computers look pretty much the same. It’s not until you hold them side by side that you see that the MacBook Air’s footprint is a bit smaller and also a bit thinner. After having both of them in hand, the 0.7 lbs difference is not what will make or break my decision.
The MacBook Air has more color options than the MacBook Pro, so if you are dying for the Sky Blue color, your only choice is the MacBook Air. However, the overall form factor is almost identical.
Performance and thermals
You would think that the price difference between the Air and the Pro model would go towards performance, right? In this case, that’s actually not true. Both of these machines have the regular M4 chip inside. The only difference is that the MacBook Pro has two additional GPU cores and has a fan for better thermals. But both have the M4 chip, and both come with 16GB of RAM standard. Take a look at these Geekbench scores below:
You can see here that you may be able to squeeze about 5% more performance from the Pro model compared to the Air model. But, similar to the size comparison, that will not make or break the purchasing decision. Both of these machines can handle the same intensity of performance tasks. So, what are you paying for when you spend an extra $500-$600 on a MacBook Pro? Hardware
Why the MacBook Pro is $500 more expensive
The key difference you are paying for when you go for the MacBook Pro is all the premium hardware. Internally, you aren’t getting much more out of it compared to the MacBook Air, but the premium and high-quality nature of the external hardware is where the MacBook Pro starts to deserve that ‘Pro’ name.
The display
Now this is where things start to really heat up. The MacBook Air has a bright and colorful Liquid Retina IPS display that maxes out at 500 nits of brightness. For the price you are paying, it’s a great display. It will 100% get the job done for most people, especially if color reproduction and accuracy aren’t the most important thing to you. But it’s limited to 60Hz and doesn’t support HDR content.
The MacBook Pro, on the other hand, packs a Liquid Retina XDR Mini-LED display (yes, it’s a mouthful). This screen offers up to 1,000 nits sustained brightness (and 1,600 nits peak for HDR), plus 120Hz ProMotion for ultra-smooth scrolling and motion. Because it is Mini-LED, it also delivers deeper blacks and higher contrast, which is especially noticeable in dark mode or when watching HDR videos. This display alone is worth the $500 difference. If you have no experience with it, head to an Apple store and mess around with the MacBook Pro, then go back to the MacBook Air, and you will see why it’s so good.
If you do photo or video editing, or appreciate top-tier visuals, the MacBook Pro’s display is in a league of its own. But if you primarily use your laptop for emails, browsing, and writing, the Air’s display is more than good enough.
Port selection
This is a simple one as well. You either have the ports or you don’t and the MacBook pro just comes better equipped with more ports.
MacBook Air ports:
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 (both on left side)
- MagSafe 3
- Headphone jack
MacBook Pro ports:
- 3x Thunderbolt 4 (two on the left, one on the right)
- HDMI port
- SD card slot
- MagSafe 3
- Headphone jack
If you know you need an HDMI port, an SD card slot, or more Thunderbolt ports, then your only option is the MacBook Pro. Of course, you can get a USB-C hub or dongle for the MacBook Air, but a good, reliable one will cost at least $50 to $100.
Battery and speakers
Both of these computers have fantastic battery life, thanks to the M4 chip efficiencies. They will easily last you all day on a single charge. That being said, the MacBook Air will get you 16-18 hours on a charge, and the MacBook Pro can stretch it to about 20-22 hours. This is because the MacBook Pro just has a bigger battery.
Then you have the speakers. The MacBook Air has solid stereo speakers, which are great for Zoom calls, YouTube, or background music. But the MacBook Pro uses a six-speaker system featuring force-canceling woofers. It’s louder, fuller, and much bassier as well. I’m not one to try to play something out loud at full volume, but it’s nice to know that the MacBook Pro speakers rival some premium stand-alone Bluetooth speakers.
Which should you buy?
So, after all of this, which is the better buy? It just depends on what you value and need. Both are insane values. But what I really wanted to make known is that you’re not paying for extra performance here. If you want more performance, you need to get an M4 Pro chip or an M3 Ultra. You are paying for the better hardware that comes with the Pro. If your work relies on accurate color reproduction, or you really like the idea of having more ports, or you value a much better display, then get the M4 MacBook Pro. But if you really don’t need the bleeding edge of display tech and can be fine with the port selection, then the MacBook Air is still fantastic, especially at $799.
Get the MacBook Air if you:
- Want a powerful, lightweight laptop under $1,000
- Do mostly web-based or productivity work (docs, Zoom, browsing)
- Prefer more color options
- Prioritize portability and silence
- Occasionally do light photo or video editing
Get the MacBook Pro if you:
- Work with video, photos, audio, or development tools professionally
- Want the best display in a MacBook
- Need more ports (SD card, HDMI, extra Thunderbolt)
- Value top-tier battery life and speakers
One final thing to note, is that the baseline version of MacBook Air comes with 256GB of storage while the baseline MacBook Pro comes with 512GB of storage. That would be a $200 add on if you get that amount of storage on a MacBook Air.
Final thoughts
At $799, the M4 MacBook Air is one of the best deals I have ever seen for such a powerful computer. It’s powerful, quiet, perfect for 90% of users and will easily last you 5 to 7 years.
But at $1299, the MacBook Pro offers a top-tier display, better speakers, a wider port selection, and a longer battery life. If your daily work demands more display power, that $500 upgrade could pay off every single day.
Both are excellent choices; it all depends on your priorities.
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