Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs HP Spectre x360 14 (2023)
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Air 15 M4 offers a larger screen ideal for multitasking, superior battery life reaching 18 hours, and the efficient M4 chip delivering consistent performance for everyday tasks. HP's Spectre x360 14 counters with a stunning 3000x2000 OLED touchscreen that produces richer colors and deeper blacks, plus double the base storage at 512GB. Intel's 13th gen Core i7-1355U handles demanding creative work comparably well. Both weigh around 3 pounds, feature 16GB RAM, dual Thunderbolt ports, and 500-nit brightness. Price-wise, the MacBook costs $100 less while providing more screen real estate and proven longevity. However, the Spectre's OLED display and touchscreen interactivity appeal to creatives who prioritize visual fidelity. For general productivity and value, MacBook Air M4 wins; for content creators valuing display quality, the Spectre edges ahead.
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 HP Spectre x360 14 (2023) if…
- →Gorgeous 3K2K OLED touchscreen with 3:2 aspect ratio
- →2-in-1 convertible form factor with stylus support
- →Premium gem-cut aluminum design looks and feels luxurious
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 Spectre x360 14 (2023)
Pros
- Gorgeous 3K2K OLED touchscreen with 3:2 aspect ratio
- 2-in-1 convertible form factor with stylus support
- Premium gem-cut aluminum design looks and feels luxurious
- Good 66 Wh battery provides solid endurance
- 5 MP webcam delivers excellent video call quality
Cons
- 60Hz refresh rate feels outdated for a premium 2023 laptop
- Gets warm during sustained workloads due to thin chassis
- OLED display may be prone to burn-in over time
- Limited to integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics
- Expensive at $1399 starting price
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | HP Spectre x360 14 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) | 1.36 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Aluminum unibody, gem-cut design |
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 299 x 220 x 16.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | — |
| SD card | — | |
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| Microsd | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 66 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | OLED touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 3000 x 2000 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) | 512 GB / 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB / 32 GB LPDDR5 |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 10-core (2P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U |
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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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