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These three foldables all promise the same headline trick: a bigger screen that folds away. However, they’re built on different foundations.
The iPhone Duo runs Apple’s A20 Pro and iOS, the Fold8 runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Android with Samsung’s Galaxy AI layered on top, and the Pixel runs Google’s own Tensor G6 with Gemini Intelligence built in.
That single choice of platform shapes everything that follows: which AI assistant does the heavy lifting and how well it fits alongside the rest of your fleet.
When leased through HardSoft, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 starts from around £12.77 plus VAT per week, the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold from £13.14 plus VAT per week, and the Apple iPhone Duo from £13.17 plus VAT per week.
With only a small difference between the advertised starting prices, platform compatibility and role suitability are likely to matter more than price for many organisations.
At a Glance: iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Apple iPhone Duo
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Processor
A20 Pro chip
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Google Tensor G6
Dimensions when unfolded(H x W x D)
4.6-inch x 6.5-inch x 0.2-inch
4.9-inch x 6.4-inch x 0.2-inch
6.1-inch x 5.9-inch x 0.2-inch
Dimensions when folded (H x W x D)
4.6-inch x 3.3-inch x 0.4-inch
4.9-inch x 3.2-inch x 0.4-inch
6.1-inch x 3.0-inchx 0.4-inch
Weight
254g
201g
239g
Storage
256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
256GB / 512GB / 1TB
256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Inner Display
7.6-inch OLED screen
7.6-inch AMOLED 2Xscreen
8.0-inch Super Actua Flex screen
Outer Display
5.4-inch OLED screen
5.5-inch AMOLED 2X screen
6.5-inch Super Actua screen
Authentication
Touch ID
Fingerprint and face unlock
Fingerprint and face unlock
AI Capability
Apple Intelligence and Siri AI
Galaxy AI
Gemini
Leasing from (plus VAT per week)
£13.17
£12.77
£13.14
iPhone Duo: The First Foldable for Apple-First Teams
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, and for people who want the working space of a smaller iPad without carrying a second device, it’s a genuine two-in-one.
Performance. The A20 Pro pairs a 6-core CPU with a 7-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine, backed by vapour cooling to keep things steady through sustained work. Siri AI can pull information from emails and notes and act inside supported apps (features and languages vary).
Memory. Storage starts at 256GB, rising to 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. 256GB is plenty if company files live in the cloud; go for 512GB or more if your people keep large project files offline, or if the phone needs to last a longer lease.
Connectivity. The Duo is eSIM only, which makes activating and managing plans simpler but rules out a physical SIM. USB-C is on board, and Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance via satellite add reassurance for anyone working away from the office.
Display, battery and build. Opened, the 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, this means more room for side-by-side apps and a wider on-screen keyboard. Grade 5 titanium, a protected hinge and a scratch-resistant inner finish add durability, and it’s water resistant too.
The dual-battery system reaches 50% charge in around 20 minutes with a compatible charger, and runs up to 31 hours of video on the inner display or 44 hours on the outer one. It’s worth remembering that the bigger screen costs more battery, so the outer display is the better call when runtime matters more than workspace.
The iPhone Duo can also sit partially folded in Seated Mode, turning one half into a built-in stand for video calls, presentations or watching content hands-free.
Note one trade-off: Touch ID is the only biometric sign-in — there’s no Face ID, so teams expecting it should factor that in.
At 201g, the Fold8 is unusually light for a foldable phone. It is built to stay comfortable in someone’s pocket or hand throughout a full working day, not just for the odd meeting.
Performance. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is built to keep demanding apps and Galaxy AI tools running smoothly, so multitasking and busy workloads don’t cause it to lag.
Memory. 12GB of memory comes as standard, with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage options. That’s a generous starting point for a phone and gives it the headroom to stay responsive over a longer lease.
Connectivity. Support for both a physical SIM and eSIM; this is useful for teams who need the flexibility of a physical card as well as digital plans.
