Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34: Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (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 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,900 vs 5,200).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (18.4h vs 12.6h web).
- Lighter: ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (1.44 kg vs 1.51 kg).
- Display: IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)) vs IPS (ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34).
- Cheaper: ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (saves about $1,150 CAD).
MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs Chromebook Plus CX34: Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,900 against 5,200 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 — roughly 187% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) averaged 38 FPS versus 10 FPS. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) lasts longer away from a charger, running 18.4 hours in our web-browsing test versus 12.6 hours. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is also easier to carry at 1.44 kg versus 1.51 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) uses a 15.3-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2880 x 1864, 60Hz), while the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 has a 14-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1080, 60Hz). The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) measured brighter at 482 nits, and covered 96% 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 $1,150 less than the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4). Weighed against our test scores (8.5 vs 7.2 overall), the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 offers the better value for the money, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) review and ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the MacBook Air 15 (M4) and the Chromebook Plus CX34 feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | MacBook Air 15 (M4) | Chromebook Plus CX34 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 ✓ | 7.2 |
| Price (CAD) | $1,649 | $499 ✓ |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
| GPU | Apple M4 GPU (10-core) | Intel UHD (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x ✓ | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 128GB |
| Display | 15.3" IPS (Liquid Retina) | 14" IPS |
| Brightness | 482 nits ✓ | 302 nits |
| Battery (web) | 18.4 h ✓ | 12.6 h |
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.44 kg ✓ |
| Geekbench multi | 14,900 ✓ | 5,200 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 38 fps ✓ | 10 fps |
| OS | macOS | ChromeOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) | 1-year limited |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (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 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Air 15 (M4) or the Chromebook Plus CX34?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (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 15 (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 15 (M4) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the better choice for travel.
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