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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Display
- Interface
- Connectivity
- Configuration
- Performance
- Additional Features And Software
- Comments
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) vs Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024)
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024)
Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024)
Tested using Methodology v0.8.2
Updated Apr 04, 2025 07:55 PM
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BestBuy.comTested using Methodology v0.8.2
Updated Apr 28, 2025 03:53 PM
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Amazon.com
Size15.3"
Operating SystemmacOS
Size13"
Operating SystemWindows 11
Variants
- MacBook Air 15 (MXD43LL/A) (Midnight - M3/16GB/512GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYU3LL/A) (Midnight - M3/8GB/256GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYV3LL/A) (Midnight - M3/8GB/512GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MXD23LL/A) (Silver - M3/16GB/512GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYP3LL/A) (Silver - M3/8GB/256GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYQ3LL/A) (Silver - M3/8GB/512GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MXD13LL/A) (Space Gray - M3/16GB/512GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYM3LL/A) (Space Gray - M3/8GB/256GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYN3LL/A) (Space Gray - M3/8GB/512GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MXD33LL/A) (Starlight - M3/16GB/512GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYR3LL/A) (Starlight - M3/8GB/256GB)
- MacBook Air 15 (MRYT3LL/A) (Starlight - M3/8GB/512GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZHY-00019) (Black - IPS/Snapdragon X Plus/16GB/512GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIB-00018) (Black - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/1GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIA-00018) (Black - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/512TB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZHY-00042) (Dune - IPS/Snapdragon X Plus/16GB/512GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIB-00041) (Dune - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/1GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIA-00041) (Dune - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/512TB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZHX-00001) (Platinum - IPS/Snapdragon X Plus/16GB/256GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZHY-00001) (Platinum - IPS/Snapdragon X Plus/16GB/512GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIB-00001) (Platinum - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/1GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIA-00001) (Platinum - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/512TB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZID-00001) (Platinum - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/32GB/1TB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZHY-00036) (Sapphire - IPS/Snapdragon X Plus/16GB/512GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIB-00035) (Sapphire - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/1GB)
- Surface Pro 11th Edition (ZIA-00035) (Sapphire - OLED/Snapdragon X Elite/16GB/512TB)
Our Verdict
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024)
Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024)
Although both are general productivity devices, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) and the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) are very different. The Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 tablet PC with a detachable keyboard and pen input, while the MacBook Air is a more traditional clamshell model. In terms of the user experience, each has its pros and cons; the MacBook Air has a sturdier build, a larger touchpad, and better-sounding, but the Surface Pro is more versatile and is available with 120Hz displays, including an OLED panel that's better suited for media consumption. If you often use your laptop on your lap, the MacBook Air is likely a better choice, as the Surface Pro can feel a little unstable on uneven surfaces. Also, Windows on ARM is still in a transitional phase at the time of writing, so some apps might not work, whereas most macOS apps now run natively on Apple silicon.
Main Differences forSchool
School
Threshold
School
8.6
8.4
Touchpad
9.6
8.0
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Style Photo
Form Factor
Traditional (Clamshell)
Tablet
Build Quality
9.5
8.5
Build Quality Photo
Hinge
9.1
6.9
Hinge Photo
Range
135°
170°
Stability
Good
Good
One Finger Lift
Yes
No
Portability
8.7
8.9
Dimensions Photo
Size
15.3"
13"
Thickness
0.6" (1.4 cm)
0.7" (1.8 cm)
Width
13.4" (34.0 cm)
11.4" (28.9 cm)
Depth
9.3" (23.7 cm)
8.6" (21.8 cm)
Volume
68.8 in³ (1,128.1 cm³)
68.1 in³ (1,115.1 cm³)
Weight
3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)
2.7 lbs (1.2 kg)
Charger Size
4.2 in³ (68.6 cm³)
5.5 in³ (90.0 cm³)
Charger Weight
0.4 lbs (0.2 kg)
0.5 lbs (0.2 kg)
Serviceability
3.5
1.5
Internals Photo
Ease Of Access
6.0
0
RAM Slots
0
0
Storage Slots
0
1
Replaceable Battery
Yes
No
Replaceable Wireless Adapter
No
No
In The Box
In The Box Photo
Display
Screen Specs
Display Photo
Resolution
2880 x 1864
2880 x 1920
Aspect Ratio
16:10
3:2
Pixel Density
226 PPI
266 PPI
Panel Type
IPS
OLED
Touch Screen
No
Yes
Screen-To-Body Ratio
87%
85%
Refresh Rate
5.9
8.7
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate
60 Hz
120 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
Dynamic Refresh Rate
Contrast
7.5
10
Contrast Photo
Native Contrast
1,412 : 1
25,575 : 1
Brightness
8.7
8.8
Maximum Brightness
494 cd/m²
536 cd/m²
Minimum Brightness
2 cd/m²
2 cd/m²
Reflections
9.1
7.4
Reflections Photo Off
Reflections Photo Max
Screen Finish
Glossy
Glossy
Total Reflections
1.47%
4.2%
Indirect Reflections
0.38%
1%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.09%
3.2%
Black Uniformity
7.3
10
Black Uniformity Photo
Uniformity (Std. Dev.)
