Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core)

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core)

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core) takes 9 weighted points vs 5.3, winning on CPU Benchmark, RAM, Storage. Read our comprehensive Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core) review or see the full Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) review. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) counters in a higher tier — worth it if its strengths match your needs.

Highly Rated

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)

Apple M5 (10 Core) · Integrated (Apple iGPU)

Under $1500

4.8 (748)

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Winner

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core)

Apple M5 Max (18 Core) · Integrated (Apple iGPU)

Under $5000

4.7 (289)

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Use-Case Scores

Category	MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)	MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core)
Gaming	3.3/10	4.9/10
Productivity	6.2/10	7.4/10
Programming	5.8/10	7.8/10
Engineering / 3D	4.4/10	6.4/10
Student	6.3/10	6.2/10
Travel / Portability	7.4/10	6.8/10
AI Workloads	4.1/10	6.2/10
Value for Money	5.7/10	5.7/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

Spec	MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)	MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core)
CPU	Apple M5 (10 Core)	Apple M5 Max (18 Core)
PassMark Score	27,322	57,652
CPU Cores	4P+6E	6P+12S
GPU	Integrated (Apple iGPU)	Integrated (Apple iGPU)
G3DMark Score	—	—
RAM	24 GB DDR5	48 GB DDR5
RAM Upgradeable	No (soldered)	No (soldered)
Storage	1 TBSSD	2 TBSSD
Display	15.3″ Liquid Retina	16.2″ Liquid Retina
Resolution	2880x1864	3456x2234
Refresh Rate	60 Hz	120 Hz
Pixel Density	224 PPI	254 PPI
Touchscreen	No	No
Weight	3.32 lbs	4.7 lbs
Thickness	0.45″	0.66″
Amazon Rating	4.8 ★ (748)	4.7 ★ (289)
Value Score	5.7/10	5.7/10

CPU Comparison

The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core)'s Apple M5 Max (18 Core) is ~111% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (57,652 vs 27,322). A generational gap you will feel in exports, compiles and heavy multitasking. Read more in our in-depth MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) benchmark breakdown and MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core) performance review.

GPU & Gaming

Neither carries a dedicated GPU — both fine for esports at low settings, neither for modern AAA gaming. For dedicated gaming silicon, check our best gaming laptops guide.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 6.2/10 vs 7.4/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but both share a similar power class, so expect comparable endurance.

Display

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026): 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880x1864 @ 60 Hz. MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core): 16.2″ Liquid Retina 3456x2234 @ 120 Hz. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core)'s higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026): 24 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD. MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core): 48 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 2 TBSSD.

Build & Portability

3.32 lbs / 0.45″ vs 4.7 lbs / 0.66″. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) is 1.4 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 7.4 vs 6.8.

Value

Value scores land 5.7/10 vs 5.7/10. Both offer comparable performance for their respective classes.

Final Verdict

Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core) — it wins the weighted spec battle. You can read the detailed Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max 18 Core) review or compare alternative models in our laptop comparison tool.

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