MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: which should you buy in Australia?
The M5 MacBook Air against the MacBook Pro 14 and 16, what the Pro actually adds, which configuration to buy, and today's lowest price for each at Australian stores.
In this guide
For most people, the MacBook Air is the right Mac. The MacBook Pro is a better computer in several ways, but it's also heavier and much more expensive, and its advantages only matter for certain kinds of work. Here's how to decide, with today's prices.
Today's prices
MacBook Air
- 1
Apple MacBook Air 13" (M5) 16GB RAM · 512GB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$1,747 - 2
Apple MacBook Air 15" (M5) 16GB RAM · 512GB6 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$2,047 - 3
Apple MacBook Air 13" (M5) 16GB RAM · 1TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$2,049 - 4
Apple MacBook Air 15" (M5) 16GB RAM · 1TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$2,373.27 - 5
Apple MacBook Air 13" (M5) 24GB RAM · 1TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$2,497 - 6
Apple MacBook Air 15" (M5) 24GB RAM · 1TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$2,797
MacBook Pro
- 1
Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M5) 16GB RAM · 1TB6 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$3,097 - 2
Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M5) 24GB RAM · 1TB4 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$3,346 - 3
Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M5) 32GB RAM · 1TB3 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$3,797 - 4
Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M5 Pro) 24GB RAM · 1TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$3,876 - 5
Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Pro) 24GB RAM · 1TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$4,646 - 6
Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M5 Pro) 24GB RAM · 2TB4 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$4,647 - 7
Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Pro) 48GB RAM · 1TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$5,526 - 8
Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M5 Max) 36GB RAM · 2TB5 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$6,196
Every row is one configuration (chip, memory, storage) at its cheapest Australian store today. Retailers usually undercut Apple's own price; see buy direct or from a retailer.
What the Pro adds
- A better screen. The Pro's Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) display is much brighter for HDR and has a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. The Air's screen is very good, but 60Hz.
- Fans. The Air has no fan, which makes it silent, but under long, heavy loads (exporting long videos, big code builds) it slows down to stay cool. The Pro holds its speed.
- Pro and Max chips. Only the Pro offers the M5 Pro and M5 Max, with many more CPU and GPU cores and much more memory.
- More ports. HDMI, an SD card slot and more Thunderbolt ports, so fewer dongles.
- Better speakers and longer battery life on some models.
What the Air does better
- Weight and size. Noticeably lighter and thinner; easier to carry all day.
- Silence. No fan at all.
- Price. Much less for the same memory and storage.
Who should buy which
- Students, writers, office work, browsing, photo editing, light video: MacBook Air. Choose 13-inch for portability, 15-inch for a bigger screen.
- Long video exports, 3D, music production with big projects, software development, heavy multitasking: MacBook Pro 14. The 16-inch for the biggest screen and the Max chips.
Which configuration?
- Memory: 16GB is the minimum we'd buy; 24GB or more if you'll keep it five years or do creative work. It can't be upgraded later.
- Storage: 512GB is the sensible start. Apple's storage upgrades are expensive, so consider an external SSD for big files.
Where to buy
MacBooks are sold by JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, the PC stores and Apple, and the cheapest store changes. See where to buy a laptop and the best laptops for students.
