Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024)
Both laptops excel in different use cases, catering to distinct user priorities. MacBook Air M3 delivers exceptional efficiency with its 18-hour battery life, lightweight 1.24kg build, and seamless macOS integration at an accessible $1,099 price point—ideal for everyday productivity and creative work. ASUS ROG Flow Z13 sacrifices portability and battery (5 hours) but compensates with raw performance via Intel i9-14900H, double the RAM (16GB), quadruple the storage (1TB), and a blistering 165Hz display perfect for gaming and demanding applications at $1,799. MacBook Air prioritizes longevity between charges and mobility; ROG Flow Z13 prioritizes performance and gaming capability. Choose MacBook Air for travel-friendly everyday computing; select ASUS for gaming, video editing, and power users accepting frequent charging.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 | ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 2.43 lbs (1.1 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215.0 x 11.3 mm | 11.57 x 8.0 x 0.55 inches |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 1 |
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 5 hours |
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 56 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.6 inches | 13.4 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 165Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU | 14 cores (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core i9-14900H |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3
Pros
- Light and portable at 1.24 kg
- Excellent fanless M3 efficiency
- Bright 500-nit Liquid Retina display
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
- Supports two external displays with lid closed
Cons
- 8 GB base RAM increasingly limiting
- Only two Thunderbolt ports
- 256 GB SSD uses single NAND chip with slower speeds
- No high-refresh display
- Limited port selection
ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024)
Pros
- RTX 4060 in a detachable tablet form factor — truly unique
- 165Hz touchscreen enables both gaming and creative pen input
- Incredibly light at 2.43 lbs for a gaming-capable device
- XG Mobile eGPU support for desktop-class performance at home
- MUX switch for direct GPU rendering in games
Cons
- 5-hour battery life is very short
- Keyboard is detachable but feels cramped
- Fan noise is loud under gaming loads in such a thin chassis
- Expensive at $1,799 for a 13-inch gaming device
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Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all ASUS products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 or the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024).