Apple - MacBook Pro 14 M5 vs Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max
Between the MacBook Pro 14 M5 and MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max, the MacBook Pro 14 M5 comes out ahead in weight and panel type, while the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max wins on ram and storage. Overall, the MacBook Pro 14 M5 scores 61.8 and the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max scores 77.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 15.5 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the MacBook Pro 14 M5 if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight, panel type.
Pick the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are ram, storage, cpu cores, among others.
Both ship with comparable claimed battery life, refresh rate, thunderbolt ports, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - MacBook Pro 14 M5 wins
- ▲Weight — 0.59 kg less. 1.55 vs 2.14.
- ▲Panel type: Mini-LED (vs OLED).
Why Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max wins
- ▲RAM — 125.00% more. 36 GB vs 16 GB.
- ▲Storage — 100.00% more. 1024 GB vs 512 GB.
- ▲CPU cores — 60.00% more. 16 vs 10.
- ▲Battery — 38.89% more. 100 Wh vs 72 Wh.
- ▲Screen size — 14.08% more. 16.2 " vs 14.2 ".
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 14 M5 | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.55 kglead | 2.14 kg |
| Thickness | 15.5 mmlead | 16.8 mm |
| Build material | aluminum | aluminum |
| Backlit keyboard | true | true |
| Fingerprint reader | true | true |
Display
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 14 M5 | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizeⓘ | 14.2 " | 16.2 "lead |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Panel typeⓘ | Mini-LEDlead | OLED |
Performance
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 14 M5 | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M5 | Apple M4 Max |
| CPU cores | 10 | 16lead |
| GPUⓘ | Apple M5 10-core GPU | Apple M4 Max 40-core GPU |
| RAMⓘ | 16 GB | 36 GBlead |
| Storageⓘ | 512 GB | 1024 GBlead |
| Storage typeⓘ | SSD | SSD |
Battery & Ports
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 14 M5 | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Batteryⓘ | 72 Wh | 100 Whlead |
| Claimed battery life | 24 h | 24 h |
| USB-C ports | 3 | 3 |
| Thunderbolt portsⓘ | 3 | 3 |
| HDMI | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery life, MacBook Pro 14 M5 or MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max?+
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max claims up to 24 hours — 24h vs 24h.
Which is lighter, MacBook Pro 14 M5 or MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max?+
MacBook Pro 14 M5 is lighter at 1.55 kg vs 2.14 kg.
Which has more RAM, MacBook Pro 14 M5 or MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max?+
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max offers 36GB of RAM.
Which has an OLED display, MacBook Pro 14 M5 or MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max?+
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max has an OLED display; MacBook Pro 14 M5 uses Mini-LED.
Spec-level deep dives
More from the same brands
vsMars is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.