Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Air 15 M3 delivers exceptional value at $1299, pairing solid performance with macOS efficiency and an outstanding 18-hour battery life on its 66.5 Wh battery. The Liquid Retina display hits 500 nits with 2880 x 1864 resolution, though it's capped at 60Hz. However, the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage feel tight for the price point in 2024. Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Pro costs $150 more but substantially upgrades the experience: 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, a larger 16-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen running 120Hz, and practical ports including HDMI, dual USB-A, and SD card reader. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H trades efficiency for raw performance, though battery life dips to 15 hours. If you prioritize longevity and ecosystem integration within Apple products, the MacBook Air M3 offers remarkable efficiency and a thinner, lighter build at 1.51kg. If you need Windows compatibility, expandable connectivity, higher refresh rate gaming, and greater storage out of the box, the Galaxy Book4 Pro justifies its premium. The MacBook Air edges out on battery and overall value proposition for typical users.
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 Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro if…
- →Gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with vivid color
- →Slim 12.5 mm profile for a 16-inch laptop
- →Excellent Samsung ecosystem integration with Galaxy devices
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
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro
Pros
- Gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with vivid color
- Slim 12.5 mm profile for a 16-inch laptop
- Excellent Samsung ecosystem integration with Galaxy devices
- Good port selection including SD card and HDMI
- Up to 15-hour battery life is class-leading
Cons
- No discrete GPU option on this model
- RAM and SSD are soldered — no upgrade path
- Samsung DeX for PC still limited in scope
- AMOLED display may develop burn-in over time
- Higher price than similarly-specced Windows ultrabooks
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.55 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 355.4 x 227.9 x 12.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI | — | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 15 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 76 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 16.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 512 GB 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 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
- Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360
- Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 360
- Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 15"
- Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra
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 Samsung products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 or the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro.