The MacBook Air with the M4 chip offers unified memory configurations that can support up to 32GB of RAM, which is a significant upgrade from previous models[1][2]. This unified memory architecture integrates the system memory and graphics memory, providing efficient performance for both general computing tasks and graphics-intensive applications.
In contrast, the MacBook Pro with the M4 chip family offers more robust memory configurations. The standard M4 chip in the MacBook Pro supports up to 32GB of unified memory, similar to the MacBook Air, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 120GB/s[7][9]. However, the M4 Pro and M4 Max models in the MacBook Pro provide even more substantial memory options. The M4 Pro can be configured with up to 48GB of unified memory, while the M4 Max can support up to 128GB, catering to users who require high memory capacity for demanding tasks like data analysis, video editing, and 3D modeling[3][9][11].
The memory bandwidth in the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips is significantly higher, with the M4 Pro offering 273GB/s and the M4 Max offering up to 546GB/s, which is much greater than the MacBook Air's memory bandwidth[3][9]. This increased bandwidth allows for faster data transfer and processing, making the MacBook Pro more suitable for professional applications that require high performance and large memory capacity.
Overall, while the MacBook Air M4 provides a solid memory configuration suitable for general users, the MacBook Pro M4 models offer more advanced memory configurations and higher bandwidth, making them better suited for professional and heavy-duty computing tasks.
Citations:[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-introduces-the-new-macbook-air-with-the-m4-chip-and-a-sky-blue-color/
[2] https://www.macworld.com/article/2303200/m4-macbook-air-design-price-specs-release.html
[3] https://support.apple.com/en-us/121554
[4] https://www.macrumors.com/guide/macbook-air-vs-macbook-pro/
[5] https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/specs/
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1gqfz75/macbook_m4_vs_m4_pro_questions_on_upgrading_ram/
[7] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/new-macbook-pro-features-m4-family-of-chips-and-apple-intelligence/
[8] https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/apple-silion-m4-processor-family-all-we-know-specs-benchmarks-pricing-release-date
[9] https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyf803ovtYk
[11] https://support.apple.com/en-us/121553