Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 7.8 for the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,649. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,900 vs 13,800).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (18.4h vs 7.2h web).
- Lighter: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (1.51 kg vs 1.99 kg).
- Display: IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)) vs OLED (MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025)).
- Cheaper: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) (saves about $1,350 CAD).
MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,900 against 13,800 for the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) — roughly 8% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) averaged 122 FPS versus 38 FPS. The MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) 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 7.2 hours. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is also easier to carry at 1.51 kg versus 1.99 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 MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) has a 16-inch OLED panel (2560 x 1600, 240Hz). 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 Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,350 less than the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025). Weighed against our test scores (8.5 vs 7.8 overall), the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) 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 MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the MacBook Air 15 (M4) and the Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | MacBook Air 15 (M4) | Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 ✓ | 7.8 |
| Price (CAD) | $1,649 ✓ | $2,999 |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
| GPU | Apple M4 GPU (10-core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (110W) |
| RAM | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x | 32GB DDR5 ✓ |
| Storage | 512GB | 2000GB ✓ |
| Display | 15.3" IPS (Liquid Retina) | 16" OLED |
| Brightness | 482 nits ✓ | 392 nits |
| Battery (web) | 18.4 h ✓ | 7.2 h |
| Weight | 1.51 kg ✓ | 1.99 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 14,900 ✓ | 13,800 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 38 fps | 122 fps ✓ |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) | 1-year limited |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 7.8 for the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,649. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Air 15 (M4) or the Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025)?
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 7.8 for the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,649. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 15 (M4) leads overall, while the Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) 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 MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) 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.
Real tests. Smarter laptop decisions.
Get top-tested laptop picks, Canadian deal alerts, and buying advice.