Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) vs LG gram Book 16 (16U55U)
The real choice here is the system: the Apple MacBook Air 15 runs macOS and the LG gram Book 16 runs Windows. Beyond that, the Apple MacBook Air 15 is lighter and has a sharper screen, while the LG gram Book 16 has HDMI and USB-A and has a number pad and Copilot+ AI features.
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Key differences
- Operating system Depends on you
They run different systems: the Apple MacBook Air 15 runs macOS and the LG gram Book 16 runs Windows. Pick the one that runs the apps you rely on.
- Weight Apple MacBook Air 15 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is 0.3 kg lighter: 1.51 kg against 1.8 kg.
- Sharpness Apple MacBook Air 15 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 15's screen is sharper: 3K against Full HD.
- Ports Depends on you
Only the Apple MacBook Air 15 has Thunderbolt or USB4, while only the LG gram Book 16 has HDMI and USB-A.
- Extras LG gram Book 16 wins
Only the LG gram Book 16 has a number pad and Copilot+ AI features.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 15 if…
- You own an iPhone or prefer a Mac: it runs macOS and works smoothly with Apple devices.
- You'll move it around the house or office: it's 0.3 kg lighter.
- You read, write or edit photos a lot: its 3K screen makes text and images crisper.
- You plug things in: it has Thunderbolt or USB4 (for fast docks and drives).
Choose the LG gram Book 16 if…
- You need Windows programs or want to play PC games: it runs Windows 11, which runs almost anything.
- You plug things in: it has HDMI (for TVs and monitors) and USB-A (for older USB accessories).
- You want a number pad and Copilot+ AI features, handy for spreadsheets and numbers and Windows' newest AI tools.
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Apple MacBook Air 15 leads on battery and weight and the screen, while the LG gram Book 16 leads on extras. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
Both laptops are very close on performance.
Their processors are in the same class: both are powerful enough for photo and video editing, and both have 16 GB of memory.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | LG gram Book 16 (16U55U) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 | AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 |
| Graphics | Apple M5 10-core GPU | AMD Radeon 840M |
| AI engine (NPU) | — | 50 TOPS |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5X-7467 |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 |
| Storage slots | 0 | 2 |
Screen
Each laptop has its strengths on the screen.
The LG gram Book 16 has a slightly bigger screen: 16" against 15.3". The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a sharper screen and has a brighter screen, while the LG gram Book 16 has a touchscreen and has a slightly bigger screen.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | LG gram Book 16 (16U55U) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 15.3" | 16" |
| Resolution | 3K (2880 x 1864) | Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) |
| Aspect ratio | — | 16:10 |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 400 nits |
| Colour range | Wide colour (P3) | sRGB 100% (typical) |
| HDR | None | — |
| Finish | — | Matte |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
Battery and size
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is ahead on battery and weight.
It is lighter and is slimmer, and the LG gram Book 16 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | LG gram Book 16 (16U55U) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | Up to 26 hours |
| Battery capacity | 66.5 Wh | 77 Wh |
| Charger | — | 65 W |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70 W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 357.0 x 255.2 x 16.4 mm |
| Materials | 100% recycled aluminium enclosure | Aluminium lid, palm rest and base; PC/ABS screen bezel (A/C/D parts Al, B part PC/ABS) |
| Colour | Midnight | Titan Black |
| Colours available | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight | Titan Black |
Ports and wireless
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is ahead on ports and wireless.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has Thunderbolt or USB4 and has Wi-Fi 7, while the LG gram Book 16 has HDMI and USB-A.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | LG gram Book 16 (16U55U) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C; charging, DisplayPort, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s), 1x MagSafe 3 (charging), 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (USB PD charging, 65W), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI (4K@60Hz), 1x 3.5 mm 4-pole headset jack |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps | None |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Card reader | None | None |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | — |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
The LG gram Book 16 is ahead on extras.
It has a number pad and Copilot+ AI features, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | LG gram Book 16 (16U55U) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage, 1080p | 1080p + IR |
| Webcam privacy | — | physical shutter |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 ANSI or 79 ISO keys, 12 full-height function keys, ambient light sensor | Full-size backlit, 98 keys with 3-column numeric keypad |
| Login | Fingerprint | Face |
| Number pad | No | Yes |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gestures | Precision touchpad with scroll and gesture function |
| Speakers | six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos | Stereo 1.5 W x 2, Dolby Atmos |
| Microphones | three-mic array with directional beamforming | dual mic |
| Pen | No | No |
| Security | Touch ID | SSD security, Kensington lock |
Software and model
They run different systems, so this comes down to the apps you use.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | LG gram Book 16 (16U55U) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | MDVH4B/A | 16U55U-H.AU75AN |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 |