Display, battery and build. A 5.5-inch cover screen in a tall 10:16 shape for quick tasks, opening out to a 7.6-inch, 4:3 main display with an anti-reflective finish for working on documents or apps side by side. A dual layer of Flex Titanium reinforces the shock-absorbing layer beneath the folding screen, with an Armor Aluminium frame and Corning Gorilla Glass adding further protection. The battery runs up to 26 hours of video playback.
Security. Business data can be encrypted and stored on-device using Knox Vault and KEEP, and users can choose whether supported Galaxy AI tasks run on the device or in the cloud. That provides extra control when your team handles confidential client, customer or company information.
The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the pick for Google-first teams with Gemini and Google’s AI tools built in from the start, with the security credentials to back it up.
Performance. The all-new Google Tensor G6 provides up to 50% more TPU power, with around 20% better efficiency and roughly 15% faster app launching than the previous generation.
Memory. You get 16GB of memory as standard, plus the same choice of storage as the Galaxy Fold8: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB.
Connectivity. Like the iPhone Duo, the Google Fold is eSIM only, with satellite emergency services adding extra reassurance for people travelling or working away from reliable mobile coverage.
Display, battery and build. Open it up and you get an 8-inch Super Actua Flex OLED display. Tabletop mode lets you sit the phone partly folded on a desk, which is useful for hands-free video meetings. The battery is designed to run more than 24 hours of typical use and reaches 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a compatible wired charger.
Security. The Titan M3 security chip helps protect company information against digital attacks, and a built-in VPN adds protection when people connect away from the office. Call screening handles unknown callers before they interrupt the working day, and face unlock gives quick access to the phone.
For anyone leaning into the Apple ecosystem, the new Apple Watch Series 12 keeps notifications, health data and Apple Intelligence insights on the wrist, so your people aren’t unlocking the phone every few minutes. An Apple Pencil rounds it out, turning the unfolded Duo display into something you can actually annotate, sign or sketch on.
For Samsung Teams
Add a wireless keyboard and mouse and your people can work from any desk. Between meetings, a Galaxy Watch keeps calls, alerts and health tracking on the wrist.
For Google Teams
Google’s foldables suit people who spend the day between meetings and the road. A Pixel Watch handles quick replies, reminders and Gemini prompts, so the phone can stay in a pocket, while Pixel Buds give clean audio on calls and live translation when you’re working across languages.
Managing Phones at Scale with Mobile Device Management
Whichever foldable your team ends up with – or if it’s a mix of all three – managing them at scale is just as important as choosing them. That’s where Shepherd, HardSoft’s own Mobile Device Management (MDM) service, comes in. An MDM service gives your IT team one place to set up devices, install work apps, apply security rules and protect or wipe company data remotely if a phone is lost or stolen.
We have three solutions designed to fit your business:
For an Apple-only fleet built around the Duo, Shepherd for Mobile covers iPhones and iPads with device enrolment, app deployment and remote security controls built specifically for iOS.
If your business runs Macs and iPhones together, Shepherd for Apple extends that same management across macOS and iOS from one place.
For teams using a mixture of the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold,
Shepherd Fusion manages each operating system from a single dashboard, so IT isn’t juggling three different platforms to keep devices secure, updated and compliant.
Whichever foldable ends up in someone’s hand, Shepherd means it’s managed the same way as everything else in your fleet.
Calls and email alone rarely justify the additional cost of a foldable phone – save your budget
Sales, account management & field teams
Duo or Fold8
Side-by-side apps for CRM and email, wide keyboard for quotes on the move
Apple-first leadership & creatives
Duo
Apple Pencil annotation, Apple Watch and AirPods fit naturally into the same ecosystem
Android-first & lightweight carry
Fold8
201g keeps it wearable all day; physical SIM support for teams who still need it
Google-first & hybrid workers
Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Gemini Intelligence, tabletop mode for hands-free calls, strong on-device security
Confidential data & regulated roles
Pixel 11 Pro Fold or Fold8
Titan M3 plus built-in VPN, or Knox Vault with on-device/cloud AI choice
Battery-first, all-day field use
Duo (outer display) or Pixel 11 Pro Fold
44 hours on the Duo’s outer screen, 24+ hours typical use on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold
The Leasing Maths
The new foldable phones all carry premium price tags, and none of them come in under £1,000. If you’re considering equipping your team with these, that number adds up fast and eats into your budget quickly. That’s exactly where leasing helps.
