Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Air M4 delivers exceptional value at $1299, featuring the powerful M4 chip, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and impressive 18-hour battery life in a lightweight 3.3-pound chassis. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 counters at $1449 with a smaller 14-inch OLED option (90Hz refresh), superior port selection including HDMI and USB-A, and optional 32GB RAM with faster Intel 13th Gen processors. For creative professionals prioritizing screen real estate and ecosystem integration, the MacBook Air M4 excels with its larger display and proven reliability. Business users needing Windows compatibility, legacy port connectivity, and flexibility will prefer the ThinkPad's versatility. Battery performance favors Apple slightly at 18 hours versus 15 hours. Storage starts lower on the MacBook (256GB vs 512GB), though both are configurable. Ultimately, choose based on OS preference: the MacBook Air M4 offers better value for Mac users, while the ThinkPad suits Windows-dependent professionals seeking premium build quality and expandable configurations.
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 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 if…
- →Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- →Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- →Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
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
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
Pros
- Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
- MIL-STD 810H tested for ruggedness and durability
- Good port selection includes USB-A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4
Cons
- OLED option significantly reduces battery life to around 10 hours
- 60Hz IPS panel feels behind the times
- Starting price of $1449 is expensive for the base config
- Soldered RAM limits upgradeability
- Integrated graphics only — not suitable for GPU-heavy workloads
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) | 1.12 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Carbon fiber and magnesium alloy |
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 315.6 x 222.5 x 15.36 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | — |
| SD card | — | |
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 15 hours (IPS) / 10 hours (OLED) |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 57 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 14 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | OLED (IPS optional) |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz (90Hz OLED) |
| 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 LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 10-core (2P + 8E) / 14-core (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U / i7-1370P |
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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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