Apple MacBook Air 13" M4 vs HP Pavilion 15 (2024)
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Air M4 and HP's Pavilion 15 serve different user needs at distinct price points. The MacBook Air excels with its exceptional 18-hour battery life, blazing-fast M4 performance, and stunning 500-nit Liquid Retina display with 2560 x 1664 resolution. At 2.7 lbs, it's remarkably portable with premium aluminum construction. The Pavilion 15 offers more screen real estate at 15.6 inches with 1080p resolution, plus practical connectivity including HDMI, USB-A ports, and SD card slot. However, its 8.5-hour battery life feels dated, the 300-nit display is dimmer, and the plastic chassis feels less premium despite costing $350 less. The M4's 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU demolish the Intel i7-1355U in performance, especially for creative work. If budget is your primary concern and you need legacy ports, the Pavilion makes sense. For professionals, students, or anyone who values portability, performance, and longevity, the MacBook Air M4 justifies its premium pricing with superior engineering and efficiency. The MacBook Air wins decisively for most users.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Air 13" M4 if…
- →M4 chip is a massive leap over M3 — handles demanding creative workflows
- →16 GB RAM standard across all configurations
- →Under 2.7 lbs — one of the lightest capable laptops available
Buy the HP Pavilion 15 (2024) if…
- →Affordable at $749 with 13th-gen i7 and 16 GB RAM
- →Full-size keyboard with numpad for data entry
- →SD card reader and HDMI make it versatile for light content creation
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 13" M4
Pros
- M4 chip is a massive leap over M3 — handles demanding creative workflows
- 16 GB RAM standard across all configurations
- Under 2.7 lbs — one of the lightest capable laptops available
- 18-hour battery life rivals the 15-inch model
- Fanless, completely silent operation
Cons
- 60Hz display — no ProMotion or high-refresh option
- 256 GB base storage requires upgrading for most users
- Only two Thunderbolt ports limits connectivity
- 13.6-inch screen feels cramped for multitasking
HP Pavilion 15 (2024)
Pros
- Affordable at $749 with 13th-gen i7 and 16 GB RAM
- Full-size keyboard with numpad for data entry
- SD card reader and HDMI make it versatile for light content creation
- 512 GB SSD is generous for the price
- Slim and relatively lightweight at 3.75 lbs
Cons
- 41 Wh battery is small — real-world life is closer to 6 hours
- 60Hz FHD display feels dated compared to competitors
- DDR4 RAM in 2024 is behind the curve
- Plastic build feels cheap compared to metal-bodied rivals
- No Thunderbolt support
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13" M4 | HP Pavilion 15 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.24 kg) | 3.75 lbs (1.7 kg) |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches | 14.11 x 9.19 x 0.71 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB-C ports | 2 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | — |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 8.5 hours |
| Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 41 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.6 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | IPS anti-glare |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 300 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 10 cores (2P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | Intel Core i7-1355U (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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