Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2024)
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Air 15 M3 excels as a larger-screen ultrabook with exceptional battery life and efficient performance, while Lenovo's Yoga 9i 14 offers more power and storage in a convertible form factor. The MacBook delivers up to 18 hours of wireless web browsing versus the Yoga's 14 hours, plus its 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display at 500 nits brightness provides excellent color accuracy for creative work. However, the Yoga 9i counters with a brighter OLED panel at 90Hz refresh, 16GB RAM versus 8GB, 1TB storage versus 256GB, and Intel's more powerful Core Ultra 7 155H with 16 cores. The Yoga also includes a 2-in-1 convertible design with touchscreen and legacy ports (USB-A, HDMI). For creative professionals prioritizing battery life and seamless macOS integration, the MacBook Air at $1299 offers exceptional value. Windows users needing stronger multitasking performance, expandable storage, and versatile form factors should choose the Yoga 9i at $1499, though its shorter battery life and smaller screen are tradeoffs. The MacBook Air edges ahead for most users seeking balanced performance and portability.
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 Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2024) if…
- →Versatile 360-degree 2-in-1 form factor
- →Beautiful 2.8K OLED touch display
- →Stylus included in the box
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
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2024)
Pros
- Versatile 360-degree 2-in-1 form factor
- Beautiful 2.8K OLED touch display
- Stylus included in the box
- Premium premium aluminum chassis with rotating hinge
- Good 14-hour battery life for a convertible
Cons
- RAM is soldered — no upgrade path
- Only one USB-A port
- Runs warm under sustained CPU load
- OLED glossy panel attracts fingerprints
- Pen storage solution is awkward
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.39 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum unibody |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 314.9 x 222.8 x 14.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI | — | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 14 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 75 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 14.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | 2.8K OLED touch 2-in-1 |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 1 TB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
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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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