Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite)
The Verdict
Both laptops deliver excellent value at $1299, but they excel in different areas. Apple's MacBook Air 15" M3 offers superior optimization with its proven ecosystem, exceptional build quality, and the reliable M3 chip with 10-core GPU,ideal for creative professionals invested in macOS. However, ASUS VivoBook S 15 counters with significantly better hardware specs: 16GB RAM (vs 8GB), 1TB storage (vs 256GB), a brighter 600-nit OLED display with 120Hz refresh, and Snapdragon X Elite's 12 cores providing strong performance and excellent AI capabilities. Port selection favors ASUS with dual USB-C, dual USB-A, and HDMI, versus MacBook's two Thunderbolt ports. Battery life matches at 18 hours. For Windows users prioritizing storage, RAM, display quality, and versatility, ASUS delivers better specs. Mac loyalists gain polish and optimization. Choose ASUS VivoBook S 15 for superior hardware value and expandability; pick MacBook Air M3 for ecosystem integration and refined performance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 if…
- →Large 15-inch display in a thin, light chassis
- →Silent fanless design
- →Strong M3 performance for everyday workloads
Buy the ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite) if…
- →Excellent 3K 120Hz OLED display
- →All-day battery life thanks to ARM efficiency
- →Powerful 45 TOPS NPU for Copilot+ AI features
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3
Pros
- Large 15-inch display in a thin, light chassis
- Silent fanless design
- Strong M3 performance for everyday workloads
- All-day 18-hour battery life
- Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports
- 8 GB base RAM is tight for power users
- No ProMotion or HDR display
- 256 GB base SSD has slower single-chip speeds
- No HDMI or SD card slot
ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite)
Pros
- Excellent 3K 120Hz OLED display
- All-day battery life thanks to ARM efficiency
- Powerful 45 TOPS NPU for Copilot+ AI features
- Lightweight for a 15.6-inch laptop
- Fanless-quiet operation under typical loads
Cons
- ARM compatibility issues with some x86 apps
- No Thunderbolt support
- Soldered RAM not upgradeable
- No SD card reader
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home (ARM) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.42 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 352.6 x 225.9 x 14.7 mm |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 0 |
| HDMI | — | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 18 hours |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 70 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | OLED, 16:9 |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1620 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 600 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 12 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 |
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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 ASUS products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 or the ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite).