Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs MSI Vector GP76 Comparison

Laptop to replace

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Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

15.3 inches | March 2024

Speed 5.5

Size 8.5

Display 5.5

Gaming 3

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MSI Vector GP76

17.3 inches | January 2022

Speed 5.5

Size 6.5

Display 5.5

Gaming 4

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Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs MSI Vector GP76 Comparison Overview

Apple MacBook Air 15...

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MSI Vector GP76

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Apple MacBook Air 15...

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MSI Vector GP76

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In this review, we will be comparing MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and Vector GP76, two laptops from Apple and MSI. Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 was introduced to market in March 2024 and MSI Vector GP76 was launched in January 2022. As you can see, Vector GP76 is 2 years older than MacBook Air 15 M3 2024. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and MSI Vector GP76 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 Key Specs

Launched in March 2024
15.3" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M3
GPU: Apple M3 GPU (10-core)
8GB Ram
340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm (13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches)
Weight: 1.51 kg (3.33 lbs)

MSI Vector GP76 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
397 x 284 x 25.9 mm (15.63 x 11.18 x 1.02 inches)
Weight: 2.9 kg (6.39 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and Vector GP76 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 over MSI Vector GP76

Weight	1.51 kg vs 2.90 kg	1.39 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~83.9% vs ~73.2%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.4 mm vs 7 mm	1.6 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	224 ppi vs 127 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2880 x 1864 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
RAM Type	LPDDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM Type
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
Thunderbolt	v3 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port

Reasons to choose MSI Vector GP76 over Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Display Size	17.3 inches vs 15.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	240 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
GPU FLOPS	13.8 TFLOPS vs 4.1 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	More RAM Options
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors
Display Port	Yes vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of MSI Vector GP76 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Launch Dates	March 2024 vs January 2022	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI Vector GP76 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs MSI Vector GP76: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and the MSI Vector GP76.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.51 kg (3.33 lbs)	2.9 kg (6.39 lbs)
Surface Area	809 cm2 (125.3 inches2)	1127 cm2 (174.7 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~83.9%	~73.2%
Side Bezel Thickness	~5.4 mm	~7 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.17 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.374 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Silver, Gold, Gray	Black
Cover Opening Angle	130Â°	140Â°

Comparison of the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and the MSI Vector GP76 External Dimensions

Weight

MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 weighs 1.51 kg (3.33 lbs), whereas the Vector GP76 weighs 2.9 kg (6.39 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

MSI Vector GP76

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Thickness Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

MSI Vector GP76

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Vector GP76 is 0.17 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs MSI Vector GP76: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Apple M3	Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i9 12900H Intel Core i9 12900HX
Base Frequency	4.05 GHz	2.3 GHz
Number of Cores	8 (4P + 4E)	14
Number of Threads	8	20
Integrated GPU	Apple M3 GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	10 nm
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1892	1800
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	10352	16309

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and MSI Vector GP76.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Apple M3

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 12700H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Apple M3 GPU	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	500 MHz	1504 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1600 MHz	1425 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	W	140 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	4.1 TFLOPS	13.8 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	6 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	6.4 Gbps	14 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	1280	3840
TMUs	80	120
ROPs	40	48

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 has a FLOPS value of 4.1 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Vector GP76 ' has a FLOPS value of 13.8 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 24GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
RAM Clock	6400 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5	DDR4
Upgradable	No	Yes

The Vector GP76 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 (2024)	MSI Vector GP76
CPU	Apple M3 (NPU)	Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU	Apple GPU (Metal, unified memory)	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
Memory	8 GB	16 GB ; 6 GB VRAM
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~17.3 GB (4.5 GB VRAM 12.8 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Well fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 6 GB VRAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✔ Modest Speed doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	⚠ Borderline / Slow doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 (2024)|MSI Vector GP76

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	66.5 Wh	65 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Bottom
Charge Power	35 / 70 W	240 / 280 W
Full Charging Time	2:50 hr	2:25 hr
Cable Length	2 meters

Moreover, the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 boasts a larger battery capacity of 67 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Vector GP76's65 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

MSI Vector GP76

Avg: larger than 17.0"

STORAGE
Both laptops, the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and the Vector GP76 have similar max. storage capacities of 2 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	No	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
Memory Bus	Custom	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs MSI Vector GP76: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and MSI Vector GP76 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 has a display size of 15.3".On the other hand, Vector GP76 has a larger17.3" display.The total usable screen area of the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 is 679cm² / 105inch² whereas the Vector GP76's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 features a higher pixel density with 224 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

MSI Vector GP76

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Refresh Rate
The Vector GP76 offers a higher refresh rate of 240 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs MSI Vector GP76 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Vector GP76 is equipped with 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 does not have USB-A ports.
Both MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and Vector GP76 have USB Type-C ports. MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Vector GP76 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 is equipped with Thunderbolt 3 port. Vector GP76 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Vector GP76 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 nor Vector GP76 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and Vector GP76 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 3	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	1x v1.4
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes