Apple MacBook Air 15 M4 (2025) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
70
out 100
VS
74
out 100
Compared 2 laptops: Apple MacBook Air 15 M4 (2025), vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021). Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device
Versions
| Processor | n/a | - Apple M1 Pro - Apple M1 Max |
| Storage | - 256 GB - 512 GB - 1024 GB - 2048 GB |
- 512 GB - 1024 GB - 2048 GB - 4096 GB - 8192 GB |
| RAM | - 16 GB - 24 GB - 32 GB |
- 16 GB - 32 GB - 64 GB |
Review
System Performance
System and app performance
Gaming Performance
Graphics in popular 3D games
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Battery Life
Estimated real-world battery life
Connectivity
Ports, webcam, and interfaces
Case & Design
Appearance, materials, durability, comfort
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Tests & specs
Specs & test comparisonBody
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 2.1 kg |
| Pixel size | 340.4x237.6x11.5 mm | 355.7x248.1x16.8 mm |
| Area | 809 cm² | 882 cm² |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 83.9 % | 86.2 % |
| Side bezels | 5.4 mm | 3.4 mm |
| Colors | - Black - Silver - Gold - Blue |
- Silver - Gray |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Transformer | No | No |
| Opening angle | 130 ° | 135 ° |
| Cooling type | Passive | Active |
| Vapor chamber | No | No |
| Liquid metal | No | n/a |
| Cooler count | n/a | 2 |
| Noise Level | n/a | 37.4 dB |
Display
| Diagonal | 15.3 in | 16.2 in |
| Type | IPS LCD | Mini LED |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | No | Yes (24-120 Hz) |
| Pixel density | 224 ppi | 254 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Resolution | 2880x1864 pixels | 3456x2234 pixels |
| HDR support | Yes, Dolby Vision | Yes, Dolby Vision |
| Sync Tech | No | No |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Coating | Glossy (Anti-Reflective) | Glossy (Anti-Reflective) |
| Light sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Contrast | 1641:1 | 25700:1 |
| DCI-P3 gamut | 98.7 % | 99.1 % |
| sRGB gamut | 100 % | 100 % |
| Adobe RGB gamut | 88.3 % | 88 % |
| Response time | 24 ms | 67 ms |
Battery
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 100 Wh |
| Full Charge Time | 2:44 h | 1:25 h |
| Battery Type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Removable | No | No |
| Fast Charging | Yes | Yes |
| USB PD | Yes, 70 W | Yes, 100 W |
| Charge Port Location | Left | Left, Right |
| Charge Power | 35/70 W | 140 W |
| Cable Length | 2 m | 2 m |
| Charger weight | 188/208 g | 353 g |
Processor
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-Core) | Apple M1 Pro |
| Base frequency | 4.41 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Cores | 10 (4P + 6E) | 10 (8P + 2E) |
| Threads | 10 | 10 |
| Integrated Graphics | Apple M4 GPU (10-core) | Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core) |
| Process tech. | 3 nm | 5 nm |
GPU Model
| GPU Model | Apple M4 GPU (10-Core) | Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core) |
| TGP | 18 W | 30 W |
| Graphics Type | Integrated | Integrated |
| Process tech. | 3 nm | 5 nm |
| GPU Frequency | 500 MHz | 450 MHz |
| Boost GPU Frequency | 1800 MHz | 1296 MHz |
| FLOPS | 4.6 TFLOPS | 5.3 TFLOPS |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5 |
| Tire Width | 128 bit | 256 bit |
| Memory speed | 7.5 Gbit/s | 6.4 Gbit/s |
| Shader Units | 1280 | 2048 |
| TMUs | 80 | 128 |
| ROPs | 40 | 64 |
RAM
| RAM Size | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Channels | 2x8 GB | 2x8 GB |
| Frequency | 7500 MHz | 6400 MHz |
| Type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5 |
| Replaceable | No | No |
Storage
| Bus | Custom | Custom |
| Type | SSD (M2) | SSD (M2) |
| Channels | 1x256 GB | 2x256 GB |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| NVMe | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Capacity | 256 GB | 512 GB |
Sound
| Audio Formats | 2.4 | 4.2 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Max Volume | 85.8 dB | 84.7 dB |
| Microphones | 3 | 3 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi version | v6E | v6 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes | Yes |
| IR sensor | No | No |
| CD drive | No | No |
| Webcam | Above Display | Above Display |
| Webcam Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| USB-A | No | No |
| USB-C | 2x4.0 | 3x4.0 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | No | 1x2.0 |
| DisplayPort | No | No |
| VGA | No | No |
| 3.5 mm Audio Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | No | No |
| Card Reader | No | Yes |
| Charging Port | Yes | Yes |
Keyboard & Touchpad
| Key Type | Island Layout | Island Layout |
| Numeric Keypad | No | No |
| Backlight | Yes | Yes |
| Key Travel | 1 mm | 1 mm |
| Size | n/a | 15.5x9.9 cm |
| Surface | Glass | Glass |
| Windows Precision | No | No |
*
Attention!
Ports, display type, speakers, and specs may differ by model or country.
Results
No clear favorite identified yet; updates may follow as new data arrives.
Survey
Total Votes: 4
