MacBook Pro M5 vs M4 Pro vs MacBook Air M4 for Developers

Apple released the MacBook Pro M5 in October 2025, bringing significant GPU and AI performance improvements. However, there is a catch: as of January 2026, only the 14-inch model is available. The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips (and the 16-inch MacBook Pro) are expected in spring 2026. This creates an interesting decision for developers: should you get the new M5 14-inch, stick with the M4 Pro 16-inch, or save money with a MacBook Air M4? This article breaks down the key differences. For a comparison of older models, see our MacBook Pro M3 Max vs MacBook Air M4 comparison.

No 16-inch M5 Yet

Important: As of January 2026, there is no 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5. Apple only released the 14-inch model with the base M5 chip in October 2025. The M5 Pro and M5 Max variants are expected in spring 2026. If you need a 16-inch screen or the higher-end Pro/Max chips for maximum performance, your options right now are the M4 Pro or M4 Max models from late 2024.

The delay is reportedly due to a new chip architecture where the CPU and GPU sit on separate blocks, allowing more customization options in future models.

M5 GPU Performance Improvements

The M5 chip brings major GPU improvements over the M4:

• 45% faster graphics compared to M4
• 10-core GPU (up from M4's 8 cores) with a Neural Accelerator in each core
• 3rd-generation ray tracing for better rendering
• 2x faster AI performance on GPU-accelerated tasks
• 153 GB/s memory bandwidth (up from M4's 120 GB/s)

In Geekbench 6 benchmarks, the M5 achieved a single-core score of 4,263 - the highest ever recorded for any Mac or PC processor. Multi-core performance is about 22% faster than the M4. The Metal GPU score jumped to 76,727, a 35% improvement over the M4's approximately 57,000.

14-inch Portability Trade-offs

The 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 is more portable than the 16-inch M4 Pro, but there are trade-offs:

The 14-inch model is 1.3 lbs lighter, which makes a real difference for daily commuting or travel. However, the 16-inch has a larger trackpad that some find more convenient for creative work. The 16-inch also has a larger battery due to its bigger chassis. Both have excellent battery life (18-24 hours depending on usage), but the 16-inch can last slightly longer for video playback due to its larger battery.

If you use your laptop on planes, trains, or carry it around frequently, the 14-inch is much easier to manage. If you work mostly stationary at a desk, the 16-inch's extra screen space and larger trackpad might be worth the weight.

M5 vs M4 Pro for Development

Despite the M5's impressive GPU gains, the M4 Pro still has advantages for certain developer workloads:

• More GPU cores: M4 Pro has 20 GPU cores vs M5's 10. In Metal benchmarks, M4 Pro scores 113,590 vs M5's 77,585.
• More RAM: M4 Pro supports up to 48 GB (or 128 GB with M4 Max). M5 currently maxes at 24 GB.
• Higher memory bandwidth: M4 Pro has 273 GB/s vs M5's 153 GB/s. This matters for large datasets and LLM inference.
• Better sustained performance: The 16-inch chassis has more cooling headroom for long builds.

However, the M5 beats the M4 Pro in AI-specific benchmarks. The M5 scored 23,391 on Geekbench AI GPU quantized tests, while the M4 Pro scored 15,259 - a 53% advantage for the M5. If your work involves ML inference or AI coding tools, the M5 may be more efficient per watt.

M5 vs MacBook Air M4

The MacBook Air M4 remains a great option for developers who do not need sustained heavy workloads. For comparing the Air with older Pro models, see our detailed Air vs Pro comparison.

Key differences between M5 Pro and Air M4:

• Active cooling: The M5 Pro has fans. The Air is fanless and will throttle under sustained load.
• GPU: M5 has 10-core GPU with Neural Accelerators. Air M4 has 10-core GPU but without the Neural Accelerators.
• Memory bandwidth: M5 has 153 GB/s. Air M4 has 120 GB/s.
• Price: M5 Pro starts at $1,599. Air M4 starts around $1,099.

For most web development, coding, and moderate Docker usage, the Air M4 is still excellent. The M5 Pro is better for long compilation jobs, video editing, or running multiple VMs and containers simultaneously.

Running LLMs Locally

For running large language models locally, the M4 Pro or M4 Max is still the better choice:

• More RAM: M4 Max supports up to 128 GB. Larger models need more memory.
• Higher memory bandwidth: M4 Max has 546 GB/s, M4 Pro has 273 GB/s. M5 has only 153 GB/s. LLM inference speed is largely memory-bandwidth limited.
• Active cooling: Both M5 and M4 Pro have fans, so this is equal.

However, if you run smaller models (7B-13B parameters), the M5's improved AI cores provide faster inference per token compared to M4. For models that fit in 24 GB, the M5 can be quite capable. For larger models, wait for the M5 Pro/Max in spring 2026 or stick with M4 Pro/Max.

Check this comparison table to compare LLM performance on different Apple Silicon chips.

Benchmark Summary

Who Should Buy What

Buy the MacBook Pro M5 14-inch if:

• You want the latest GPU and AI performance improvements
• You value portability and travel frequently
• Your workloads fit in 24 GB RAM
• You do not need a 16-inch screen

Buy the MacBook Pro M4 Pro 16-inch if:

• You need more than 24 GB RAM
• You run sustained heavy workloads (long compiles, video rendering)
• You prefer the larger screen and trackpad
• You run large LLMs locally

Buy the MacBook Air M4 if:

• Your workloads are mostly web development and light Docker usage
• You want the lightest option for travel
• Budget is a concern
• You do not need sustained high performance

Wait for M5 Pro/Max (Spring 2026) if:

• You want both the latest chip and 16-inch screen
• You need more than 24 GB RAM with the newest architecture
• You can wait a few months for the best of both worlds

Frequently Asked Questions