Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) excels in build quality and display technology, boasting a stunning 2560 x 1664 resolution and a bright 500-nit Liquid Retina screen. In real-world use, Acer’s 15.6" screen is fantastic for multitasking, but its average brightness of 250 nits can be limiting. Meanwhile, the MacBook Air’s P3 color gamut shines for photography and design work, making it ideal for creatives. However, it starts with only 256 GB of storage, which could be tight for some users. The choice between these two comes down to your specific needs and budget in 2026.
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Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
| Criterion | Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.3(107)Amazon | ★4.9(2,424)Best Buy |
Processor | Intel Core i7-1355U (10-core: 2P + 8E), 1.70 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz turbo | Apple M3 (8-core CPU: 4 performance + 4 efficiency) |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated; shared memory) | Apple M3 (8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on config) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | 16-core Neural Engine |
Cooling | TwinAir Cooling (dual copper thermal pipes, dual fans, air inlet keyboard) | Passive (Fanless silent design) |
RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 (Onboard) | 8 GB, 16 GB, or 24 GB Unified Memory |
RAM Upgrade | No (Soldered) | No (Unified Memory architecture) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slot) | No (Soldered) |
Display Size | 15.6" | 13.6" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | 2560 x 1664 (Native) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch) |
Screen Type | IPS (LCD; LED-backlit; ComfyView; Anti-glare) | Liquid Retina (IPS; LED-backlit) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
Brightness | 250 nits (Typical) | 500 nits |
Color Gamut | 45% NTSC (Typical) | Wide color (P3) |
Keyboard Layout | US Standard (QWERTY) | US English (Magic Keyboard) |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes | Yes (Ambient light sensor) |
Biometrics | Fingerprint reader (Touchpad integrated) | Touch ID (Fingerprint reader) |
Webcam | 1080p FHD webcam with Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) | 1080p FaceTime HD camera |
USB Ports | 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 / Power Delivery / DisplayPort); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (one with power-off charging) | 2x Thunderbolt / USB 4 (Up to 40Gb/s; Charging; DisplayPort) |
Video Ports | 1x HDMI 2.1 | USB-C DisplayPort (Supports 1 external display up to 6K@60Hz; OR 2 external displays with lid closed) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack | 1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones) |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3 |
Battery | 3-cell Li-Ion (50 Wh) | 52.6 Wh (Lithium-polymer) |
Charger | 65 W AC adapter (Barrel pin) | 30W (Base 8-core GPU model) or 35W Dual Port / 70W Fast Charger (Higher configs) |
Weight | 1.78 kg (3.92 lbs) | 1,240 g (2.7 lbs) |
Build Material | Aluminum top cover; Plastic chassis (Steel Gray) | 100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | macOS (Sonoma or later) |
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Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
✓ Pros:
- • Thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket)
- • 1080p webcam with noise reduction
- • Decent port selection including HDMI 2.1
- • TwinAir cooling system improves thermal management over previous generations
✗ Cons:
- • RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded
- • Display has limited color gamut (45% NTSC) and average brightness
- • No SD card slot
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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
✓ Pros:
- • Significantly faster M3 chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- • First MacBook Air to natively support two external monitors (in clamshell mode)
- • Completely silent fanless operation
- • Exceptional build quality with a bright 500-nit P3 display
- • MagSafe 3 charging frees up both Thunderbolt ports for peripherals
✗ Cons:
- • Base model starts with only 8GB RAM and 256GB storage (slow SSD speeds on 256GB)
- • Limited to 60Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion 120Hz)
- • Zero user-upgradeability for RAM or storage
- • Thermal throttling can occur under sustained heavy workloads due to lack of fans
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Which one is better?
The Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) is the better buy for most people - its 15.6" FHD display delivers a bigger screen for productivity. That said, grab the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) if you prioritize portability and display quality - it's lighter.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) if: you need a larger 15.6" screen for multitasking, require Thunderbolt 4 support for fast data transfer, or want a 1080p webcam for video calls.
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) if: you want a compact design that'slighter, prefer a stunning 500-nit display for photo editing, or need a laptop that supports two external monitors.
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) excels if you value thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket). Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) is better if you prioritize significantly faster m3 chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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