Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs HP Omen 16 (2024)
The Verdict
MacBook Air M3 excels as an ultraportable workhorse with exceptional battery life (18 hours), weighing just 1.24kg with a stunning 500-nit Liquid Retina display. HP Omen 16 targets creative professionals and gamers, offering a larger 16.1" QHD+ 240Hz screen, double the RAM (16GB vs 8GB), expandable storage, and significantly more ports including HDMI and SD card. Performance-wise, the i7-14700HX with 20 cores demolishes M3's 8 cores for heavy workloads, though battery life suffers dramatically (7 hours). MacBook Air suits students and professionals prioritizing mobility and all-day unplugged work; Omen 16 demands frequent charging but delivers superior raw power, gaming capability, and upgradeability. At $1099 versus $1399, MacBook Air offers better value for productivity-focused users who prioritize portability. Omen 16 justifies its premium for content creators needing performance and expandability.
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 Omen 16 (2024) if…
- →RTX 4070 delivers strong 1440p gaming performance
- →240Hz QHD+ display ideal for competitive gaming
- →OMEN Command Center software for easy tuning
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 Omen 16 (2024)
Pros
- RTX 4070 delivers strong 1440p gaming performance
- 240Hz QHD+ display ideal for competitive gaming
- OMEN Command Center software for easy tuning
- Good port selection with three USB-A and SD card
- Upgradeable storage and memory
Cons
- Display brightness of 300 nits is underwhelming
- Thermal management runs fans loud under load
- Heavy and bulky for a 16-inch gaming laptop
- Battery life short at around 7 hours
- Plastic chassis lacks premium feel
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 | HP Omen 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 2.36 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum lid with plastic chassis |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215.0 x 11.3 mm | 361.5 x 262.7 x 23.5 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 7 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.6 inches | 16.1 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | QHD+ IPS 240Hz |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1440 |
| 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 |
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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