Take the iPhone Duo: £1,999 upfront is a serious outlay, but with HardSoft leasing, that shrinks to £13.17 plus VAT per week. And we lease all three foldables, so your business has options depending on how your team actually works.
Why Lease with HardSoft
But with so many leasing companies out there, the question is: why HardSoft?
Beyond our MDM service, lifecycle support like Boomerang keeps devices moving smoothly through their working life
Which Product Should You Lease?
There is no universal winner. The best foldable phone for your business is the model that fits your existing technology platform, security policies and everyday workflows.
Choose the iPhone Duo for an Apple-led environment, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 for flexible Android productivity, or the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold for Google Workspace teams seeking deeper Gemini integration. With only a small difference between the advertised starting lease prices, role suitability, security and manageability should carry more weight than price alone.
There is only 40p per week between the cheapest and most expensive phone, or £20.80 across a full year. The comparison is based on the advertised starting configurations and current lease pricing. Prices, configurations and availability may change.
At that level, buying on price alone makes little sense. Match each phone to the team that will get the most from it, even if that means using different models across different departments.
Speak to our teamand we will help you build the right setup for your business.
FAQs
Foldable phones can be valuable for employees who regularly work across email, CRM platforms, documents, presentations and video meetings while away from a desk. A conventional smartphone may remain more cost-effective for roles focused mainly on calls, messaging and email.
All three devices may provide access to Microsoft 365 applications. The best option will depend on the organisation’s identity platform, security requirements, mobile device management arrangements and existing device ecosystem.
Compatible foldable phones can be managed through supported mobile device management platforms. Available controls may include application deployment, security policies, compliance monitoring, configuration management and remote wiping.
Leasing can reduce upfront expenditure and make device refresh costs more predictable. Businesses should compare the total contract cost, support arrangements, flexibility and end-of-term options rather than evaluating the weekly price alone.
For business buyers, that’s good news. The XPS range has always sat at the premium end of the Windows laptop market, being one of the first to offer premium features and edge-to-edge displays.
Now, the question is no longer whether the XPS is back. It’s which laptop belongs on your team’s desk.
If you’re weighing these up against a MacBook Pro for your team, here’s the short version: the XPS 14 and 16 are Dell’s most premium laptops, aimed at people doing demanding creative or technical work. They’re not the right call for a standard laptop refresh – but for the right role, they’re excellent.
Both are Copilot+ PCs, so your team gets access to Microsoft’s on-device AI features out of the box.
They’re also the thinnest and lightest XPS laptops Dell has made:
Here’s what your people would actually be getting, and who should be on the list for one.
Processors
Both run Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” chips, with a choice from: Core Ultra 5, 7, X7 or X9. We recommend X7 or X9 for anyone doing sustained, demanding work (e.g. development, video editing, CAD) where the extra cores and graphics keep things smooth for the length of the workload, not just in a quick burst.
Performance & Connectivity
Both laptops feature three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, distributed across either side of the chassis, alongside a combined headphone and microphone jack. Dell also claims fast-charging capabilities, with the battery reaching up to 80% charge in around 40 minutes.
However for a premium laptop range, the lack of Thunderbolt 5 is likely to be a disappointment. While Thunderbolt 4 will be more than sufficient for most day-to-day business requirements, if your organisation is investing in premium devices with a long refresh cycle, you may question why Dell’s flagship XPS range has not adopted Thunderbolt 5.
With devices such as the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus and MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) already offering the latest connectivity standard, you may find these alternatives better aligned with your long-term future-proofing strategy.
