MacBook Air (15-inch, M5) vs MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)

The price Apple charged in the US on launch day for the lowest configuration, before tax.

This is not what the Mac costs today. More memory, storage or a faster chip cost extra. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.

Screen size measured corner to corner, in inches. One inch is 2.54 cm.

A bigger screen fits two windows side by side more comfortably, but the laptop is larger and heavier. A 13-inch MacBook fits most bags; 16-inch models need a bigger one.

How many dots (pixels) make up the screen, across by down.

More pixels on the same size of screen make text and photos look sharper. macOS scales everything so text stays a comfortable size.

Apple's name for the screen. Retina means sharp enough that you cannot see the dots at a normal distance. Liquid Retina is Apple's name for its newer LCD screens with rounded corners. Liquid Retina XDR uses mini-LED lighting for much higher brightness and contrast.

XDR screens show HDR video and photos far brighter and with deeper blacks than Retina and Liquid Retina screens.

More in the glossary →

LCD screens use one light behind the whole screen. Mini-LED screens use thousands of tiny lights behind the screen, each lighting a small area that can dim on its own.

Mini-LED shows deeper blacks and much brighter highlights, which you notice most in HDR films and photo editing. For documents and browsing, both look good.

More in the glossary →

Hz (hertz) means times per second. A standard MacBook screen redraws 60 times per second (60 Hz). ProMotion goes up to 120 times per second (120 Hz) and slows down when nothing moves, to save battery.

Scrolling through pages, moving windows and animations look noticeably smoother.

More in the glossary →

Nits measure brightness. This is the brightness Apple lists for everyday (SDR) content such as documents and websites, not the higher peak for HDR video.

A brighter screen is easier to read near a window or outdoors. 500 nits works well indoors. "Not published by Apple" means Apple's spec page for that model does not give a figure.

Apple offers an optional nano-texture screen: the glass surface is etched with a pattern too small to see, which scatters reflected light.

Reflections from windows and lights are greatly reduced, while the picture stays clear. It costs extra, and the screen should be cleaned only with the special cloth Apple includes.

Matters most if: You work near windows, outdoors, or under bright office lights.

The sockets on the sides of the MacBook. Each row shows one port gained or lost.

Built-in HDMI and an SD card slot mean fewer adapters when you connect a TV or projector or copy photos from a camera. With fewer ports you rely more on USB-C hubs and adapters.

Matters most if: You connect displays, cameras or many accessories.

Wi-Fi generations. Each new one handles more devices at once and higher speeds: Wi-Fi 5 (2014), Wi-Fi 6 (2019), Wi-Fi 6E adds a new, less crowded radio band, Wi-Fi 7 is the newest.

You only get the extra speed if your router supports the same generation. With an older router, the difference is small.

More in the glossary →

Bluetooth connects wireless headphones, mice, keyboards and game controllers. Newer versions have more range and use less power.

Most accessories work with any of these versions. Newer versions mainly help with range and connection stability.

The power of the charger Apple includes in the box, in watts (W). Higher watts can charge faster.

A bigger charger refills the battery faster, especially on larger MacBook Pro models. Any USB-C charger works, but a small one charges slowly.

Apple's battery rating for watching video on a full charge, in Apple's own tests. Older models were tested playing downloaded movies, newer ones streaming video over Wi-Fi.

Real use with many apps, high brightness or heavy work drains the battery faster. Batteries also wear out, so an older MacBook today lasts less than it did when new.

Matters most if: You work away from a power outlet for long stretches.

Battery size in watt-hours (Wh): how much energy the battery holds.

A bigger battery helps, but how long it lasts depends even more on the chip. Apple silicon MacBooks last much longer than Intel ones with a similar battery.

Weight in kilograms. 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds.

A difference of 0.3 kg or more is noticeable when you carry the MacBook every day. The charger adds extra weight to your bag.

How thick the MacBook is when closed, in centimeters. 1 cm is about 0.4 inch. For tapered designs this is the thickest point.

Thinner MacBooks slide into bags and sleeves more easily. A few millimeters are hard to notice in daily use.

How Apple describes the MacBook's speakers on its spec page. Apple's wording varies between models. We show it exactly as Apple lists it.

Four- and six-speaker systems, especially those with force-cancelling woofers, give fuller sound with more bass for films and music without headphones.