Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606)
Side-by-side comparison of viewing distance, PPI, and specifications
ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606)
16" · 2880×1800 · OLED
Optimal Viewing Distance 41cm
Open in calculator →
Category Ranking
Pixel Density (PPI)18in category
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3225 PPI #10
ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606)212 PPI #14
189 PPI261 PPI
HDR Peak Brightness18in category
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3600 nits #7
ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606)500 nits #13
500 nits1600 nits
DCI-P3 Color Gamut17in category
Apple MacBook Air 13" M398% #15
ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606)100% #1
97%100%
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Air 13" M360 Hz
ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606)120 Hz
StandardHighUltra
Summary
- Sharpness: no visible difference — Both screens exceed the retina threshold at 50cm. The Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 has 6% higher pixel density (225 vs 212 PPI), but this only becomes visible below 39cm.
- Brightness: advantage Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 — The Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 is 25% brighter in SDR (500 vs 400 nits), a noticeable difference for outdoor readability. HDR peak: 600 vs 500 nits.
Key Differences
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 | ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606) |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 225 | 212 |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm | 41cm |
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits | 400 nits |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits | 500 nits |
| Screen Size | 13.6" | 16" |
| Resolution | 2560×1664 | 2880×1800 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Response Time | 25 ms GTG | 0.2 ms GTG |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,300 | 1:1,000,000 |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 35 W | 65 W |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 98% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 94% |
All specifications
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 | ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606) 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 13.6" | 16" (Better) |
| Resolution | 2560×1664 | 2880×1800 (Better) |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 225 (Better) | 212 |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm (Better) | 41cm |
| Panel Type | IPS | OLED |
| Viewing Angle | 178° | 178° |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (Better) |
| Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) | None | None |
| Response Time | 25 ms GTG | 0.2 ms GTG (Better) |
| HDR Certification | None | DisplayHDR True Black 500 |
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits (Better) | 400 nits |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits (Better) | 500 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,300 | 1:1,000,000 (Better) |
| Ports | USB-C | 1x HDMI · USB-C |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 35 W | 65 W (Better) |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 98% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 94% (Better) |
| Year | 2024 | 2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better PPI: Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 or ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606)?
The Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 has 225 PPI compared to 212 PPI for the ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606).
Which has a closer optimal viewing distance?
The Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 requires 39cm vs 41cm for the ASUS Zenbook S 16 OLED (UM5606) to reach retina quality.
Related Comparisons
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 · 225 PPI · 13.6" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 2024 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 · 225 PPI · 13.6" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 2025 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 · 225 PPI · 13.6" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Neo 2026 · 219 PPI · 13" · 60 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 · 225 PPI · 13.6" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro 2023 · 254 PPI · 14.2" · 120 Hz
Methodology & Sources
Formula: Retina distance (cm) = 3438 / PPI. Displayed values are rounded for readability.
Sources: Official manufacturer spec sheets and product pages. Specs are normalized before comparisons.
Comparison winners are calculated metric by metric (higher is better for most specs; lower is better for distance/response time).
Last updated: