"The MacBook Air is no longer the best lightweight laptop": I compare the new ASUS Zenbook A16 to show how it dominates Apple's sleek notebook in key areas

ASUS Zenbook A16 vs. MacBook Air 15 (M5).

Snapdragon X2

ASUS

Zenbook A16 (2026)

The Zenbook A16 is a near-perfect Windows laptop that puts a serious dent in Apple's lightweight dominance. Even if you're a macOS user, the A16's set of perks might be enough to sway you over to Windows 11. Yes, it's that good.

Pros

• OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 1100 nits brightness
• Lighter than the MacBook Air 15 by a significant margin
• Better port selection
• Less expensive for a similar configuration
• Superb performance and efficiency from Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme

Cons

• No haptic touchpad
• Starts at a higher price (at least for now)

M5

Apple

MacBook Air 15

Apple's MacBook Air 15 continues to deliver strong single-core performance and excellent efficiency thanks to its M5 chip. However, many of its features fail to compete with those in the Zenbook A16, and you'll end up paying more for a similar configuration.

Pros

• Haptic touchpad is a definite win
• Thinner than the Zenbook A16
• M5 has better single-core performance
• Excellent battery life

Cons

• LED display at 60Hz, 500 nits brightness
• Less impressive port selection
• No facial biometrics
• You'll pay more for a similar RAM/memory config