Display
Both the XPS 14 & 16 are available with either a 2K InfinityEdge (non-touch) display or a premium 3.2K TandemOLED InfinityEdge touchscreen. The Tandem OLED upgrade is one of the standout features of the range; it uses two OLED emissive layers stacked on top of each other to improve brightness and deeper contracts, compared to traditional OLED displays. It also saves energy as each layer is working at a lower efficiency.
While Tandem OLED is not a new technology, having already appeared in devices such as Apple’s iPad Pros, its inclusion in the XPS range brings the technology to a wider audience of premium Windows users.
To put the display quality in perspective, Dell’s Tandem OLED offers a different experience to the Liquid Retina XDR display found in MacBook Pros.
Apple’s mini-LED technology remains the benchmark for sustained brightness, particularly in bright environments and HDR workflows. However, the XPS’s OLED panel provides deeper blacks and pixel-level contrast that many users associate with a more immersive and visually impressive viewing experience. The OLED panel also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, the industry standard used in film and video production.
Security
Security-wise, both come with facial recognition (Windows Hello) for sign-in, but no fingerprint reader. If your business relies on fingerprint login for shared devices or specific security policies, that’s worth flagging to your IT team.
In contrast, Dell continues to offer fingerprint authentication on selected higher-spec configurations of the Dell Pro 16.
Keyboard
Both laptops feature a zero-lattice keyboard design with clearly defined, physical borders around the trackpad. This is a major improvement to the previous invisible trackpad.
Key Consideration
One of the standout features of the Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 is their portability. Interestingly, the higher-spec XPS 16 configuration with the 3.2K Tandem OLED display weighs just 1.65kg, making it lighter than the lower-spec model at 1.74kg.
Dell XPS 14 vs Dell XPS 16: Key Differences Compared
Where Do the XPS 13 and XPS 16 Creator Edition Fit Into This Range?
We believe the Dell XPS 13 and the Creator Edition are designed to fill specific gaps in the XPS range. For people who love Dell and are looking for a more budget-friendly option or dedicated GPU processing power, these two laptops make a lot of sense.
However, if you’re an IT admin or business manager who isn’t particularly tied to the Dell ecosystem, we’d generally recommend focusing on the Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16. They represent the core of the range and are likely to be the best fit for most businesses. The XPS 13 and Creator Edition are both good laptops, but they’re aimed at more specific audiences rather than offering something completely new.
Honest Trade-Offs
This is the part worth being upfront about: the XPS 14 and 16 are expensive, and unless your team needs what the higher-spec configuration offers, that price is hard to justify. And the step up to the OLED display and X7/X9 processors is a real jump in cost – one you should only make for people whose work actually needs it.
Financing your XPS with Leasing
As laptops get more capable — AI features, better displays, faster chips — the price tag climbs with them. Leasing is how you stop that upfront number from being the thing that decides who gets a good machine and who doesn’t.
Imagine a video editor looking to get the Dell XPS 16 with the Tandem OLED touchscreen display, Intel Core X7 processor and 32GB of memory to support their large files and creative software without slowing down.
Spread across one of our leasing plans, that large upfront cost becomes a smaller monthly payment instead:
Take a look at our new Dell XPS range to help lower the cost of your productivity today.
Similarly, if the ports on the laptop feel limiting for the way your team works, we can recommend and price the right accessories too – a dock with extra HDMI and SD card support, for example – so you’re not working around a laptop’s limits at the desk.
Running a Dell-Only Team?
If your business runs 100% Dell, our Devices for Teams solution covers you from 50+ staff upwards, including the new XPS range.
The weight and slim design of the XPS 14 and 16 make them close to a one-size-fits-all option across a Dell fleet — and if something isn’t working out, or your business scales up or down, you can switch, add, or return devices rather than being locked into what you first ordered.
Devices for Teams also comes with around-the-clock support, from Silver through to Platinum plans, so you can pick the level of cover that actually matches your team’s needs.
Whether it’s one XPS for a new hire or a full team rollout, we’ll help you land on the right configuration, and the right lease, for what your people actually do all day.
