Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)
Apple's M4 MacBook Air 15" delivers exceptional value at $1,299, featuring outstanding battery longevity (18 hours), a sharp 500-nit Liquid Retina display, and the proven M4 chip's 10-core efficiency. HP's Spectre x360 16 counters with a larger 16-inch OLED touchscreen at 120Hz, more ports (HDMI, USB-A), superior storage (1TB standard), and Intel's 16-core processor—but costs $350 more and manages only 12 hours of battery life. The MacBook excels for productivity and portability with class-leading endurance; the Spectre suits creative professionals needing OLED precision, touch input, and legacy connectivity. For most users seeking a balanced ultrabook, Apple's tighter integration, superior battery, and lower price make the M4 MacBook Air 15" the stronger choice. Windows users or those requiring extensive port options should consider the Spectre despite its battery compromise.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) | 2.19 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 357 x 248 x 19.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | OLED touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1800 |
| 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 LPDDR5X |
| 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 Spectre x360 16 (2024)
Pros
- Gorgeous 2.8K OLED display with 120Hz refresh
- Premium gem-cut aluminum design with 360-degree hinge
- Excellent 9 MP webcam with auto-framing
- Includes Thunderbolt 4 plus HDMI and full-size USB-A
Cons
- Heavy at over 2.1 kg for a convertible
- Battery life modest given the 83 Wh capacity
- Premium price for the configuration
- Limited discrete GPU options for creative pros
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