Apple MacBook Air 13" M2 vs HP Envy 16 (2024)
The Verdict
Apple's M2 MacBook Air excels as an ultraportable workhorse with exceptional battery life (18 hours), stunning 500-nit Liquid Retina display, and effortless performance for creative tasks. HP's Envy 16 counters with a larger 16-inch 120Hz touchscreen, double the RAM (16GB DDR5), expandable 1TB storage, and superior port connectivity including HDMI and SD card. Weight becomes the deciding factor: the Air weighs just 1.24kg versus the Envy's 2.34kg, making portability dramatically different. Battery life favors Apple at 18 hours versus HP's 10 hours. For travel-focused professionals, the M2 Air delivers unmatched mobility and battery endurance at $300 less. Content creators needing larger screens and expansion would prefer the Envy 16's flexibility. Choose the MacBook Air if portability and battery matter most; select the HP Envy 16 for stationary work requiring expandable storage and a larger display.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Air 13" M2 if…
- →Stunning redesign with flat edges and slim 0.44-inch profile
- →MagSafe charging returns — frees up both USB-C ports
- →1080p FaceTime camera is a massive upgrade over the M1 Air
Buy the HP Envy 16 (2024) if…
- →Optional NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU for creative and light gaming workloads
- →Excellent 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen display
- →Comprehensive port selection including SD card reader
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 13" M2
Pros
- Stunning redesign with flat edges and slim 0.44-inch profile
- MagSafe charging returns — frees up both USB-C ports
- 1080p FaceTime camera is a massive upgrade over the M1 Air
- Liquid Retina display is brighter and slightly larger at 13.6 inches
- Fanless M2 chip handles 4K video editing silently
Cons
- 256 GB base SSD uses single NAND chip — notably slower writes than M1 Air
- 8 GB base RAM requires a $200 upgrade for serious work
- Still limited to one external display without workarounds
- 60Hz display — no ProMotion option
- Midnight color is a fingerprint magnet
HP Envy 16 (2024)
Pros
- Optional NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU for creative and light gaming workloads
- Excellent 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen display
- Comprehensive port selection including SD card reader
- User-upgradeable RAM and storage
Cons
- Heavy and bulky for daily portability
- Battery life suffers under GPU load
- Fans get loud during intensive workloads
- Bezel design feels dated next to Spectre line
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13" M2 | HP Envy 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Ventura | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.24 kg) | 2.34 kg |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches | 358 x 252 x 19.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.6 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) | 1 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 16 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M2 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
Related Comparisons
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 Apple products or all HP products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 13" M2 or the HP Envy 16 (2024).