1.103%
0.206%
Horizontal Viewing Angle
6.9
7.1
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Picture
Color Washout From Left
26°
38°
Color Washout From Right
30°
37°
Horizontal Hue Picture
Color Shift From Left
42°
18°
Color Shift From Right
47°
19°
Horizontal Lightness Picture
Brightness Loss From Left
29°
42°
Brightness Loss From Right
34°
43°
Black Level Raise From Left
60°
60°
Black Level Raise From Right
60°
60°
Gamma Shift From Left
30°
40°
Gamma Shift From Right
29°
40°
Vertical Viewing Angle
6.9
7.1
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Picture
Color Washout From Below
26°
36°
Color Washout From Above
28°
32°
Vertical Hue Picture
Color Shift From Below
42°
19°
Color Shift From Above
44°
18°
Vertical Lightness Picture
Brightness Loss From Below
29°
42°
Brightness Loss From Above
30°
41°
Black Level Raise From Below
45°
45°
Black Level Raise From Above
45°
45°
Gamma Shift From Below
37°
42°
Gamma Shift From Above
36°
40°
Out-Of-The-Box Color Accuracy
9.9
9.0
White Balance Screencap
Gamma Curve Screencap
Color Screencap
Avg. White Balance dE
1.47
2.47
Avg. Gamma
2.24
2.19
Avg. Color dE
0.98
1.52
Avg. Color Temperature
6,742.3 K
6,543.8 K
Color Gamut
9.4
8.5
Gamut SDR
sRGB xy
99.93%
103.82%
sRGB uv
99.72%
103.12%
Adobe RGB xy
87.43%
76.56%
Adobe RGB uv
92.34%
87.55%
Gamut HDR
DCI P3 xy
99.05%
76.53%
DCI P3 uv
98.72%
82.06%
Rec. 2020 xy
71.83%
54.93%
Rec. 2020 uv
73.49%
59.87%
Flicker
9.0
7.2
Flicker Graph
Flicker-Free
No
No
Flicker Frequency
> 1000Hz
480 Hz
Flicker Active Below
100%
100%
Interface
Keyboard
8.0
8.1
Keyboard Photo
Typing Quality
8.0
8.0
Numpad
No
No
Backlighting
Adjustable
Adjustable
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Operating Force
62 gf
61 gf
Actuation Force
40 gf
34 gf
Pre-Travel
0.80 mm
1.09 mm
Total Travel
0.91 mm
1.44 mm
Touchpad
9.6
8.0
Touchpad Photo
Tracking Quality
9.5
8.5
Size
21.4 in² (138.0 cm²)
10.1 in² (65.0 cm²)
Material
Glass
Glass
Dedicated Buttons
No
No
Speakers
8.9
7.9
Frequency Response Plot
Max Volume
81 dB SPL
73 dB SPL
Standard Error @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
5.9 dB
5.1 dB
Slope @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
2.2
2.1
Bass Extension (Low-Frequency Ext.)
155 Hz
141 Hz
Treble Extension (High-Frequency Ext.)
20 kHz
20 kHz
Dynamic Range Compression @ Max Vol.