The headline changes are size and power. The 2026 XPS 14 and 16 are the thinnest and lightest XPS laptops Dell has made — the 14 weighs about the same as a 13″ MacBook Air, and the 16 about the same as the older Dell Premium 14. Under the hood, they move to Intel’s new Panther Lake processors, brighter and more colour-accurate displays, and Copilot+ AI features built in as standard.
Yes. The chassis is made from recycled, low-emissions aluminium, and the range is certified ENERGY STAR and registered EPEAT Gold with Climate+. Pair that with HardSoft’s carbon offset service on your lease, and it’s a genuinely sustainable choice for equipping your team — not just a badge on the box.
Better than you’d expect from a business laptop. Both models use a quad-speaker setup, tuned with Waves MaxxAudio and supporting Dolby Atmos, which adds up to clear, full sound rather than the thin, tinny audio a lot of laptops settle for. In practice, that means video calls come through clearer and anyone using the laptop for presentations or media doesn’t need to reach for headphones or a speaker as often.
Built to hold up to daily business use: a CNC-machined aluminium chassis for strength, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 over the display for scratch resistance. Over a three-year lease, that durability is what keeps repair and replacement costs down.
Surface 13″ vs 13.8″: Does 0.8 Inches Actually Matter?
Two Copilot+ PCs, 0.8 inches apart on paper — but very different machines underneath. Here’s how the Surface Laptop 13″ and Surface Laptop 13.8″ compare for IT teams leasing across a business, and which model belongs with which role.
Quick Summary
On paper, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13″ and the Surface Laptop 13.8″ (8th Edition) sit a fraction of an inch apart. Both are Copilot+ PCs, both run Intel Core Ultra (Series 3) silicon, and both have a 3:2 PixelSense touchscreen.
But when you look closer 0.8 inches turns into a meaningful fork in the road: different displays, different specs and different features.
For IT teams and business owners about to lease these across a team, those differences shape who gets which device.
Both panels are 3:2, touch-enabled, and individually colour-calibrated. That’s where the similarity ends.
Display
Surface 13″
Surface 13.8″
Resolution
1920 × 1280 (178 PPI)
2304 × 1536 (201 PPI)
Refresh rate
Up to 60 Hz
Up to 120 Hz
Brightness
500 nits
600 nits
Contrast
1000:1
1300:1
HDR / Dolby Vision IQ
No
Yes
For email, documents, and Teams, the 13″ panel is genuinely good. For anyone working with images, video, dashboards, or design tools all day, the 13.8″ is a different class of display — sharper, brighter, smoother, and HDR-accurate.
The 13″‘s Intel Core Ultra 5 handles typical office workloads comfortably. What it can’t do is scale as far: 24GB of RAM is the maximum. For finance teams, analysts, developers, and anyone running large datasets, the 13.8″ is the only one of the two that has the headroom — up to 64GB with options up to Intel Core Ultra 7 and X7.
Both deliver the same 50 TOPS NPU (Intel AI Boost), so all Copilot+ features (Recall, Click to Do, Studio Effects, AI-powered search) run identically on either.
Models and Configurations
Both laptops come in the same core build options — your choice of processor, 256GB / 512GB / 1TB storage, and (on the 13.8″) up to 64GB RAM — all on a removable Gen 4 SSD.
Where they differ is the security hardware you can add at order. The 13″ comes in standard configurations only. The 13.8″ can be ordered as standard, or specced with two business-grade extras:
Integrated privacy screen — a built-in filter that narrows the viewing angle so on-screen content stays unreadable to anyone beside or behind the user. Ideal for finance, legal, HR, or anyone working with sensitive data in open-plan offices, on trains, or in client sites.
Smart Card Reader — a built-in reader for physical smart-card authentication, often a requirement in government, healthcare, and other regulated or high-security environments.
Both share the same USB-A 3.2 port and DisplayPort 2.1 over USB-C.
Two things to flag here. First, the 13″ charges over USB-C and ships with a 45W USB-C wall charger (in select markets and configs); for faster charging you’ll want a 60W+ USB-C PD charger.
