Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs Microsoft Surface Book 3
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Air 15 inch M3 delivers superior performance and value at $1299 compared to the Surface Book 3's $1599 price tag. The M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU significantly outpaces the Intel Core i7-1065G7, especially for everyday tasks and creative work. Apple's 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display (2880 x 1864, 500 nits) edges out the Surface Book 3's 13.5-inch PixelSense screen (3000 x 2000, 400 nits) in both size and brightness, making it better for extended work sessions. Battery life favors the MacBook Air at 18 hours versus 15.5 hours. However, the Surface Book 3 offers practical advantages: expandable storage, legacy USB-A ports (two of them), SD card reader, and 16GB RAM standard versus the Air's 8GB. The detachable keyboard design adds versatility for creative professionals. The Surface Book 3 runs Windows 10 Home with broader software compatibility and file system flexibility. For pure performance, battery efficiency, and display quality at a lower price, the MacBook Air 15 inch M3 wins decisively. Choose the Surface Book 3 only if you specifically need Windows, USB-A ports, or the detachable form factor.
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 Microsoft Surface Book 3 if…
- →Detachable 13.5-inch display works as a standalone tablet
- →Discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the keyboard base
- →3:2 3000x2000 PixelSense display is gorgeous for productivity
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
Microsoft Surface Book 3
Pros
- Detachable 13.5-inch display works as a standalone tablet
- Discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the keyboard base
- 3:2 3000x2000 PixelSense display is gorgeous for productivity
- 15.5-hour battery life for clipboard + base combined
- Premium magnesium build with excellent Surface Pen support
Cons
- 10th-gen Intel processor is severely outdated by 2024 standards
- Detach mechanism adds wobble and weight to the display hinge
- No Thunderbolt — only USB-C 3.1 and USB-A ports
- GTX 1650 Max-Q is underpowered for modern gaming or creative tasks
- Microsoft has discontinued the Surface Book line
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | Microsoft Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 10 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 3.38 lbs (1.53 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Magnesium |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.59-0.9 inches |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | — |
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 15.5 hours |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 65.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | PixelSense IPS touch |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 3000 x 2000 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 256 GB PCIe Gen 3 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR4X |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 4 cores / 8 threads |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core i7-1065G7 (10th 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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