Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs HP ProBook 440 G11
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Air 15 M3 and HP's ProBook 440 G11 serve distinctly different markets. The MacBook Air excels with its larger 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display at 2880 x 1864 resolution and exceptional 18-hour battery life from its 66.5 Wh battery, making it ideal for creative professionals and students prioritizing portability and screen real estate at 1.51 kg. The M3's 8-core CPU with 10-core GPU handles everyday tasks and light video work smoothly. However, it's hamstrung by only 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, both non-upgradeable, which limits longevity. The HP ProBook 440 G11 targets business users with practical advantages: 16GB DDR5 RAM, double the storage at 512GB with PCIe Gen 4 speeds, and full expandability. Its Intel Core Ultra 7 155U delivers comparable real-world performance with more cores for multitasking and demanding applications. The 14-inch 1920 x 1200 display feels cramped after the MacBook, and 11-hour battery life trails significantly. Connectivity heavily favors HP, offering HDMI and dual USB-A ports versus the MacBook's MagSafe-only approach. At $1,299 versus $949, the MacBook Air wins for creatives valuing design and battery endurance. The HP ProBook suits professionals needing upgradeable specs, Windows software compatibility, and legacy port access. Choose MacBook Air for aesthetics and portability; choose HP for practicality and future-proofing within a business environment.
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 ProBook 440 G11 if…
- →Intel Core Ultra with NPU for on-device AI features
- →Lightweight at 3.12 lbs for enterprise mobility
- →Windows 11 Pro with HP Wolf Security for business management
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 ProBook 440 G11
Pros
- Intel Core Ultra with NPU for on-device AI features
- Lightweight at 3.12 lbs for enterprise mobility
- Windows 11 Pro with HP Wolf Security for business management
- HDMI and USB-A ports reduce dongle dependency
- 11-hour battery life covers a full workday
Cons
- FHD+ 300-nit display is not bright enough for outdoor meetings
- No Thunderbolt — USB-C only
- Integrated graphics limit creative workloads
- 51 Wh battery is small for a 14-inch business laptop
- No SD card reader
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | HP ProBook 440 G11 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 3.12 lbs (1.42 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 12.64 x 8.85 x 0.70 inches |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | — |
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 11 hours |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 51 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 14 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | IPS anti-glare |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 300 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 12 cores (2P + 8E + 2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
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 HP products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 or the HP ProBook 440 G11.
