Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 vs HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)
The Verdict
Apple's M3 MacBook Pro 14" excels in portability and display quality with its stunning 1600-nit Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED screen, superior battery life (17 hours), and lightweight aluminum chassis at 1.55kg. HP's Spectre x360 16" counters with a larger 16-inch OLED touchscreen, double the RAM (16GB vs 8GB), expandable 1TB storage, and Intel Core Ultra's multi-core prowess for productivity tasks. Performance-wise, the M3 handles creative work efficiently despite fewer cores, while Intel excels at multi-threaded workloads. The MacBook Pro's premium build and ecosystem integration justify its price for Apple users, whereas the Spectre offers better value for Windows users needing more RAM and storage without upgrade barriers. For creative professionals prioritizing portability and display calibration, the MacBook Pro wins. For power users demanding upgradeable components and larger workspace, choose the Spectre x360.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 if…
- →Full ProMotion mini-LED XDR display at the $1599 entry tier
- →Excellent 17-hour battery life for a 14-inch machine
- →Compact and portable at 1.55 kg
Buy the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) if…
- →Gorgeous 2.8K OLED display with 120Hz refresh
- →Premium gem-cut aluminum design with 360-degree hinge
- →Excellent 9 MP webcam with auto-framing
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3
Pros
- Full ProMotion mini-LED XDR display at the $1599 entry tier
- Excellent 17-hour battery life for a 14-inch machine
- Compact and portable at 1.55 kg
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus HDMI and SD card
- Silent under light-to-moderate workloads
Cons
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for demanding tasks
- Storage upgrades carry a steep Apple premium
- M3 GPU struggles with heavy 3D workloads compared to Pro/Max
- Notch in display polarises opinions
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
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 | HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sonoma | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.55 kg | 2.19 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 357 x 248 x 19.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 17 hours wireless web | Up to 12 hours |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | OLED touchscreen |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 1 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 16 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
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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.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all HP products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 or the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024).