ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 7.2 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option at $499. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,800 vs 5,200).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (18h vs 12.6h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (1.24 kg vs 1.44 kg).
- Display: IPS (ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34) vs IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)).
- Cheaper: ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (saves about $850 CAD).
Chromebook Plus CX34 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 5,200 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 — roughly 185% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) averaged 34 FPS versus 10 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 12.6 hours. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is also easier to carry at 1.24 kg versus 1.44 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 uses a 14-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 ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option in Canada, about $850 less than the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4). Weighed against our test scores (7.2 vs 8.5 overall), the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 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 ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 review and Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the Chromebook Plus CX34 and the MacBook Air 13 (M4) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | Chromebook Plus CX34 | MacBook Air 13 (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 7.2 | 8.5 ✓ |
| Price (CAD) | $499 ✓ | $1,349 |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-1215U | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| GPU | Intel UHD (integrated) | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x ✓ |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB ✓ |
| Display | 14" IPS | 13.6" IPS (Liquid Retina) |
| Brightness | 302 nits | 476 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 12.6 h | 18 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.44 kg | 1.24 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 5,200 | 14,800 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 10 fps | 34 fps ✓ |
| OS | ChromeOS | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 7.2 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option at $499. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Chromebook Plus CX34 or the MacBook Air 13 (M4)?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 7.2 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option at $499. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 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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