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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prefer a robust gaming and engineering laptop with higher performance, the Acer Predator Triton 300 with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card is a solid choice, especially for 3D rendering and applications that require graphical power. However, it has a shorter battery life and is heavier, which may affect portability. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is much lighter, offers exceptionally longer battery life, and operates silently, but it may not match the Predator in graphics-intensive tasks due to its integrated Apple M2 GPU. The MacBook excels in general use and is ideal if you prioritize portability, battery life, and a higher-resolution display for everyday tasks and media consumption. Both are priced similarly, so your decision should be based on whether you need a gaming-engineering focused laptop or a light and long-lasting one for general use. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Predator Triton 300
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.1
6.5
6.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1864
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Acer Predator Triton 300 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 is equipped with a powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a high refresh rate screen, making it ideal for gaming and 3D applications, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 with its Apple M2 integrated GPU and standard refresh rate screen is less suited for these tasks, compounded by the fact that many popular games are not compatible with MacOS.
Content Creation
7.3
8.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1864
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.1
8.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1864
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.3
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1864
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
501.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Triton 300 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both laptops have high resolution and bright displays that make viewing text and images clear and vibrant, with the MacBook Air notably excelling in sharpness and color accuracy. When it comes to engineering and design, the MacBook Air's display covers a wider range of color gamuts, ensuring that professionals who deal with color-sensitive work can rely on the accuracy of the representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Acer Predator Triton 300, despite its moderate refresh rates, falls short compared to other gaming-oriented laptops that offer higher refresh rates for smoother visuals, and the MacBook Air isn't designed with high refresh rates in mind, making neither ideal for fast-paced 3D experiences.
Battery
5.5 Hours
15.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.3in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.4in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
10.0
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,150
$1,299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has a price of $1,150 and the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) costs $1,299.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1864
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
501.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
15.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Acer Predator Triton 300 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 offers robust performance with a higher-end CPU and more RAM, suitable for multitasking and demanding applications, while also featuring a quality screen for vivid visuals. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a superb screen quality with higher resolution and color accuracy, is significantly more portable thanks to its lighter weight and fanless, silent operation, and has a much longer battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use without frequent charging.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.6
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
6.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Acer Predator Triton 300 are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 is equipped with a powerful Intel CPU and a Nvidia RTX GPU, with ample RAM and a high-refresh-rate screen, these features make it well-suited for engineering and design work that requires significant computational power and graphic rendering capabilities.
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How the Acer Predator Triton 300 and the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Triton 300 | Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,150 | $1,299 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 3.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.9" | 13.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 9.35" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Apple M2 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 15 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 66.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1864 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 501 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 3 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Triton 300
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NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | December 2020
"In our particular review configuration, the Acer Predator Triton 300 turned out to be a fairly powerful gaming notebook. Both CPU and GPU performance were at a high level, and the aluminum case turned out to be fairly robust. Only the display lid could have been a bit more robust. For customers on a budget that do not mind tinkering with the device’s fan management the Acer Predator Triton 300 can be worth a closer look."
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Triton 300 or the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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