Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) vs ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) takes 6.8 weighted points vs 6.5, winning on RAM, Pixel Density, Thickness. Read our comprehensive Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) review or see the full ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94 review. The winner also sits in a more competitive value tier — a clear-cut call.

Winner
Highly Rated

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)

Apple M5 (10 Core) · Integrated (Apple iGPU)

Under $1500
4.8 (748)
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VS
Highly RatedPopular

ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX · NVIDIA RTX 5060

Under $1800
4.4 (861)
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryMacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94
Gaming3.3/106.5/10
Productivity6.2/105.2/10
Programming5.8/105.6/10
Engineering / 3D4.4/106/10
Student6.3/104.7/10
Travel / Portability7.4/103.7/10
AI Workloads4.1/105.7/10
Value for Money5.7/107.8/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecMacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94
CPUApple M5 (10 Core)Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
PassMark Score27,32255,695
CPU Cores4P+6E8P+16E
GPUIntegrated (Apple iGPU)NVIDIA RTX 5060
G3DMark Score—18,197
RAM24 GB DDR516 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableNo (soldered)Yes
Storage1 TBSSD1 TBSSD
Display15.3″ Liquid Retina16″ IPS
Resolution2880x18642560x1600
Refresh Rate60 Hz240 Hz
Pixel Density224 PPI189 PPI
TouchscreenNoNo
Weight3.32 lbsnull lbs
Thickness0.45″0.9″
Amazon Rating4.8 ★ (748)4.4 ★ (861)
Value Score5.7/107.8/10

CPU Comparison

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94's Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is ~104% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (55,695 vs 27,322). A generational gap you will feel in exports, compiles and heavy multitasking. Read more in our in-depth MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) benchmark breakdown and ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94 performance review.

GPU & Gaming

Only the ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94 has a dedicated GPU (RTX 5060, 18,197 G3DMark) — it wins gaming outright. See where it ranks in our best gaming laptops guide.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 6.2/10 vs 5.2/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but the iGPU-only Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) will typically outlast the ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94 unplugged.

Display

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026): 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880x1864 @ 60 Hz. ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94: 16″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 240 Hz. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94's higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026): 24 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD. ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94: 16 GB DDR5 (upgradeable) + 1 TBSSD. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94's socketed RAM is a longevity advantage.

Build & Portability

3.32 lbs / 0.45″ vs null lbs / 0.9″. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) is 3.3 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 7.4 vs 3.7.

Value

Value scores land 5.7/10 vs 7.8/10. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM-DS94 extracts more performance per dollar.

Final Verdict

Buy the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) — it wins the weighted spec battle and costs less. You can read the detailed Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) review or compare alternative models in our laptop comparison tool.

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