Second, the 13″ has no Surface Connect port. If your business is already standardised on Surface Dock infrastructure, the 13″ won’t slot in — you’d be looking at USB-C docks instead.
USB4 on the 13.8″ runs at four times the bandwidth of the 13″‘s USB 3.2, and supports a third external 4K display.
Security and Biometrics
Both are Windows 11 Secured-core PCs with Microsoft Pluton TPM 2.0 and full Microsoft Defender support, so they’re equally manageable from an IT fleet perspective.
Biometrics is where they differ:
Surface 13″: Windows Hello fingerprint reader built into the power button
Surface 13.8″: Windows Hello facial recognition with Enhanced Sign-in Security
For hot-desking, frequent docking and undocking, or regulated environments where face authentication is preferred for compliance, the 13.8″ has the edge.
Neither model supports pen input. Teams that need pen-and-touch should look at the Surface Pro instead.
Which Should You Lease, and for Whom?
For most teams, the Surface Laptop 13″ is the smart default. It’s lighter, cheaper, and shares the things that actually matter day-to-day with its bigger sibling: the same 50 TOPS Copilot+ NPU, the same removable Gen 4 SSD, Windows 11 Pro, and Secured-core management. So the AI features, the security posture, and the IT manageability are identical.
Reserve the Surface Laptop 13.8″ for the roles that really need more: anyone scaling past 24GB of RAM, driving a triple-4K dock, leaning on the sharper 120Hz HDR display for design or data work, or where face-unlock is a compliance requirement. For those people the premium is money well spent. For everyone else, it isn’t.
Lease Apple's full audio lineup for your team, from AirPods 5 for lightweight everyday calls, to AirPods Pro 3 with active noise cancellation for focused work in busy offices, to AirPods Max for premium over-ear sound on longer meetings and travel, giving your business reliable Bluetooth audio, all-day battery life and a comfortable, secure fit for extended wear, on flexible monthly payments with no upfront cost and lifetime support included.
Equip your team with Samsung Galaxy Buds leasing to keep costs predictable while delivering clear, reliable audio across calls and meetings. Designed for business use, Galaxy Buds offer active noise cancellation, long battery life, and seamless Bluetooth connectivity—supporting focused work and professional communication throughout the day without interruption.
Google Pixel Buds Leasing for Clear Business Audio
Equip your team with Google Pixel Buds leasing to keep costs predictable while delivering clear, reliable audio across calls and meetings. Designed for business use, Pixel Buds feature active noise cancellation, Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, and up to 30+ hours of total battery life with the charging case.
Complete your business setup with tech accessories you can lease alongside your devices from docking stations that turn a single laptop connection into a full multi-monitor workstations, to wireless audio for hybrid meetings, protective cases for laptops on the move, premium keyboards and styluses, smartwatches for staying connected, and cameras for content creation and video calls – all chosen to work seamlessly together so your business gets a complete, ready-to-use setup on flexible monthly payments with no upfront cost and lifetime support included.
M4 vs M5: Which Apple Chip Makes Sense for Your Workload?
Apple continues to redefine performance across the Mac lineup. The M4 generation set new standards for efficiency and AI‑ready workflows, and the newer M5 chips push this even further with major gains in AI acceleration, GPU power, and memory bandwidth. This guide explores both M4 and M5 chips.
M4 vs M5 at a Glance
Apple’s M4 chips focused on efficiency gains, improved graphics, and stronger machine‑learning acceleration. The new M5 series, however, represents a much larger architectural leap, especially for AI.
M5 delivers up to 4× the peak GPU compute performance for AI vs M4 thanks to a new GPU architecture with a Neural Accelerator in every core.
M5 introduces Apple’s “super core”, the world’s fastest CPU core for single‑threaded tasks.
Unified memory bandwidth climbs to 153GB/s on the base M5, up from M4.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max introduce a new multi‑die Fusion Architecture for higher GPU scaling and professional workloads.
Let’s dive further into each of these powerhouse chips.
