The introduction of the M5 MacBook Air indicates that Apple now offers two laptops featuring the standard M5 chip. The initial laptop to incorporate the basic M5 chip was the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Both devices fall within the “under $2000” category in Apple’s laptop selection. Here’s a comparison of the two MacBooks that utilize the same chip.
## 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro and 13-inch M5 MacBook Air
Although both models utilize the **standard M5 chip**, there exists a **$600 price gap** between the two laptops.
The [M5 MacBook Air](https://amzn.to/3NimNZD) is priced from **$1099**, while the [M5 MacBook Pro](https://amzn.to/4ufsfgi) starts at **$1699**.
The entry-level MacBook Air features a **13.6-inch Liquid Retina display**, whereas the MacBook Pro boasts a **14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display**. XDR refers to the capability to showcase high dynamic range content, such as HDR images and videos.
There is also a variation in the M5 chip utilized in the entry-level variant of each laptop. Both M5 chips are equipped with a **10-core CPU**. The MacBook Air variant includes an **8-core GPU**, in contrast to the **10-core GPU** found in the M5 MacBook Pro.
Both laptops can be outfitted with **up to 4TB SSD** storage. However, the MacBook Pro starts with **1TB storage**, compared to the MacBook Air’s **512GB storage**.
Each model comes with a starting memory of **16GB**, with options available for **24GB** and **32GB RAM**.
## Portability and battery life
The MacBook Air is lighter at **2.7 pounds** (1.24 kg), in comparison to the MacBook Pro, which weighs **3.4 pounds** (1.55 kg). Being lighter also means it’s thinner. The MacBook Air measures **0.44 inches** (1.13 cm) in thickness, while the MacBook Pro is **0.61 inches** (1.55 cm) thick.
Differences in display dimensions are also notable. The MacBook Air is **11.97 inches** (30.41 cm) wide and **8.46 inches** (21.5 cm) deep, whereas the MacBook Pro measures **12.31 inches** (31.26 cm) in width and **8.71 inches** (22.12 cm) in depth.
Battery life presents another distinction. The bulkier MacBook Pro claims **up to 24 hours** of battery life, while the MacBook Air offers **up to 18 hours**.
This six-hour battery life difference is based on video streaming conditions. The MacBook Pro only boasts one extra hour of battery life when wirelessly browsing the web, delivering 16 hours compared to the MacBook Air’s 15 hours.
## Air vs Pro I/O
Both laptops are equipped with the same 12MP Center Stage camera, featuring Desk View support and 1080 HD video recording capabilities.
The sound system is more advanced on the MacBook Pro, offering a **high-fidelity six-speaker sound system** complete with force-cancelling woofers and broad stereo sound. Conversely, Apple advertises only a **four-speaker sound system** for the MacBook Air, lacking additional specifications.
Apple also provides superior built-in microphones in the MacBook Pro, which includes a **studio-quality three-mic array with a high signal-to-noise ratio**. The MacBook Air is described as having just a **three-mic array**.
Both models contain a 3.5 mm headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones, while the MacBook Pro additionally features **an HDMI port** that allows multichannel audio output.
The differences in ports are further highlighted by the **three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports** and **SDXC card slot** on the MacBook Pro, compared to the lack of HDMI, absence of SD card support, and just **two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports** on the MacBook Air.
One area where the M5 MacBook Air demonstrates a more contemporary design compared to the basic M5 MacBook Pro is in wireless capabilities. The pricier MacBook Pro is equipped with **Wi-Fi 6E** (802.11ax) and **Bluetooth 5.3**, whereas the MacBook Air features **Wi-Fi 7** (802.11be) and **Bluetooth 6**.
## MacBook Pro’s display reveals the real differences
However, the MacBook Pro clearly excels in display quality.
The 14.2-inch display of the MacBook Pro offers more screen space with a resolution of **3024 by 1964 pixels**, utilizing **mini-LED backlighting** for much richer blacks and enhanced contrast.
The 13.6-inch display of the MacBook Air lacks mini-LED backlighting and holds **256