Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs HP Envy 16 (2024)
The Verdict
Apple's M3 MacBook Air excels in portability and battery endurance, weighing just 1.24kg with an impressive 18-hour wireless web battery life. Its Liquid Retina display delivers 500 nits of brightness and sharp 2560x1664 resolution. However, the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage feel restrictive at this price point. HP's Envy 16 counters with a larger 16-inch touchscreen, superior 120Hz refresh rate, double the RAM (16GB DDR5), and quadruple the storage (1TB). The Intel Core Ultra 7 offers more multi-core performance for demanding tasks. Downsides include 2.34kg weight and modest 10-hour battery life. For portable, efficient everyday computing and creative work, the MacBook Air wins. For users needing larger screens, more RAM, storage, and touchscreen capability at a workstation-oriented price, the HP Envy 16 offers better value and versatility.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 if…
- →Light and portable at 1.24 kg
- →Excellent fanless M3 efficiency
- →Bright 500-nit Liquid Retina display
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" 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
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" M3 | HP Envy 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 2.34 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215.0 x 11.3 mm | 358 x 252 x 19.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI | — | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 10 hours |
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.6 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 1 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU | 16 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | 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.
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