Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs HP Omen Transcend 14
Side-by-side comparison of viewing distance, PPI, and specifications
Category Ranking
Pixel Density (PPI)18in category
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3225 PPI #10
HP Omen Transcend 14243 PPI #7
189 PPI261 PPI
HDR Peak Brightness18in category
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3600 nits #7
HP Omen Transcend 14600 nits #7
500 nits1600 nits
DCI-P3 Color Gamut17in category
Apple MacBook Air 13" M398% #15
HP Omen Transcend 14100% #1
97%100%
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Air 13" M360 Hz
HP Omen Transcend 14120 Hz
StandardHighUltra
Summary
- Sharpness: no visible difference — Both screens exceed the retina threshold at 50cm. The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 7% higher pixel density (243 vs 225 PPI), but this only becomes visible below 36cm.
- Brightness: advantage Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 — The Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 is 28% brighter in SDR (500 vs 390 nits), a noticeable difference for outdoor readability. HDR peak: 600 vs 600 nits.
Key Differences
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 | HP Omen Transcend 14 |
|---|---|---|
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits | 390 nits |
| Screen Size | 13.6" | 14" |
| Resolution | 2560×1664 | 2880×1800 |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 225 | 243 |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm | 36cm |
| 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 | 100 W |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 98% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 97% |
| Year | 2024 | 2025 |
All specifications
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 | HP Omen Transcend 14 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 13.6" | 14" (Better) |
| Resolution | 2560×1664 | 2880×1800 (Better) |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 225 | 243 (Better) |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm | 36cm (Better) |
| 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 400 |
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits (Better) | 390 nits |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits | 600 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,300 | 1:1,000,000 (Better) |
| Ports | USB-C | 1x HDMI · USB-C |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 35 W | 100 W (Better) |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 98% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 97% (Better) |
| Year | 2024 | 2025 (Better) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better PPI: Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 or HP Omen Transcend 14?
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 243 PPI compared to 225 PPI for the Apple MacBook Air 13" M3.
Which has a closer optimal viewing distance?
The HP Omen Transcend 14 requires 36cm vs 39cm for the Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 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).
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