Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs LG gram 16 (2025)
Laptops comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) and LG gram 16 (2025) 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 15-inch MacBook Air M4 gives you the biggest fanless Apple laptop, with 16 GB of memory, six speakers and up to 18 hours of battery at $1,199. The 2025 LG gram 16 weighs about 1.2 kg despite its 16-inch display, pairing Intel Core Ultra 7 with a 77 Wh battery.
Quick verdict
LG gram 16 scores 46 to MacBook Air 15 M4's 40 on our category weighting, making it the stronger overall pick for people who want a large screen with ultrabook weight. MacBook Air 15 M4 remains the right call for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop.
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 15 (M4)
The 15-inch MacBook Air M4 gives you the biggest fanless Apple laptop, with 16 GB of memory, six speakers and up to 18 hours of battery at $1,199.
Best for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop
LG gram 16 (2025)
The 2025 LG gram 16 weighs about 1.2 kg despite its 16-inch display, pairing Intel Core Ultra 7 with a 77 Wh battery.
Best for people who want a large screen with ultrabook weight
Key differences
- Screen size: MacBook Air 15 M4 15.3" vs LG gram 16 16" — a preference, not a scored win
- Resolution: MacBook Air 15 M4 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina (IPS) vs LG gram 16 2560 x 1600 (IPS) — a preference, not a scored win
- Processor: MacBook Air 15 M4 Apple M4 (10-core) vs LG gram 16 Intel Core Ultra 7 255H — a preference, not a scored win
- Graphics: MacBook Air 15 M4 Integrated 10-core (M4) vs LG gram 16 Intel Arc (integrated) — a preference, not a scored win
- Ports: MacBook Air 15 M4 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm vs LG gram 16 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm — a preference, not a scored win
Specification comparison table
| Specification | MacBook Air 15 M4 | LG gram 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 15.3" | 16" |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina (IPS) | 2560 x 1600 (IPS) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Base SSD | 256 GB | 1,024 GB |
| Graphics | Integrated 10-core (M4) | Intel Arc (integrated) |
| Rated battery life | 18 h | 20 h |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Launch price (USD) | $1,199 | $1,699 |
Display: MacBook Air 15 M4 vs LG gram 16 Score: MacBook Air 15 M4 12 · LG gram 16 12
The two differ on screen size (15.3" against 16"), and a bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag. MacBook Air 15 M4: 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina (IPS). LG gram 16: 2560 x 1600 (IPS). Neither is scored, but resolution and panel type decide how sharp text looks and how good the colours are for creative work.
On refresh rate the two match exactly (60 Hz).
Portability: MacBook Air 15 M4 vs LG gram 16 Score: MacBook Air 15 M4 29 · LG gram 16 85
On weight, LG gram 16 keeps it to 1.2 kg while MacBook Air 15 M4 lists 1.51 kg. That 0.31 kg edge counts since every hundred grams matters if the laptop lives in a backpack.
Performance: MacBook Air 15 M4 vs LG gram 16 Score: MacBook Air 15 M4 27 · LG gram 16 57
For processor, MacBook Air 15 M4 uses Apple M4 (10-core) whereas LG gram 16 goes with Intel Core Ultra 7 255H. This is a preference rather than a scored win: the processor sets single-core snappiness and multi-core rendering speed. Both list 16 GB for RAM, so nothing separates them here.
The base SSD row goes to LG gram 16: 1,024 GB against 256 GB. A larger base SSD saves you from paying for an upgrade or carrying an external drive. MacBook Air 15 M4: Integrated 10-core (M4). LG gram 16: Intel Arc (integrated). Neither is scored, but graphics decide whether the laptop can handle gaming and GPU-accelerated video editing.
Battery: MacBook Air 15 M4 vs LG gram 16 Score: MacBook Air 15 M4 50 · LG gram 16 65
The rated battery life row goes to LG gram 16: 20 h against 18 h. The manufacturer's rating is optimistic, but it is still useful for relative comparison.
Ports: MacBook Air 15 M4 vs LG gram 16
For ports, MacBook Air 15 M4 uses 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm whereas LG gram 16 goes with 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm. This is a preference rather than a scored win: port selection decides how many dongles you carry.
Value: MacBook Air 15 M4 vs LG gram 16 Score: MacBook Air 15 M4 79 · LG gram 16 15
MacBook Air 15 M4: macOS. LG gram 16: Windows 11. Neither is scored, but the OS determines software compatibility and how the laptop fits with your phone.
MacBook Air 15 M4 is better on launch price (USD) at $1,199 against $1,699, a $500 difference; lower is better because launch price is the cleanest baseline for value.
Pros and cons
MacBook Air 15 M4
Pros
- Largest fanless MacBook
- Six-speaker sound system
- 18-hour battery
- Better launch price (USD) ($1,199)
Cons
- Weaker weight (1.51 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (256 GB)
- Weaker rated battery life (18 h)
LG gram 16
Pros
- 16-inch screen at about 1.2 kg
- 77 Wh battery
- Full port selection
- Better launch price (USD) ($1,699)
Cons
- Weaker weight (1.2 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (1,024 GB)
- Weaker rated battery life (20 h)
Which one should you buy?
Choose Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) for…
People who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop. It stands out for largest fanless macbook, six-speaker sound system, 18-hour battery.
Choose LG gram 16 (2025) for…
People who want a large screen with ultrabook weight. It stands out for 16-inch screen at about 1.2 kg, 77 wh battery, full port selection.
Final verdict
On the VersusAnything Score, LG gram 16 (2025) finishes ahead, 46 to 40. It is the better buy for people who want a large screen with ultrabook weight; for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop, MacBook Air 15 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 15 M4 better than LG gram 16?
On the VersusAnything Score, LG gram 16 finishes ahead 46 to 40. That makes LG gram 16 the better overall pick for people who want a large screen with ultrabook weight, while MacBook Air 15 M4 is still the right choice for people who want a big screen in a silent, thin laptop.
What is the biggest difference between MacBook Air 15 M4 and LG gram 16?
The largest gap is screen size: MacBook Air 15 M4 lists 15.3" while LG gram 16 lists 16". A bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag.
Which is cheaper, MacBook Air 15 M4 or LG gram 16?
MacBook Air 15 M4 is cheaper on launch price (USD): $1,199 against $1,699 for LG gram 16. Street prices vary by country and retailer, so check current offers.
Who should choose LG gram 16 over MacBook Air 15 M4?
LG gram 16 is the better fit for people who want a large screen with ultrabook weight. Its strongest points are 16-inch screen at about 1.2 kg, 77 wh battery, full port selection.
Sources
- MacBook Air 15 M4: Apple MacBook Air page (manufacturer)
- LG gram 16: LG gram 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.