Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 6.9 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $749. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the Aspire 5 15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,800 vs 7,200).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (18h vs 9.4h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (1.24 kg vs 1.75 kg).
- Display: IPS (Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025)) vs IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)).
- Cheaper: Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) (saves about $600 CAD).
Aspire 5 15 (2025) vs MacBook Air 13 (M4): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,800 against 7,200 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) — roughly 106% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) averaged 34 FPS versus 16 FPS. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) lasts longer away from a charger, running 18 hours in our web-browsing test versus 9.4 hours. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is also easier to carry at 1.24 kg versus 1.75 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) uses a 15.6-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1080, 60Hz), while the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) has a 13.6-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2560 x 1664, 60Hz). The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) measured brighter at 476 nits, and covered 95% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $600 less than the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4). Weighed against our test scores (6.9 vs 8.5 overall), the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) offers the better value for the money, while the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) review and Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the Aspire 5 15 (2025) and the MacBook Air 13 (M4) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | Aspire 5 15 (2025) | MacBook Air 13 (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 6.9 | 8.5 ✓ |
| Price (CAD) | $749 ✓ | $1,349 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 8540U | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 740M (integrated) | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 256GB |
| Display | 15.6" IPS | 13.6" IPS (Liquid Retina) |
| Brightness | 268 nits | 476 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 9.4 h | 18 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.75 kg | 1.24 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 7,200 | 14,800 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 16 fps | 34 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 6.9 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $749. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the Aspire 5 15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Aspire 5 15 (2025) or the MacBook Air 13 (M4)?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 6.9 for the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $749. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the Aspire 5 15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for travel.
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