Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16"
Side-by-side comparison of viewing distance, PPI, and specifications
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16"
16" · 2880×1800 · OLED
Optimal Viewing Distance 41cm
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Category Ranking
Pixel Density (PPI)18in category
Apple MacBook Air 15" M4224 PPI #11
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16"212 PPI #14
189 PPI261 PPI
HDR Peak Brightness18in category
Apple MacBook Air 15" M4600 nits #7
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16"570 nits #12
500 nits1600 nits
DCI-P3 Color Gamut17in category
Apple MacBook Air 15" M499% #12
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16"100% #1
97%100%
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Air 15" M460 Hz
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16"120 Hz
StandardHighUltra
Summary
- Sharpness: no visible difference — Both screens exceed the retina threshold at 50cm. The Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 has 6% higher pixel density (224 vs 212 PPI), but this only becomes visible below 39cm.
- 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 570 nits.
Key Differences
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16" |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2880×1864 | 2880×1800 |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 224 | 212 |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm | 41cm |
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits | 390 nits |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits | 570 nits |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 70 W | 65 W |
| Screen Size | 15.3" | 16" |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Response Time | 20 ms GTG | 3 ms GTG |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,600 | 1:1,000,000 |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 99% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 96% |
All specifications
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 2025 | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16" 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 15.3" | 16" (Better) |
| Resolution | 2880×1864 (Better) | 2880×1800 |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 224 (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 | 20 ms GTG | 3 ms GTG (Better) |
| HDR Certification | None | DisplayHDR True Black 500 |
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits (Better) | 390 nits |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits (Better) | 570 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,600 | 1:1,000,000 (Better) |
| Ports | USB-C | 1x HDMI · USB-C |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 70 W (Better) | 65 W |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 99% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 96% (Better) |
| Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better PPI: Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 or Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16"?
The Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 has 224 PPI compared to 212 PPI for the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16".
Which has a closer optimal viewing distance?
The Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 requires 39cm vs 41cm for the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16" to reach retina quality.
Related Comparisons
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 Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16" 2025 · 212 PPI · 16" · 120 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 2024 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 2025 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 2024 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
vs Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16" 2025 · 212 PPI · 16" · 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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