MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air: ZDNET tests both and explains which to buy in 2026

ZDNET tested Apple's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air and says both are solid choices in 2026; which to buy depends on your needs for power, size, storage and display quality. The MacBook Pro comes in 14‑ and 16‑inch models and currently ships with three chip options: the new M5 (launched October 2025), the M4 Pro and the M4 Max.

ZDNET notes all three chips perform well, with the M4 Max offering the most powerful media engine; M4 Pro models offer 14‑core CPUs and 20‑core GPUs, the M4 Max adds a 32‑core GPU, and M4 Pro MacBook Pros have unified memory options from 16GB to 48GB. ZDNET's editor‑in‑chief Kerry Wan tested the 14‑inch M5 MacBook Pro and found it significantly faster than the M4 MacBook Pro, performing comparably to the M1 Ultra Mac Studio in his benchmarks.

The review highlights long battery life, a robust port selection including three Thunderbolt 4 ports and an SDXC card slot, and a Liquid Retina XDR display; ZDNET says the M5 model handles dozens of browser tabs, the CMS, music apps and Adobe Premiere Pro with ease. The MacBook Air is available in 13‑ and 15‑inch M4 models.

ZDNET's testing praised the Air's responsive performance and more than 14 hours of battery life, along with a crisp Liquid Retina display, support for two external monitors while the lid is open and Center Stage for the webcam.

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