Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs HP Omen Transcend 14
Side-by-side comparison of viewing distance, PPI, and specifications
Advantages of Apple MacBook Air 15" M4
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | HP Omen Transcend 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 15.3" | 14" |
| Resolution | 2880×1864 | 2880×1800 |
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits | 390 nits |
Advantages of HP Omen Transcend 14
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | HP Omen Transcend 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 224 | 243 |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm | 36cm |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Response Time | 20 ms GTG | 0.2 ms GTG |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,600 | 1:1,000,000 |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 70 W | 100 W |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 99% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 97% |
Identical
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | HP Omen Transcend 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Panel Type | IPS | OLED |
| Viewing Angle | 178° | 178° |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) | None | None |
| HDR Certification | None | DisplayHDR True Black 400 |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits | 600 nits |
| Ports | USB-C | 1x HDMI · USB-C |
| Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Summary
Sharpness: no visible difference
Both screens exceed the retina threshold at 50cm. The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 8% higher pixel density (243 vs 224 PPI), but this only becomes visible below 36cm.
Brightness: advantage Apple MacBook Air 15" M4
The Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 is 28% brighter in SDR (500 vs 390 nits), a noticeable difference for outdoor readability. HDR peak: 600 vs 600 nits.
All specifications
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 2025 | HP Omen Transcend 14 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 15.3" (Better) | 14" |
| Resolution | 2880×1864 (Better) | 2880×1800 |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 224 | 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 | 20 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 | 1:1,600 | 1:1,000,000 (Better) |
| Ports | USB-C | 1x HDMI · USB-C |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 70 W | 100 W (Better) |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 99% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 97% (Better) |
| Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better PPI: Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 or HP Omen Transcend 14?
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 243 PPI compared to 224 PPI for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4.
Which has a closer optimal viewing distance?
The HP Omen Transcend 14 requires 36cm vs 39cm for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 to reach retina quality.
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:
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