Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs HP Envy 16 (2024)
Apple's M4 MacBook Air 15 delivers exceptional efficiency with an 18-hour battery life, stunning 500-nit Liquid Retina display, and lightweight 3.3-lb design that excels for creative professionals and productivity users. HP Envy 16 counters with a larger 16-inch touchscreen, superior 120Hz refresh rate, more storage (1TB vs 256GB), and broader connectivity including HDMI and SD card slots. Performance-wise, M4's integrated GPU dominates creative tasks while Intel Core Ultra 7 offers stronger multi-threaded performance for demanding Windows applications. However, HP's 10-hour battery life and thermal management lag significantly behind Apple's efficiency. For extended mobile work, video editing, and ultraportability, the MacBook Air M4 is the stronger choice despite higher base cost. HP suits Windows-dependent professionals needing maximum screen real estate and expandable storage.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | HP Envy 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) | 2.34 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 358 x 252 x 19.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) | 1 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 16 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
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
HP Envy 16 (2024)
Pros
- Optional NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU for creative and light gaming workloads
- Excellent 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen display
- Comprehensive port selection including SD card reader
- User-upgradeable RAM and storage
Cons
- Heavy and bulky for daily portability
- Battery life suffers under GPU load
- Fans get loud during intensive workloads
- Bezel design feels dated next to Spectre line
Related Comparisons
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all HP products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 or the HP Envy 16 (2024).