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Deal.ai › Compare

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) vs Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop

The MacBook Air M4 is the better laptop for most people deciding between these two. It has a sharper 13.6-inch display, a far faster M4 chip, 16GB of memory as a baseline, all-day battery life, and a much lighter build. The Acer Aspire 3 is a basic 15.6-inch Windows notebook with a dual-core 11th-gen Core i3, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD; it suits tight budgets and simple tasks like browsing, email and documents. Owners praise the Air's battery and silence; Aspire 3 buyers note its plastic body and modest performance.

  • Choose the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) if you want a light, fast, long-lasting laptop for creative work, multitasking or travel.
  • Choose the Acer Aspire 3 if you need a plain Windows laptop for web, email and office documents and don't need speed or premium build.

Prices

  • Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4): $395.60 at elettrodomestici.shop (checked today)
  • Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop: $279.00 at KenDoTronics (last seen Nov 5)
  • Difference: the Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop is $116.60 cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) at the latest prices (Nov 5 and Nov 11)
Apple
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4, 2025)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4, 2025)

4.7(36 ratings)
$395.60at elettrodomestici.shopChecked 3 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit elettrodomestici.shop
Pros
  • M4 chip handles video editing, many apps and games smoothly
  • 16GB memory baseline avoids the old 8GB limit
  • Up to 18 hours of battery, same performance plugged in or not
  • Silent fanless design and 3.5 lb aluminum body
  • Sharp 12MP Center Stage camera and four-speaker Spatial Audio
Cons
  • Only two Thunderbolt ports; needs a hub for many accessories
  • macOS only, so some Windows software won't run
  • Memory and storage can't be upgraded after purchase
Acer
Acer Aspire 3 (15.6-inch)

Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop

Acer Aspire 3 (15.6-inch)

$279.00at KenDoTronicsChecked Nov 5
See all prices and details
Visit KenDoTronics
Pros
  • Larger 15.6-inch screen for desk work
  • Full-size HDMI and Ethernet built in
  • Runs Windows 11 and familiar desktop software
  • No-glare display reduces reflections
Cons
  • Dual-core i3 and 8GB RAM slow down with many tabs or heavy apps
  • Plastic body feels less sturdy
  • About 9 hours of battery and a heavier 4 lb frame
  • Low-resolution 1080p panel with duller colors

What separates them

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop
ProcessorApple M4, 10-core CPU with 16-core Neural Engine11th-gen Intel Core i3-1115G4, dual-core at 1.3 GHz base
Memory16GB or 24GB unified memory standard4GB or 8GB RAM
Display13.6-inch Liquid Retina, 3024 x 1964, one billion colors15.6-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080, no-glare
Battery lifeUp to 18 hours rated, 53.8Wh batteryAbout 9 hours rated
Weight and build3.5 lb, under half an inch thin, aluminum4 lb, plastic chassis
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe, headphone jackHDMI, Ethernet, plus USB ports
Operating systemmacOS Sequoia with Apple IntelligenceWindows 11
Storage256GB to 1TB NVMe SSD, about 3028 MB/s read128GB to 512GB SSD

Price history

$1,299.00$182.00
Oct 28Nov 11
  • Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4): lowest $375.75 on Nov 7 at eBay; $395.60 on Nov 11.
  • Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop: lowest $182.00 on Nov 11 at Walmart.

Prices at every store

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)

  • elettrodomestici.shopNew

    In stock

    $395.60Checked 3 h ago
    Visit elettrodomestici.shop
  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Networkstore

    $749.97Free shippingChecked 3 h ago
    Visit Walmart
  • eBayNew

    In stockSold by retail_outlet_direct

    $773.99Free shippingChecked 3 h ago
    Visit eBay
  • bkstr.comNew

    In stock

    $799.00Checked 3 h ago
    Visit bkstr.com

Also available at

  • Mac Star ComputersCheck price at Mac Star Computers
  • InsightCheck price at Insight
  • Southern Utah University Campus StoreCheck price at Southern Utah University Campus Store

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 34 stores and price history →

Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop

  • ravirajtech.co.inNew

    In stockShips from India · duties may apply · made for another market

    $487.43Checked 32 min ago
    Visit ravirajtech.co.in
  • KenDoTronicsNew

    Availability unknown

    $279.00Checked Nov 5
    Visit KenDoTronics
  • KenDoTronicsNew

    Availability unknown

    $279.00+ $20.00 shippingChecked 32 min ago
    Visit KenDoTronics
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $370.00Free shippingChecked 32 min ago
    Visit Amazon
All 8 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecApple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop
Resolution3024 x 19641920 x 1080
Operating SystemMac OSWindows OS
Drive TypeSolid State DriveSolid State Drive
ColorBlack, Silver, Space BlackSilver, Blue
LanguageEnglish / North AmericaEnglish / North America
Available PortsUSB-C, HDMIHDMI, Ethernet
Weight3.5 lb4 lb
Drive Capacity24 GB drive, 512 GB drive, 1 TB drive128 GB drive, 256 GB drive, 512 GB drive
Screen Size14.2 inches15.6 inches
Installed Memory16 GB RAM, 24 GB RAM4 GB RAM, 8 GB RAM
Battery Life22 hours battery life9 hours battery life
Processor BrandAppleIntel CPU
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecApple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop
Number Of Cores10-coreDual Core
TouchscreenYes—
OS VersionmacOS Sequoia—
Main Storage256GB SSD—
Storage TypeSSD—
Storage InterfaceNVMe—
Storage Read Speed3028 MB/s—
Battery Capacity53.8-watt-hour—
Battery TypeLithium-polymer—
Front Camera Resolution

What reviewers say

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)

  • 4.7 / 536 ratings

Owners rate the M4 Air highly, praising its speed, silence and battery life for everyday work. Complaints center on the small base storage and the limited port count.

What people mention
  • PerformancePraisedOwners say the M4 chip stays quick across many open apps and light editing.
  • BatteryPraisedReviewers report all-day battery life close to Apple's 18-hour claim.
  • NoisePraisedThe fanless design runs silent even under sustained load.
  • StorageCriticisedBuyers say the 256GB base SSD fills fast and upgrading at purchase is costly.

Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch Laptop

Owners treat the Aspire 3 as a solid budget machine for browsing, documents and streaming. Most praise the price and the easy setup, while complaints center on slow performance in low-RAM models and a dull screen.

What people mention
  • PerformanceMixedFine for browsing and documents, but 4GB models slow down with many tabs open.
  • DisplayCriticisedThe matte finish cuts glare, but brightness and color are modest.
  • BuildCriticisedOwners describe a plastic chassis with some flex in the lid and keyboard deck.
  • ValuePraisedBuyers say it delivers a full-size Full HD laptop for very little money.

Questions and answers

Which is better for schoolwork?
The MacBook Air M4 is better for heavy schoolwork like design, coding or video. The Aspire 3 handles essays, web research and slides fine, but slows with many tabs open.
Which lasts longer?
The MacBook Air should last longer on a charge, rated up to 18 hours versus about 9 for the Aspire 3. Its aluminum build and faster chip also age better over several years.
Is the MacBook Air worth stepping up to?
Yes if you multitask, edit photos or video, or travel a lot. The M4 chip, 16GB memory and light body are a large jump over the Aspire 3's dual-core i3.
Can the Acer Aspire 3 run Windows-only software?
Yes. It ships with Windows 11, so Windows-only apps and games run natively. The MacBook Air would need virtualization or alternatives for those.
Which has better ports?
The Aspire 3 has HDMI and Ethernet built in, which helps with projectors and wired networks. The MacBook Air relies on two Thunderbolt 4 ports, so plan on a hub.
Is the MacBook Air screen better?
Yes. Its 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel is sharper and shows one billion colors. The Aspire 3's 15.6-inch 1080p screen is larger but lower resolution and less vivid.

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12MP
—
Camera Video Recording1080p HD video recording—
Graphics MemoryShared Memory—
Number Of Processor Cores10-core (CPU)—
Integrated GPUYes—
Processor Clock Speed4.05GHz—
Max Turbo Speed4.5 GHz—
Processor ChipsetApple M4 chip—
Processor Chipset Features16-core Neural Engine—
64-Bit ComputingYes—
CacheDynamic Caching (GPU)—
Ports And InterfacesTwo Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging port—
Wireless CommunicationsWi-Fi, Bluetooth—
Network InterfaceWi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)—
Wireless Display TechnologyDisplayPort 1.4 output over USB-C—
Display Size13.6-inch—
Battery Run TimeUp to 18 hours (video streaming)—
Display Aspect Ratio16:10—
Display Brightness500 nits—