Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs LG Gram 17 (2024)
Updated Apr 2026
The Verdict
MacBook Air M3 excels as a compact, efficient ultrabook with exceptional battery longevity (18 hours), superior display brightness (500 nits), and macOS integration, making it ideal for mobile professionals prioritizing portability. LG Gram 17 counters with a sprawling 17-inch canvas, significantly more RAM (16GB vs 8GB), double the storage (512GB vs 256GB), expandable memory, and practical legacy ports (HDMI, USB-A, SD card)—appealing to content creators and power users needing Windows ecosystem flexibility. Performance-wise, M3's efficiency rivals Core Ultra 7's raw capability for most tasks. Display resolution matches at 2560x1600+, but M3's higher brightness proves advantageous. Battery claims are nearly identical (18 vs 17 hours). The $500 price premium justifies Gram's screen real estate and expandability for productivity workflows, while MacBook Air remains the superior choice for ultraportable, energy-efficient computing. Choose M3 for travel-centric use; select Gram for stationary workstations demanding screen space and upgradability.
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
LG Gram 17 (2024)
Pros
- Remarkably light for a 17-inch laptop at just 1.35 kg
- Up to 17-hour battery life is class-leading at this size
- MIL-STD-810H certified for everyday durability
- Generous port selection including USB-A and full-size SD card
- Large 2560x1600 display ideal for productivity
Cons
- 350-nit display brightness is modest in bright environments
- IPS display lacks the vibrancy of OLED alternatives
- No discrete GPU option
- 60Hz refresh rate feels dated compared to 90–120Hz peers
- Thin chassis can flex under pressure
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 | LG Gram 17 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.35 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Magnesium alloy (Nano skin finish) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215.0 x 11.3 mm | 381.3 x 261.5 x 13.0 mm |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI | — | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 3 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 17 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 90 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.6 inches | 17.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | WQXGA IPS anti-glare |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 350 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| 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.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all LG products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 or the LG Gram 17 (2024).