Apple M4 Chips Explained
What is the Apple M4 Chip?
Fast. M4 is a standout 21% faster than its predecessor, the M3 chip. Configurations are limited to a maximum 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU.
Most affordable. The M4 chip is the lowest-cost option when it comes to the new M4 processor range.
Good upgrades. The SSD on 14-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac can be upgraded to a maximum capacity of 2TB, and RAM to a maximum capacity of 32GB.
Great for most industries. M4 Apple MacBooks, Mac minis and Apple iMacs have a maximum 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, and can support one external display, meaning they are suited to the day-to-day needs of most people — but perhaps not those that need an above average amount of storage space for their work.
Limited model choice. It’s worth noting that the M4 is exclusively available for Apple MacBook Pro 14″, Apple iMac and Mac mini — the 16” Apple MacBook Pro offers options for M4 Pro or M4 Max only.
What is the Apple M4 Pro Chip?
Faster. This version features an 14-Core CPU, providing a significant upgrade in processing power, and an 20-Core GPU. This makes M4 Pro products great for handling graphics-intensive tasks.
Mid-priced. Considering the price, this may not be the most budget-conscious option — but the extra cost is worth it for creative professionals, software developers, or anyone else that requires a high-powered machine than the standard M4 for their work.
Better upgrades. RAM on M4 Pro models can be upgraded to a maximum of 64GB, enabling users to tackle larger projects on the go than the standard M4. The SSD can be expanded to a maximum capacity of 8TB on the mac mini and up to 4TB on the MacBook Pro 14 and 16”. Additionally, when opting for M4 Pro, you can choose a Space Black machine.
Great for creatives. The M4 Pro is significantly faster than the M4, with a maximum 14-Core CPU and 20-Core GPU, This makes the M4 Pro significantly more powerful for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and other graphics-intensive work.
Only available for MacBook Pro 14 and 16” and the Mac mini. iMac’s are only available with the standard M4 chip.
What is the Apple M4 Max chip?
Fastest option. This version offers a choice between a 16-Core CPU, a substantial increase in processing power compared to the M4 Pro. This processor option also incorporates a 40-Core GPU.
Highest priced option. Considering the price, this won’t be the most cost-friendly choice for most people. However, the extra cost is worth it for creative professionals that require a very fast and high-spec laptop for their work, the increased core count ensures faster processing times and smoother multitasking.
Best upgrades. With support for up to 128GB of unified memory, and an SSD capacity of up to 8TB, the M4 Max has the biggest capacity for upgrades of the three M4 chips. Additionally, when opting for M4 Max, you can choose a Space Black machine.
Great for high-end creative professionals. Equipped with a maximum 16-Core CPU and 40-Core GPU and the capacity to support up to four external monitors, M4 Max is ideal for creative professionals who need a high-powered machine with great graphics for tasks such as video editing. The M4 Max offers a nano-texture display option, which reduces glare and reflections, providing a clearer and more consistent viewing experience. This is particularly valuable for creatives who require precise colour accuracy and detail.
Only available for MacBook Pros. Currently, you can only purchase MacBook Pro 14″ and 16″ with this option – iMac’s are only available with the standard M4 chip while mac mini give you the option of M4 or M4 Pro.
Fast. M5 delivers a major speed boost with up to a 10‑core CPU (up to four super cores + six efficiency cores), offering up to 15% faster multithreaded performance than M4. Its new 10‑core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core provides over 4× the peak GPU compute performance for AI vs M4.
Good upgrades. The base M5 boosts unified memory bandwidth to 153GB/s, nearly 30% higher than M4. Devices using M5 also benefit from faster storage performance and next‑generation AI acceleration.
Great for most industries. With up to a 10‑core CPU, 10‑core GPU, and improved AI capabilities, M5 suits general business use, productivity, education, and creative light‑to‑medium workloads.
Limited model choice. The base M5 is currently found in select devices such as the 13-inch MacBook Air, 14‑inch MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro, while larger MacBook Pro models and pro workflows require M5 Pro or M5 Max.
