Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs Dell G16 (2024)
Apple's M3 MacBook Air excels as an ultraportable productivity machine with exceptional battery life (18 hours), weighing just 1.24kg with a premium aluminum design. Dell's G16 targets gaming and content creation with a larger 16-inch 240Hz display, more RAM (16GB vs 8GB), double the storage (512GB), and superior I/O including HDMI and SD card. However, the Dell weighs 2.82kg, delivers only 6 hours battery life, and uses heavier plastic construction. Performance-wise, the M3 handles everyday tasks flawlessly, while Intel's i7-14700HX offers more raw power for demanding applications. Consider your priorities: choose the MacBook Air for mobility, longevity, and daily efficiency, or the Dell G16 if you need a desktop replacement with gaming capabilities and don't mind desk-bound usage.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 | Dell G16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 2.82 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Plastic with matte finish |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215.0 x 11.3 mm | 365.0 x 272.6 x 24.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 1 |
| HDMI | — | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 3 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 6 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 86 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.6 inches | 16.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | QHD+ IPS 240Hz |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 240Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 300 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU | 20-core (8P+12E) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core i7-14700HX |
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
Dell G16 (2024)
Pros
- RTX 4060 delivers solid 1440p gaming performance
- 240Hz QHD+ display is smooth for fast-paced games
- Affordable entry into Core i7-HX gaming laptops
- Generous USB-A and full-size SD card port
- Upgradeable RAM and SSD
Cons
- Heavy at 2.82 kg with a large power brick
- Display brightness of 300 nits is mediocre
- Battery drains in around 6 hours under light use
- Plastic chassis feels less premium
- Fans get loud under gaming load
Related Comparisons
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