MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series)
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MacBook Air (M3 series)
Starting at
£796.06£1,099.00 new
MacBook Pro (M5 series)
Starting at
£1,950.44What's the difference between the MacBook Air (M3 series) and MacBook Pro (M5 series)?
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) comes down to the RAM, screen size and screen type. Refurbished, the MacBook Air (M3 series) starts at £796.06, £1154.38 less than the MacBook Pro (M5 series). The MacBook Pro (M5 series) is the newer model, released in 2025.
Refurbished from
RAM
Screen size
Screen type
Weight
- The MacBook Air (M3 series) has more RAM: 24 GB vs 16 GB.
- The MacBook Pro (M5 series) has a bigger screen: 14 inch vs 13 inch.
- Screen type: Liquid Retina IPS on the MacBook Air (M3 series), Liquid Retina XDR display on the MacBook Pro (M5 series).
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) specs
The MacBook Air M3 series and MacBook Pro M5 series serve different needs based on their features. The MacBook Air offers more RAM and a lighter design, suitable for everyday use and multitasking. The MacBook Pro has a larger, brighter screen with a higher resolution and extra ports, making it a better fit for creative work or users who want more connectivity. The Pro also has a higher-resolution webcam and more speakers, enhancing audiovisual experiences. Storage options start lower on the Air but include smaller capacities, which might suit lighter storage needs. Overall, the Air suits those looking for a portable and responsive machine, while the Pro suits users who benefit from a larger, brighter display and expanded features.
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) price
Colour
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) battery life and software updates
Both MacBook models run the same latest operating system and are durable for current macOS requirements. Their release years differ but this does not affect how long they support the system.
Operating System Support
Both the MacBook Air M3 series and MacBook Pro M5 series support macOS Tahoe, ensuring you have access to the same software updates and security features for your device.
Release Year
The MacBook Air was released in 2024, while the MacBook Pro came out in 2025. This is useful to know for context but both support the same operating system version.
Maximum operating system supported
Year of release
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) performance
Performance wise, both MacBooks share the same GPU and processor brand. However, they differ in RAM and storage options, which affects multitasking and file space.
RAM Capacity
The MacBook Air comes with 24 GB of RAM, which supports keeping more apps and browser tabs open at once. The MacBook Pro has 16 GB of RAM, suited for smooth performance in typical professional and creative tasks.
Storage Options
The MacBook Air offers stock options starting from 256GB up to 2TB, giving flexibility for lighter to heavier file storage needs. The MacBook Pro stocks start from 512GB up to 2TB, which is better suited if you require larger baseline storage.
Graphic card
Macbook architecture
Processor brand
Processor speed ghz
RAM
Storage type
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) screen
Screen quality is a key difference between these two laptops. Both have Retina IPS displays with True Tone but vary in size, resolution, brightness and type, affecting how you view content.
Screen Size and Resolution
The MacBook Air has a 13 inch screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1664, suitable for everyday tasks and portability. The MacBook Pro offers a larger 14 inch screen with a higher resolution of 3024 x 1964, providing more space and detail for detailed work like photo editing or design.
Brightness and Screen Type
The MacBook Air features 500 nits brightness with a Liquid Retina IPS display, which works well indoors. The MacBook Pro doubles the brightness to 1000 nits and uses a Liquid Retina XDR display, making it better for bright environments and high dynamic range content.
Ips
Resolution
Retina
Screen brightness
Screen size
Screen type
True tone
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) camera
Audiovisual features differ mainly in speakers and webcam quality, which impact video calls, media playback and content creation.
Speakers
The MacBook Air includes a four-speaker sound system, which suits general use like video calls and casual media. The MacBook Pro has six speakers, offering richer and more immersive audio for music, movies or professional audio work.
Webcam Resolution
The MacBook Air has a 1080p front camera, which is good for clear video calls. The MacBook Pro steps up to a 12 MP webcam, capturing higher detail and sharper images, useful for video conferencing or content creation.
Front camera definition
Microphone
Speakers
Webcam
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) size and design
Other features include connectivity options, weight, and ports, which influence usability and convenience depending on your setup.
Ports and Expansion
The MacBook Air has two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and no card slot or HDMI output. The MacBook Pro offers three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, and HDMI output, giving you more flexibility to connect external devices and media cards.
Weight
The MacBook Air weighs 1240 g, making it lighter and easier to carry around daily. The MacBook Pro weighs 1550 g, which is heavier but comes with a larger screen and additional ports.
Bluetooth and Wireless
Both devices support Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax, ensuring fast and stable wireless connections for peripherals and internet.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth version
Card slot
Charger compatibility
Depth
Display
Hdmi output
Height
Jack plug
Keyboard language type
Microphone specifications
Neural engine
Promotion
Release date
Touch
Touch bar
Usb typec thunderbolt 4 ports
Usbc port
Webcam definition
Weight
Width
Wifi technology
MacBook Air (M3 series) or MacBook Pro (M5 series): which should you buy?
Buy the MacBook Air (M3 series) if
- you want to spend less: it starts at £796.06, £1154.38 less than the MacBook Pro (M5 series)
- you want more RAM (24 GB vs 16 GB)
- you want a lighter build (1240 g vs 1550 g)
Buy the MacBook Pro (M5 series) if
- you want a bigger screen (14 inch vs 13 inch)
- you want the newer model (2025)
What our customers say
Customers appreciate the MacBook Air M3 series for its near-new appearance and smooth performance. Many highlight the speed and ample storage they chose, with 1TB being popular for balancing space and price. Users find the keyboard comfortable and the battery reliable for full workdays. The screen works well indoors but can feel a bit dim in bright sunlight. Some note the speakers are quieter, suitable for calls but less impactful for media. Overall, Air users find it a solid choice for everyday computing and multitasking needs.
Those who chose the MacBook Pro M5 series praise its fresh condition and fast performance, with storage capacities up to 2TB suiting users with larger file needs. The screen and body condition impress users, and the device handles work and creative projects smoothly. Some mention the MacBook Pro can get warm under heavy use but maintain good battery life through the day. The Pro is valued for its screen quality and overall reliability for professional use.
For buyers deciding between them, the MacBook Air fits well for those needing a lightweight, responsive laptop for general and multitasking use. The MacBook Pro appeals to users who want a larger, brighter display, extra ports, and higher-resolution camera for professional or creative tasks.
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) FAQs
MacBook Air (M3 series) vs MacBook Pro (M5 series) comes down to the RAM, screen size and screen type. The MacBook Air (M3 series) has more RAM: 24 GB vs 16 GB. The MacBook Pro (M5 series) has a bigger screen: 14 inch vs 13 inch.
The MacBook Air (M3 series) is cheaper refurbished, from £796.06 compared with £1950.44 for the MacBook Pro (M5 series).
The MacBook Pro (M5 series) adds a bigger screen (14 inch vs 13 inch). Refurbished, it costs £1154.38 more (from £1950.44 vs £796.06).
Refurbished, the MacBook Air (M3 series) comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB, and the MacBook Pro (M5 series) in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB.
