Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405)
Laptops comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) and ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) are two of the most cross-shopped laptops right now, and the gap between them is narrower in some rows and wider in others than the marketing suggests. The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is Apple's thinnest and most popular laptop, now starting with 16 GB of memory and a 12 MP Center Stage camera. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED delivers a 3K 120 Hz OLED panel and Intel Core Ultra at a price well below most premium rivals.
Quick verdict
On the VersusAnything Score, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) finishes ahead, 66 to 52. It is the better buy for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality; for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop, MacBook Air M4 still makes more sense.
VersusAnything Score
Scores are calculated from measurable specifications normalised within the laptops category and weighted by the factors above. Text-only rows (such as chipset or operating system) are explained but not scored. How the score works.
Side-by-side overview
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)
The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is Apple's thinnest and most popular laptop, now starting with 16 GB of memory and a 12 MP Center Stage camera.
Best for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405)
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED delivers a 3K 120 Hz OLED panel and Intel Core Ultra at a price well below most premium rivals.
Best for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality
Key differences
- Screen size: MacBook Air M4 13.6" vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" — a preference, not a scored win
- Resolution: MacBook Air M4 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 2880 x 1800 OLED — a preference, not a scored win
- Processor: MacBook Air M4 Apple M4 (10-core) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Intel Core Ultra 7 155H — a preference, not a scored win
- Graphics: MacBook Air M4 Integrated 8-core (M4) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Intel Arc (integrated) — a preference, not a scored win
- Ports: MacBook Air M4 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm — a preference, not a scored win
Specification comparison table
| Specification | MacBook Air M4 | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6" | 14" |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) | 2880 x 1800 OLED |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Base SSD | 256 GB | 1,024 GB |
| Graphics | Integrated 8-core (M4) | Intel Arc (integrated) |
| Rated battery life | 18 h | 15 h |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm | 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Launch price (USD) | $999 | $1,099 |
Display: MacBook Air M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Air M4 12 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 59
For screen size, MacBook Air M4 uses 13.6" whereas ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED goes with 14". This is a preference rather than a scored win: a bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag. MacBook Air M4: 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS). ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: 2880 x 1800 OLED. Neither is scored, but resolution and panel type decide how sharp text looks and how good the colours are for creative work.
The refresh rate row goes to ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: 120 Hz against 60 Hz. A higher refresh rate makes scrolling and cursor movement feel smoother.
Portability: MacBook Air M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Air M4 71 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 85
On weight, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED keeps it to 1.2 kg while MacBook Air M4 lists 1.24 kg. That 0.04 kg edge counts since every hundred grams matters if the laptop lives in a backpack.
Performance: MacBook Air M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Air M4 27 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 57
For processor, MacBook Air M4 uses Apple M4 (10-core) whereas ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED goes with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. This is a preference rather than a scored win: the processor sets single-core snappiness and multi-core rendering speed. RAM is identical at 16 GB.
The base SSD row goes to ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: 1,024 GB against 256 GB. A larger base SSD saves you from paying for an upgrade or carrying an external drive. The two differ on graphics (Integrated 8-core (M4) against Intel Arc (integrated)), and graphics decide whether the laptop can handle gaming and GPU-accelerated video editing.
Battery: MacBook Air M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Air M4 50 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 32
MacBook Air M4 leads on rated battery life with 18 h versus 15 h, a margin of 3 h. In practice the manufacturer's rating is optimistic, but it is still useful for relative comparison.
Ports: MacBook Air M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
MacBook Air M4: 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm. ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm. Neither is scored, but port selection decides how many dongles you carry.
Value: MacBook Air M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Air M4 100 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 94
For operating system, MacBook Air M4 uses macOS whereas ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED goes with Windows 11. This is a preference rather than a scored win: the OS determines software compatibility and how the laptop fits with your phone.
On launch price (USD), MacBook Air M4 keeps it to $999 while ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED lists $1,099. That $100 edge counts since launch price is the cleanest baseline for value.
Pros and cons
MacBook Air M4
Pros
- Fanless and silent
- 16 GB memory standard
- Up to 18 hours of battery
- Better rated battery life (18 h)
- Better launch price (USD) ($999)
Cons
- Weaker refresh rate (60 Hz)
- Weaker weight (1.24 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (256 GB)
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
Pros
- 3K 120 Hz OLED for the money
- 1.2 kg aluminium chassis
- 75 Wh battery
- Better rated battery life (15 h)
- Better launch price (USD) ($1,099)
Cons
- Weaker refresh rate (120 Hz)
- Weaker weight (1.2 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (1,024 GB)
Which one should you buy?
Choose Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) for…
Students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop. It stands out for fanless and silent, 16 gb memory standard, up to 18 hours of battery.
Choose ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) for…
Value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality. It stands out for 3k 120 hz oled for the money, 1.2 kg aluminium chassis, 75 wh battery.
Final verdict
On the VersusAnything Score, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) finishes ahead, 66 to 52. It is the better buy for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality; for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop, MacBook Air M4 still makes more sense. The VersusAnything Score is a transparent starting point, not a command; weight the rows you care about and the right answer for you may differ.
Compare with another laptop
Frequently asked questions
Is MacBook Air M4 better than ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED?
On the VersusAnything Score, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED finishes ahead 66 to 52. That makes ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED the better overall pick for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality, while MacBook Air M4 is still the right choice for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop.
What is the biggest difference between MacBook Air M4 and ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED?
The largest gap is screen size: MacBook Air M4 lists 13.6" while ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED lists 14". A bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag.
Which is cheaper, MacBook Air M4 or ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED?
MacBook Air M4 is cheaper on launch price (USD): $999 against $1,099 for ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED. Street prices vary by country and retailer, so check current offers.
Who should choose ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED over MacBook Air M4?
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is the better fit for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality. Its strongest points are 3k 120 hz oled for the money, 1.2 kg aluminium chassis, 75 wh battery.
Sources
- MacBook Air M4: Apple product page (manufacturer)
- ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: ASUS product page (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.