Choose the MacBook Pro 14 if…
- You edit photos or video, or run other heavy apps.
- You spend long hours looking at the screen.
- You often work away from a plug.
- You want HDMI and a card reader without an adapter.
Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M6)
The MacBook Pro 14 is the stronger laptop here: it is faster, has the nicer screen and lasts longer on a charge.
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Which one to choose
-
Performance
MacBook Pro 14 wins
A newer chip and more processor cores: quicker with big projects and many apps open.
-
Display
MacBook Pro 14 wins
Its screen is brighter.
-
Battery life
MacBook Pro 14 wins
It should go longer between charges.
-
Portability
Evenly matched
They weigh about the same.
-
Ports
MacBook Pro 14 wins
It adds HDMI and a card reader.
Spec by spec
| Specification | MacBook Air 15 | MacBook Pro 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| The MacBook Pro 14 is the faster laptop, with a newer chip and more processor cores. The MacBook Air 15 is not far behind, so either copes with heavy work. | ||
| Processor | Apple M5 | Apple M6 |
| CPU cores | 10 | 12 |
| Core types | 4 performance + 6 efficiency | 2 super + 4 performance + 6 efficiency |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | 2nm |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | 170 GB/s |
| Graphics | 10-core GPU | Apple M6 12-core GPU |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB |
| Screen | ||
| The MacBook Pro 14 has the nicer screen: it is brighter. The MacBook Air 15's screen is bigger, though. | ||
| Screen size | 15.3" | 14.2" |
| Resolution | 3K (2880 x 1864) | 3K (3024 x 1964) |
| Panel | IPS | LCD |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 1,000 nits |
| Color range | Wide color (P3) | P3 wide color gamut |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| HDR | — | XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range) |
| Battery and size | ||
| The MacBook Pro 14 should last longer between charges. | ||
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Battery capacity | 66.5 Wh | 72.4 Wh |
| Charger | 40 W | 70 W |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 | MagSafe 3 |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source | Fast-charge capable with 96W or higher USB PD power source |
| Weight | 1.51 kg (3.3 lb) | 1.55 kg (3.4 lb) |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm (13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 in) | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm (12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 in) |
| Color | Silver | Space Black |
| Colors available | Silver | Space Black |
| Ports and wireless | ||
| The MacBook Pro 14 adds HDMI and a card reader, so you'll need fewer adapters. | ||
| Ports | MagSafe 3 charging port, 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 3.5 mm headphone jack | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1x HDMI, 1x SDXC card slot, 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1x MagSafe 3 |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | 2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 wireless networking chip | Apple N1 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6 |
| Card reader | — | SDXC |
| Features | ||
| Webcam | 1080p | 12MP, 1080p |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys, Touch ID, Ambient light sensor | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys, Touch ID, ambient light sensor |
| Login | Fingerprint | Fingerprint |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | Force Touch trackpad |
| Speakers | Six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers | High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming |
| Software and model | ||
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 |