Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs ASUS ROG Ally X
The Verdict
Comparing these devices requires acknowledging they serve fundamentally different purposes. Apple's MacBook Air 15 M4 is a traditional laptop offering exceptional build quality with its recycled aluminum chassis, brilliant 500-nit Liquid Retina display at 2880x1864, and remarkable 18-hour battery life powered by the efficient M4 chip with 10-core CPU/GPU. ASUS ROG Ally X is a portable gaming handheld featuring a compact 7-inch 120Hz display, more powerful raw computing with Ryzen Z1 Extreme and 24GB RAM, but severely limited to 3-10 hours of gaming battery life. MacBook Air excels for productivity, content creation, and general computing with superior portability for a laptop class. Ally X targets gaming enthusiasts prioritizing performance over battery efficiency. For most users seeking a practical laptop, MacBook Air M4 delivers unmatched versatility, longevity, and value despite higher cost. Ally X suits handheld gaming specifically.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 if…
- →M4 chip delivers massive performance leap over M3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- →16 GB RAM standard — no more $200 upgrade from 8 GB
- →18-hour battery life is genuinely all-day
Buy the ASUS ROG Ally X if…
- →Massive 80 Wh battery doubles the Ally's endurance to 3-10 hours
- →24 GB LPDDR5x RAM is generous for gaming and multitasking
- →1 TB SSD is double the original — more room for games
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15" M4
Pros
- M4 chip delivers massive performance leap over M3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 16 GB RAM standard — no more $200 upgrade from 8 GB
- 18-hour battery life is genuinely all-day
- Fanless design is completely silent under all workloads
- Gorgeous 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display for content consumption
Cons
- Still limited to 60Hz display — no ProMotion
- Only two Thunderbolt ports — both on the left side
- Base 256 GB storage is tight for a $1,299 laptop
- No HDMI or SD card slot — dongles still required
ASUS ROG Ally X
Pros
- Massive 80 Wh battery doubles the Ally's endurance to 3-10 hours
- 24 GB LPDDR5x RAM is generous for gaming and multitasking
- 1 TB SSD is double the original — more room for games
- Two USB-C ports allow charging while connecting accessories
- Improved ergonomic grips and button layout over original Ally
Cons
- Heavier at 678 g due to the larger battery
- Same Z1 Extreme chip — no generational performance leap
- Removed microSD slot compared to original ROG Ally
- IPS LCD still lacks OLED contrast and HDR capability
- $799 puts it close to full laptop pricing territory
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | ASUS ROG Ally X |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) | 678 g |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Plastic chassis with improved ergonomics |
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 280.0 x 114.0 x 36.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| SD card | — | |
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | — |
| Microsd | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | 3-10 hours (game dependent) |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 80 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 7 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) | — |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 24 GB LPDDR5x (7500 MT/s) |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 8-core CPU, RDNA 3 (12 CUs) integrated GPU |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8-core / 16-thread, up to 5.1 GHz) |
| Memory | ||
| Storage options | — | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.2 |
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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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