Faster. M5 Pro introduces a new Fusion Architecture, combining two silicon dies for a major performance uplift. It features up to an 18‑core CPU and a next‑generation GPU with up to 20 cores, delivering up to 30% CPU improvement vs M4 Pro.
Not the most budget‑friendly. The M5 Pro sits firmly in the higher price bracket. However, some M5 MacBook Pro 14″ configurations are now £100 cheaper than the previous M4 Pro equivalents, specifically the 16GB RAM / 1TB SSD and 24GB RAM / 1TB SSD models. This makes these configurations unexpectedly better value than before.
Better upgrades. Unified memory bandwidth increases to 307GB/s, and SSD performance is up to 2× faster. The GPU includes a Neural Accelerator in each core, providing more than 4× peak GPU compute performance vs the previous generation.
Great for pro workflows. Ideal for data modelling, video and audio post‑production, coding, STEM applications, and AI‑enhanced tasks.
Limited model choice. M5 Pro is available only in the 14‑inch and 16‑inch MacBook Pro models and does not appear in entry‑level models or the MacBook Air.
What is the Apple M5 Max Chip?
Fastest. M5 Max scales performance further with an 18‑core CPU and up to a 40‑core GPU, offering the highest GPU compute in the M5 family. Its GPU architecture includes Neural Accelerators in every core and delivers over 4× the peak GPU compute performance vs M4 Max.
The most expensive option by far. M5 Max models sit at the very top of Apple’s pricing, with the 16‑inch M5 Max MacBook Pro starting from a significantly higher price point compared with previous generations. This chip is only worth the investment for users with extremely demanding workloads.
Good upgrades. Unified memory bandwidth reaches 614GB/s, the highest of any Apple Silicon laptop chip. GPU and media engine improvements double encoding engines and significantly boost ray‑tracing performance.
Great for demanding industries. Best suited to 3D animation, large‑scale AI/ML workloads, complex simulations, high‑end video workflows and other GPU‑intensive pro environments.
Limited model choice. M5 Max is exclusive to the 14‑inch and 16‑inch MacBook Pro models only.
M4 vs M5 – Device Compatibility Comparison
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Device
M4
M4 Pro
M4 Max
M5
M5 Pro
M5 Max
MacBook Air 13"
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
MacBook Air 15"
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
MacBook Pro 14"
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
MacBook Pro 16"
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
iMac
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Mac mini
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
M4 Chips in Summary
M4 is available for the MacBook Air 13″ and 15″, MacBook Pro 14″, Mac mini and iMac. This chip is a good choice for everyday use and less data-intensive workloads.
M4 Pro is the mid-level option, available for MacBook Pro 14″ and 16″ as well as the Mac mini. This chip is a good choice for people with slightly more data-intensive workloads, who require higher spec capacity.
M4 Max is the fastest and most efficient of the M4 lineup, and is available for MacBook Pro 14″ and 16″. Laptops with this chip are better suited for those with heavily data intensive workloads, and creative professionals who need a high-powered laptop with a lot of storage space, as these laptops offer the most upgrades.
M5 Chips in Summary
M5 is available for the 13-and 15-inch MacBook Air, 14‑inch MacBook Pro, as well as iPad Pro — giving it broad appeal across both laptop and mobile productivity devices. It is the entry‑level M5 option and a strong choice for everyday business users who want improved AI performance and modern speed.
M5 Pro is the mid-tier option and is exclusive to the 14‑inch and 16‑inch MacBook Pro models. It introduces Apple’s new Fusion Architecture, an 18‑core CPU, and a more powerful GPU, making it ideal for professionals handling more demanding workloads such as video production, coding, and multi‑tasking.
M5 Max is the top‑tier option for the M5 generation and is also exclusive to the 14‑inch and 16‑inch MacBook Pro. With an 18‑core CPU, up to 40‑core GPU and massive memory bandwidth, it is best suited to high‑end creative professionals, AI developers, and users working with extremely intensive graphics or simulation workloads.
