Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs HP OMEN 17
The Verdict
These laptops serve fundamentally different purposes and audiences. The MacBook Air 15 M3 prioritizes portability and battery life with its svelte 1.51 kg frame and claimed 18-hour wireless web runtime, powered by Apple's efficient M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Its 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display delivers 2880 x 1864 pixels at 500 nits brightness, ideal for creative work and daily tasks. However, the 256 GB storage is limiting without upgradeable options, and 8 GB RAM feels restrictive for demanding workflows. The HP OMEN 17, at $500 more, targets gamers and power users who can tolerate its 2.90 kg weight and dismal 5-hour battery life. The 17.3-inch 240Hz display excels for gaming, while the Intel Core i9-13900HX with 32 GB DDR5 RAM and 1 TB expandable storage crushes productivity and multitasking. Port selection favors the HP with three USB-A ports, SD card reader, and expandable storage. Choose the MacBook Air if you need a portable, all-day workhorse for content creation and general use. Select the HP OMEN 17 if gaming, video editing, or heavy multitasking justifies the mobility sacrifice and $500 premium. These aren't interchangeable products.
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 HP OMEN 17 if…
- →Large 17.3-inch QHD 240Hz display is excellent for gaming
- →RTX 4080 Laptop GPU handles AAA titles at high settings
- →24-core i9-13900HX excels at multitasking and content creation
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
HP OMEN 17
Pros
- Large 17.3-inch QHD 240Hz display is excellent for gaming
- RTX 4080 Laptop GPU handles AAA titles at high settings
- 24-core i9-13900HX excels at multitasking and content creation
- OMEN Tempest cooling keeps the machine relatively quiet
- Three USB-A ports provide legacy device compatibility
Cons
- 6.39 lbs and 15.7 inches wide — not portable at all
- 5-hour battery life is poor for non-gaming use
- 300-nit brightness is dim for a $1,799 gaming laptop
- Only one Thunderbolt 4 port
- Plastic components in the build feel less premium than all-aluminum rivals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | HP OMEN 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 6.39 lbs (2.90 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum and plastic |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 15.74 x 10.87 x 0.93 inches |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 1 |
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-A ports | — | 3 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 5 hours |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 17.3 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | IPS anti-glare |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2560 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 240Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 300 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe (dual slot) |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 32 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 24 cores (8P + 16E) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core i9-13900HX (13th Gen) |
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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.
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