The 15-inch laptop market is booming, with powerful machines like the Apple MacBook Air 15 leading the charge. Its robust build, impressive performance, and exceptional battery life make it a top contender. However, Windows laptops are fighting back with Intel’s new Lunar Lake chipsets, promising improved efficiency. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 2-in-1, equipped with Lunar Lake, enters the arena. Can it dethrone the MacBook Air 15? Let’s find out.
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 front angled view showing display and keyboard.
Specifications and Configurations
Here’s a head-to-head comparison of the key specs:
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 | Apple MacBook Air 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.99 x 9.93 x 0.50 inches | 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches |
| Weight | 3.73 pounds | 3.3 pounds |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Apple M3 (8-core) |
| Graphics | Intel Arc 140V | 10-core GPU |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5X | 16GB/24GB |
| Display | 16.0-inch 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED, 120Hz | 15.3-inch 16:10 Liquid Retina IPS (2880 x 1864), 60Hz |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x microSD card reader | 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1 x 3.5mm audio jack |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Webcam | 1080p | 1080p |
| Operating System | Windows 11 | macOS Sequoia |
| Battery | 76 watt-hour | 66.5 watt-hour |
| Price | $1,500+ | $1,299+ |
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is currently offered in limited configurations. The Samsung web store lists a $1,700 model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 16-inch 2.8K OLED display. Best Buy also offers a $1,450 version with a 512GB SSD.
The MacBook Air 15, starting at $1,299, features an 8-core CPU/10-core GPU M3 chipset, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Various configurations are available, reaching up to $2,299 for a model with 24GB RAM and a 2TB SSD.
Design and Build
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 front view showing tend mode.
Both laptops prioritize thinness and lightness. The MacBook Air 15 is marginally thinner and noticeably lighter, although the Galaxy Book5’s larger display contributes to its added weight. Both devices boast premium aluminum construction, exhibiting excellent build quality with minimal flex.
Both laptops embrace minimalist aesthetics. While the Galaxy Book5 offers a single color option, the MacBook Air 15 provides four distinct choices. Apple’s meticulous design gives the MacBook Air 15 a slightly more refined appearance.
The Galaxy Book5’s shallow keyboard switches offer limited feedback, reminiscent of the older Apple butterfly keyboard. The MacBook Air 15, however, features Apple’s latest scissor switches, providing a superior typing experience with enhanced precision and responsiveness. Apple’s Force Touch trackpad further enhances user interaction.
The Galaxy Book5’s touch- and pen-enabled display is a significant advantage, enabling versatile 2-in-1 functionality. Its convertible design allows for clamshell, tent, media, and tablet modes. While somewhat large for tablet use, the added flexibility is valuable.
The Galaxy Book5 also excels in connectivity, offering a wider selection of both modern and legacy ports. Its wireless capabilities are also more advanced. Both laptops feature 1080p webcams with various AI features, which are continually being refined for both Windows 11 and macOS.
Performance Comparison
Apple MacBook Air 15 keyboard and trackpad.
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 utilizes Intel’s Lunar Lake Core Ultra 5 226V chipset, prioritizing efficiency over raw performance. The MacBook Air 15 features the Apple M3 chip, which balances speed and efficiency effectively.
Benchmark results reveal comparable multi-core CPU performance, but the M3 significantly outperforms the Core Ultra 5 in single-core tasks. The M3’s graphics capabilities are also considerably stronger, benefiting from Apple Silicon optimizations for creative workflows. Overall, the MacBook Air 15 offers better performance for both productivity and creative tasks. Neither laptop is ideal for gaming, although the M3 holds a performance edge.
| Benchmark | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 (Core Ultra 5 226V) | Apple MacBook Air M3 (M3 8/10) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single/Multi) | 2,587 / 10,260 | 3,102 / 12,078 |
| Cinebench 2024 (Single/Multi) | 114 / 573 | 141 / 601 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 4,740 | 8,098 |
Display Quality
The display of the Galaxy Book5 Pro.
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 boasts a vibrant 16-inch 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The MacBook Air 15 features a 15.3-inch 2880 x 1864 IPS display, offering slightly higher pixel density but a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
Subjectively, the Samsung’s OLED display delivers stunning visuals with vibrant colors and deep blacks. While the MacBook Air 15’s display is excellent, it doesn’t quite match the Samsung’s visual impact. Colorimeter measurements confirm the Samsung’s superior color accuracy and contrast ratio.
| Display Metric | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 (OLED) | Apple MacBook Air M3 (IPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness (nits) | 401 | 495 |
| AdobeRGB Gamut | 97% | 87% |
| sRGB Gamut | 100% | 100% |
| DCI-P3 Gamut | 99% | 99% |
| Color Accuracy (DeltaE) | 1.08 | 1.24 |
| Contrast Ratio | 28,020:1 | 1,480:1 |
Battery Life and Portability
Apple MacBook Air 15 in use.
Intel’s Lunar Lake chipsets prioritize efficiency, while the Apple M3 aims to balance performance and battery life. The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 demonstrates commendable battery life for a laptop with a large OLED display. While slightly behind the MacBook Air 15 in demanding tasks, it’s a strong competitor, narrowing the gap in efficiency.
| Battery Test | Acer Swift 14 AI (Core Ultra 7 258V) | Apple MacBook Air M3 (M3 8/10) |
|---|---|---|
| Web Browsing | 12 hours, 50 minutes | 19 hours, 38 minutes |
| Video Playback | 19 hours, 30 minutes | 19 hours, 39 minutes |
| Cinebench R24 Loop | 2 hours, 18 minutes | 3 hours, 27 minutes |
Conclusion: MacBook Air 15 Retains its Edge
Keyboard and trackpad on Apple MacBook Air 15.
The latest Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 presents a compelling alternative to the MacBook Air 15, significantly boosted by Lunar Lake’s improved battery life. It offers solid performance, a high-quality build, and a stunning OLED display. However, limited configuration options and slightly lower overall performance compared to the MacBook Air 15 hold it back.
The MacBook Air 15 generally offers better battery life, a slimmer design, and a more comfortable keyboard. The wider availability of discounted MacBook Air configurations further strengthens its position in this comparison.
