Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max): specs comparison
How the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) (2026 laptop) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) (2026 laptop) differ, worked out only from the values on each maker’s official spec page. No prices, ratings or benchmark scores.
Key differences
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) uses the higher-tier version of the same chip generation: M5 Pro or M5 Max vs M5.
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has the larger battery: 100 Wh vs 66.5 Wh for Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5).
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has the bigger screen: 16.2-inch vs 15.3-inch on Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5).
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) offers more RAM: up to 128 GB vs up to 32 GB.
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) offers more storage: up to 8 TB vs up to 4 TB.
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has Thunderbolt 5 ports; Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) has Thunderbolt 4.
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has an HDMI port; Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)'s official port list does not include one.
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has an SD card slot; Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)'s official port list does not include one.
- Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) is lighter: 1.51 kg vs 2.14 kg to 2.15 kg for Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max), at least 630 g less.
In common: both list a 2026 launch.
Who should pick which
- Pick the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) if you want the lighter build (1.51 kg).
- Pick the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) if you want the M5 Pro or M5 Max, the larger 100 Wh battery, the bigger 16.2-inch screen and more RAM (up to 128 GB).
Full specifications side by side
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) | Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2026 | 2026 |
| Processor (CPU) | Apple M5 chip, 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU: 6 super cores and 12 performance cores) or Apple M5 Max (18-core CPU) |
| Graphics (GPU) | 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | M5 Pro: 20-core GPU; M5 Max: 32-core or 40-core GPU |
| Memory (RAM) | 16GB unified memory, configurable to 24GB or 32GB | M5 Pro: 24GB unified memory, up to 128GB; M5 Max: 36GB unified memory, up to 128GB (48GB, 64GB or 128GB options) |
| Storage | 512GB SSD, configurable to 1TB, 2TB or 4TB | M5 Pro: 1TB SSD, configurable to 2TB or 4TB; M5 Max: 2TB SSD, configurable to 4TB or 8TB |
| Display | 15.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology, 2880x1864 native resolution at 224 pixels per inch, 500 nits | 16.2-inch (diagonal) Liquid Retina XDR display, 3456-by-2234 native resolution at 254 ppi, ProMotion up to 120Hz |
| Battery | Built-in 66.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, up to 18 hours video streaming, up to 15 hours wireless web | 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer; up to 24 hours video streaming (M5 Pro), up to 22 hours (M5 Max) |
| Ports | MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports | Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port |
| Weight | 1.51 kg (3.3 pounds) | 2.14 kg (M5 Pro) / 2.15 kg (M5 Max) |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Dimensions | Height: 1.15 cm (0.45 inches), Width: 34.04 cm (13.40 inches), Depth: 23.76 cm (9.35 inches) | 1.68 cm high x 35.57 cm wide x 24.81 cm deep |
| Source | Official specs · checked 2026-10-28 | Official specs · checked 2026-10-28 |
Questions
What is the difference between Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) and Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max)?
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) uses the higher-tier version of the same chip generation: M5 Pro or M5 Max vs M5. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has the larger battery: 100 Wh vs 66.5 Wh for Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5). Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has the bigger screen: 16.2-inch vs 15.3-inch on Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5).
Which is lighter, Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) or Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max)?
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) is lighter: 1.51 kg vs 2.14 kg to 2.15 kg for Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max), at least 630 g less.
Which has the bigger battery, Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) or Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max)?
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max) has the larger battery: 100 Wh vs 66.5 Wh for Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5).
Every difference above is calculated from the two spec tables, which are copied from Apple’s official pages. A spec that only one page states is not compared. Variants and options differ by region, so confirm on the official page before you buy. Spotted a difference? Report a correction.