Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 Comparison

Laptop to replace

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Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

15.6 inches | April 2024

Speed 4.5

Size 4

Display 5.5

Gaming 3

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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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Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 Comparison Overview

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

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Apple MacBook Air 15...

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Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

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Apple MacBook Air 15...

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In this review, we will be comparing LOQ 15ARP9 and MacBook Air 15 M3 2024, two laptops from Lenovo and Apple. Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 was introduced to market in April 2024 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 was launched in March 2024. There is only 1 months difference between LOQ 15ARP9 and MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 Key Specs

Launched in April 2024
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB
8GB Ram
359.86 x 258.7 x 21.9-23.9 mm (14.17 x 10.19 x 0.86-0.94 inches)
Weight: 2.38 kg (5.25 lbs)

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)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how LOQ 15ARP9 and MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 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 Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 over Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

Display Size	15.6 inches vs 15.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	144 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Opening Angle	180° vs 130°	More flexible screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
GPU FLOPS	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	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Better typing feel
Key Travel	1.5 mm vs 1 mm

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 over Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Weight	1.51 kg vs 2.38 kg	0.87 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~83.9% vs ~72.1%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.4 mm vs 7.2 mm	1.8 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	224 ppi vs 141 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2880 x 1864 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 6 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	Better Sound capture
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
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

Common Strengths of Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Launch Dates	April 2024 vs March 2024	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 and Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 and the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.38 kg (5.25 lbs)	1.51 kg (3.33 lbs)
Surface Area	931 cm2 (144.4 inches2)	809 cm2 (125.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~72.1%	~83.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~7.2 mm	~5.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.15 kg/inch	0.10 kg/inch
	0.33 lbs/inch	0.22 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray	Black, Silver, Gold, Gray
Cover Opening Angle	180Â°	130Â°

Comparison of the Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 and the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 External Dimensions

Weight

LOQ 15ARP9 weighs 2.38 kg (5.25 lbs), whereas the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 weighs 1.51 kg (3.33 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

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

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Thickness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

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Average

Max

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 Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 is 0.15 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 is 0.10 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

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS	Apple M3
Base Frequency	3.1 GHz	4.05 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.5 GHz
Number of Cores	8	8 (4P + 4E)
Number of Threads	16	8
L3 Cache	16 MB
Integrated GPU	No	Apple M3 GPU
CPU Fabrication Process	6 nm	3 nm

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 Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Apple M3 ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB	Apple M3 GPU (10-core)
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	95 W	W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Integrated
FLOPS	8 TFLOPS	4.1 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	System Shared
Memory Type	GDDR6	LPDDR5
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	~12 Gbps	6.4 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	2048	1280
TMUs	64	80
ROPs	40	40

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. Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 has a FLOPS value of 8 TFLOPS whereas the Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 ' has a FLOPS value of 4.1 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 24GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	6400 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	LPDDR5
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	32 GB
Total Slots	2

Both laptops, the LOQ 15ARP9 and the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

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	Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9	Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 (2024)
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS	Apple M3 (NPU)
GPU	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB	Apple GPU (Metal, unified memory)
Memory	8 GB ; 6 GB VRAM	8 GB
Available for LLM total	~10 GB (4.5 GB VRAM 5.5 GB RAM)	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 6 GB VRAM	✔ Runs Well fits in your 3.5 GB RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
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)

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9|Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 (2024)

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.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

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	60 Wh	66.5 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	Right, Bottom	Left
Charge Power	170 / 230 W	35 / 70 W

On the other hand, the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 features a higher battery capacity of 67 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the LOQ 15ARP9's 60 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

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Average

Max

STORAGE
Both laptops, the LOQ 15ARP9 and the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 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	Yes	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Custom

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.

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 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. LOQ 15ARP9 has a display size of 15.6".On the other hand, MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 has a smaller 15.3" display.The total usable screen area of the LOQ 15ARP9 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the MacBook Air 15 M3 2024's total usable screen area is 679cm² / 105inch².

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

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

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Max

Refresh Rate
The LOQ 15ARP9 offers a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024

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Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to LOQ 15ARP9 (v6).

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
LOQ 15ARP9 is equipped with 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 does not have USB-A ports.
Both LOQ 15ARP9 and MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 have USB Type-C ports. LOQ 15ARP9 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 has 2x USB 4.0 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. LOQ 15ARP9 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
LOQ 15ARP9 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 LOQ 15ARP9 nor MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both LOQ 15ARP9 and MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 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)	v6	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.2	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	Thunderbolt 3
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes