Acer Aspire 5 (2024) vs Apple MacBook Air 15" M4
The Verdict
Acer's Aspire 5 delivers solid everyday performance at an exceptional price point, featuring a 15.6-inch 1080p display, Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 512GB storage. MacBook Air M4 commands premium pricing ($1299) but justifies it with superior engineering: thinner 0.45-inch profile, lighter 3.3lb chassis, stunning 2880x1864 Liquid Retina display at 500 nits, and Apple's M4 chip with integrated 10-core GPU delivering exceptional performance-per-watt. Battery life heavily favors the MacBook (18 hours vs 9 hours), while the Acer provides traditional ports including HDMI and USB-A. Budget-conscious users prioritizing value should choose the Aspire 5; creative professionals and those invested in Apple's ecosystem will appreciate the MacBook Air's refined build quality, display excellence, and longevity. For general computing, the Acer represents outstanding value; for sustained professional work, the MacBook excels.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Acer Aspire 5 (2024) if…
- →Excellent all-round budget laptop at $549 with 16 GB RAM
- →Intel Core i5 handles everyday productivity and light creative work
- →Expandable storage for future SSD upgrades
Buy the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 if…
- →M4 chip delivers massive performance leap over M3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- →16 GB RAM standard — no more $200 upgrade from 8 GB
- →18-hour battery life is genuinely all-day
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Acer Aspire 5 (2024)
Pros
- Excellent all-round budget laptop at $549 with 16 GB RAM
- Intel Core i5 handles everyday productivity and light creative work
- Expandable storage for future SSD upgrades
- Full-size HDMI and USB-A ports for hassle-free connectivity
- 9-hour battery life is solid for a budget laptop
Cons
- 60Hz FHD display — no high refresh rate or high resolution
- 300-nit brightness is dim for outdoor or bright-room use
- Plastic body feels less premium than aluminum competitors
- No Thunderbolt — USB-C is data/display only
Apple MacBook Air 15" M4
Pros
- M4 chip delivers massive performance leap over M3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 16 GB RAM standard — no more $200 upgrade from 8 GB
- 18-hour battery life is genuinely all-day
- Fanless design is completely silent under all workloads
- Gorgeous 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display for content consumption
Cons
- Still limited to 60Hz display — no ProMotion
- Only two Thunderbolt ports — both on the left side
- Base 256 GB storage is tight for a $1,299 laptop
- No HDMI or SD card slot — dongles still required
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Aspire 5 (2024) | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | macOS Sequoia |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.9 lbs (1.76 kg) | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum lid, plastic body | Recycled aluminum |
| Dimensions | 14.09 x 9.5 x 0.72 inches | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB-A ports | 2 | — |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 2 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 66.5 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6 inches | 15.3 inches |
| Type | IPS | Liquid Retina IPS |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1864 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 300 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 | 16 GB |
| Cores | 10 cores (2P + 8E) | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU |
| Chipset | Intel Core i5-1335U | Apple M4 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Acer products or all Apple products. View full details for the Acer Aspire 5 (2024) or the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4.