2.3 dB
2.4 dB
Webcam & Microphone
8.7
8.7
Webcam Video Sample
Video Quality
9.0
9.0
Resolution
1080p
1440p
Position
Top Center
Top Center
Privacy Cover
No
No
Face Unlock
No
Yes
Connectivity
Ports
5.0
5.0
Ports Photo
USB-A Ports
0
0
USB-C Ports
2
2
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt 3
No
USB-C Charging
Yes
Yes
USB-C Display Out
Yes
Yes
HDMI
No
No
DisplayPort
No
No
3.5mm Jack
Combo mic/headphone
None
Card Reader
No
No
Ethernet
No
No
Proprietary Port
Apple MagSafe 3
Surface Connect
Security Lock
No
No
Wireless Communication
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
Configuration
CPU
Brand
Apple
Qualcomm
Model
M3
Snapdragon X Elite X1E80100
Core Count
8
12
Thread Count
8
12
GPU
Brand
Apple
Qualcomm
Model
M3
Adreno GPU X1E80100
Dedicated/Integrated
Integrated
Integrated
VRAM Size
N/A
N/A
RAM
Capacity
8 GB
16 GB
Modules
Unknown
1 (Soldered)
Type
LP-DDR5
LP-DDR5x
Speed
6,400 MHz
8,448 MHz
Storage
Advertised Capacity
256 GB
512 GB
Usable Capacity
214 GB
448 GB
Drive 1
Apple SSD AP0256Z
Samsung MZ9L4512HBLU-00BMV
Drive 1 Type
SSD
SSD
Drive 2
No 2nd Drive
No 2nd Drive
Drive 2 Type
No 2nd Drive
No 2nd Drive
Performance
Geekbench 5 (Synthetics)
9.4
9.9
Geekbench Image
CPU Single-Thread
2,322 points
1,556 points
CPU Multi-Thread
10,501 points
13,468 points
GPU Compute
33,403 points
N/A
Cinebench R23 (CPU Rendering)
9.7
8.6
Cinebench R23 Photo
Single-Thread
1,892 points
1,090 points
Multi-Thread
9,179 points
8,381 points
Blender (3D Rendering)
8.7
7.7
Blender Image
CPU Render Time
4.0 min
4.6 min
GPU Render Time
1.6 min
N/A
GPU Render Time (Optix)
N/A
N/A
Basemark GPU (Game Scene)
7.4
6.0
Basemark Image
Overall Score
44,950
24,544
Storage Drive Performance
9.2
9.0
Storage Performance Image
Sequential Write Speed
2,738.0 MB/s
1,033.2 MB/s
Sequential Read Speed
2,834.7 MB/s
2,519.7 MB/s
Random Write Speed
41.1 MB/s
72.3 MB/s
Random Read Speed
62.5 MB/s
42.6 MB/s
Battery
9.1
9.0
Capacity
67 Wh
51 Wh
Battery Life (Web Browsing)
12.7 hrs
11.5 hrs
Battery Life (Video Playback)
12.0 hrs
9.7 hrs
Battery Life (Gaming)
3.5 hrs
5.2 hrs
Charge Time
2.8 hrs
2.3 hrs
Borderlands 3
3.1
3.3
Borderlands 3 Graph
Avg. FPS
20 fps
21 fps
1% Low
7 fps
9 fps
0.1% Low
4 fps
5 fps
1% Low Delta
89 ms
63 ms
0.1% Low Delta
230 ms
149 ms
Avg. FPS On Very Low
37 fps
45 fps
Civilization VI
5.6
2.4
Civilization VI Graph
Avg. FPS
41 fps
8 fps
1% Low
26 fps
6 fps
0.1% Low
17 fps
6 fps
1% Low Delta
14 ms
40 ms
0.1% Low Delta
33 ms
44 ms
Avg. FPS On Minimum
93 fps
18 fps
Avg. Turn Time
10.24 s
9.08 s
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO graph
Avg. FPS
1% Low
0.1% Low
1% Low Delta
0.1% Low Delta
Avg. FPS On Low
Counter-Strike 2
0.0
4.0
CS2 Graph
Avg. FPS
N/A
27fps
1% Low
N/A
15fps
0.1% Low
N/A
13fps
1% Low Delta
N/A
28 ms
0.1% Low Delta
N/A
42 ms
Avg. FPS On Low
N/A
44fps
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
4.3
3.5
Avg. FPS
32 fps
23 fps
1% Low
15 fps
11 fps
0.1% Low
8 fps
9 fps
1% Low Delta
36 ms
44 ms
0.1% Low Delta
90 ms
70 ms
Avg. FPS On Lowest
44 fps
35 fps
Thermals And Noise
8.1
9.8
Keyboard Temps Picture
Keyboard Temp While Idle
27 °C (81 °F)
28 °C (82 °F)
Keyboard Temp Under Load
50 °C (121 °F)
28 °C (83 °F)
Fan Noise While Idle
N/A
25.0 dBA
Fan Noise Under Load
N/A
25.0 dBA
Power & Fan Control App
No
No
Performance Over Time
7.1
0.0
Performance Over Time Graph
CPU Temp (Cinebench)
90 °C
N/A
CPU Perf. Loss (Cinebench)
6% loss
N/A
GPU Temp (Heaven)
90 °C
N/A
GPU Perf. Loss (Heaven)
12% loss
N/A
Additional Features And Software
Software
Operating System
macOS
Windows 11
Additional Software
None
None
Extra Features
RGB Illumination
No
No
Touch Pen
No
No
Secondary Display
No
No
Biometrics
Fingerprint Sensor
Face Recognition
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Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024)
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Comments
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) vs Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024): Main Discussion
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