Are you in the market for a new laptop and torn between the Snapdragon X Elite Galaxy Book4 Edge and Apple’s M3 MacBook Air? We’ve got you covered with an in-depth comparison covering design, ports, displays, keyboards, trackpads, SSD performance, overall performance, and battery life. Let’s dive in to see which one holds the crown.
Key Takeaways
- Battery Life: The MacBook Air has a slightly better battery life.
- Performance: The M3 outshines the X Elite in single-core tasks and gaming, but the X Elite excels in multi-core tasks.
- Display: Samsung’s Super AMOLED display beats the MacBook’s LCD.
- Design and Build: Both are well-built with a sleek aluminum chassis.
- Ports: The Samsung offers more port options, including USB-A and microSD slots.
- Price: The MacBook Air is $150 more expensive when similarly spec’d.
Design and Build Quality
Both laptops sport a premium aluminum chassis, but the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is larger with a 16-inch screen compared to the MacBook Air’s 15 inches.
| Feature | Galaxy Book4 Edge | MacBook Air 15″ |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Larger footprint | Thinner and smaller |
| Weight | 3.42 lbs | 3.3 lbs |
| Battery Size | 19% smaller | Larger watt-hours |
Display Comparison
Samsung’s 16-inch Super AMOLED display is a standout with vibrant colors and deep blacks, thanks to its 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The MacBook Air’s 15-inch LCD panel, although bright at 500 nits, cannot match the color depth and fluidity of Samsung’s display.
- Samsung: Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 400 nits, better for HDR
- Apple: LCD, 60Hz, 500 nits, less vibrant colors
Port Selection
Samsung wins with a more versatile port selection, including USB-A, HDMI, and microSD, alongside two USB 4 ports. The MacBook Air offers MagSafe 3, two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, and a headphone jack.
| Feature | Galaxy Book4 Edge | MacBook Air 15″ |
|---|---|---|
| MagSafe | No | Yes |
| USB-C/Thunderbolt | 2 (USB 4) | 2 (USB 4, Thunderbolt) |
| Additional Ports | HDMI, USB-A, microSD | None |
Keyboard and Trackpad
The MacBook Air’s Magic Keyboard and force touch trackpad offer a superior typing and navigation experience. The Samsung’s traditional keyboard and diving board-style trackpad feel less refined in comparison.
- MacBook Air: Magic Keyboard, force touch trackpad
- Samsung: Traditional keyboard, diving board trackpad
Audio and Webcam
In terms of audio, the MacBook Air’s six-speaker system delivers richer and fuller sound compared to Samsung’s. The webcam and microphone quality are competitive, but the MacBook Air has a slight edge in clarity.
Performance
CPU and GPU Benchmarks
Geekbench 6:
- Single-Core: MacBook Air (3000+ points) is 88.5% faster than Samsung.
- Multi-Core: Samsung (14.5% faster).
Cinebench R23:
- Multi-Core: Samsung leads with 969 points, 64% faster than the MacBook Air.
Real-World Tests
- Speedometer 3.0 (Web Performance): MacBook Air is 37% faster.
- 3DMark (Graphics Performance): MacBook Air delivers 46% higher FPS.
- Blender (Rendering): MacBook Air is three times faster due to better GPU acceleration.
Storage Performance
- Samsung: Faster read speeds.
- MacBook Air: Faster write speeds.
Lightroom Export
- Samsung: Faster export in native ARM64 Lightroom.
- MacBook Air: Faster in Lightroom Classic (x86 emulation).
Battery Life
After extensive testing, the MacBook Air has a slight advantage in battery life, ending with 48% remaining compared to Samsung’s 40%.
Conclusion
MacBook Air 15″
- Pros: Superior single-core performance, better gaming and rendering, richer audio, superior keyboard and trackpad, better battery life.
- Cons: More expensive, fewer port options.
Galaxy Book4 Edge
- Pros: Better multi-core performance, more versatile port selection, superior display, excellent value for the specs.
- Cons: Weaker GPU, louder fans, inferior trackpad.
Both laptops offer unique strengths. If you prioritize single-core performance, superior display, and better battery life, the MacBook Air is your choice. However, if you need better multi-core performance, more ports, and a great display at a lower price, the Galaxy Book4 Edge is an excellent option.
Which one suits your needs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
