MacBook Air 15" (M4)
M4 · 15.3″ · Fanless · $1,199
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
Core Ultra 9 · RTX 5080 · 16″ OLED
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, MacBook Air 15" (M4) lands at 93 and ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) at 93. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick MacBook Air 15" (M4) if…
- ✓Silent fanless M4
- ✓Excellent battery
- ✓Huge bright display
Pick ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) if…
- ✓Slim chassis for a 5080
- ✓OLED 240Hz panel
- ✓Strong thermals at 1.85 kg
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPerformance
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) leads on gpu (95 vs 84).
Battery life
MacBook Air 15" (M4)Unplugged endurance for travel and campus
MacBook Air 15" (M4) leads on battery (96 vs 78).
Portability
MacBook Air 15" (M4)Weight, size, and carry-everywhere comfort
MacBook Air 15" (M4) leads on portability (94 vs 90).
Display
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)Panel quality for creative and media work
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) leads on display (95 vs 88).
Value for money
MacBook Air 15" (M4)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
MacBook Air 15" (M4) more score per dollar ($1,199 vs $2,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | MacBook Air 15" (M4) | ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 (10C CPU / 10C GPU) | — |
| RAM | 16/24/32 GB | ▲ 32 GB LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Storage | ▲ 256 GB – 2 TB | 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Display | 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880×1864 | ▲ 16″ OLED, 2560×1600, 240Hz |
| Weight | ▲ 1.51 kg | 1.85 kg |
| CPU | — | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H |
| GPU | — | RTX 5080 Laptop (150W) |
| Battery | — | 90 Wh |
| OS | — | Windows 11 Pro |
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
- +Silent fanless M4
- +Excellent battery
- +Huge bright display
- −Only 2 TB3 ports
- −Single external display (M4 base)
- −No ProMotion
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
- +Slim chassis for a 5080
- +OLED 240Hz panel
- +Strong thermals at 1.85 kg
- −Battery limited in gaming
- −Speakers average
- −Fans ramp at max perf
FAQ: MacBook Air 15" (M4) vs ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
Which is better, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)? +
Both score 93 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is MacBook Air 15" (M4) worth the price? +
At $1,199, MacBook Air 15" (M4) delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in battery.
Is ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) worth the price? +
At $2,699, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in gpu.
Does MacBook Air 15" (M4) or ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for performance, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)? +
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) — leads on gpu (95 vs 84). CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work.
Which is better for battery life, MacBook Air 15" (M4) or ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)? +
MacBook Air 15" (M4) — leads on battery (96 vs 78). Unplugged endurance for travel and campus.