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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) offers a balance between performance and portability, with a solid build quality and high-resolution screen suitable for general use and light creative tasks. Its fanless design ensures silent operation, and it boasts a long battery life, which is ideal for on-the-go use. Meanwhile, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 delivers more power for gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering software, with dedicated graphics and a higher-refresh-rate screen, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable. Both are similarly priced and offer different strengths depending on whether you prioritize mobility or performance for more demanding applications. 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 Apple MacBook Air (2020)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.4
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is fair for 3D due to its Apple M1 integrated graphics, which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz which isn't as high for fast-paced gaming. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is better suited for gaming and 3D work given its dedicated AMD RX 7600S graphics card and higher screen refresh rate of 165Hz, allowing for smoother visuals and gameplay; further, it runs Windows, which supports a wider range of popular games unlike the MacOS on the MacBook Air.
Screen Quality
7.5
7.5
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air's display, fit for general use, emphasizes color accuracy and brightness, providing clear and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks and professional design work, although it lacks the high refresh rate needed for smooth 3D rendering. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers a balanced screen for general tasks and engineering applications with decent color coverage and brightness, but the display falls short for gaming and 3D modeling due to its lower refresh rate. Both cater well to users prioritizing sharp, accurate colors for design but are not ideal for 3D work where fluid motion is key.
Battery
15.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.2
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.6
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
395.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is highly portable with long battery life and an excellent high-resolution display, making it suitable for general use, whereas the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a powerful CPU and more RAM, a larger screen with a higher refresh rate, which along with its gaming-oriented graphics card, better suits tasks like gaming and intensive applications but is less portable and has a shorter battery life. Both models have quality keyboards and speakers, but the MacBook Air offers a fanless design for silent operation, while the ASUS has effective heat management needed for its higher performance hardware.
Engineering and Design
7.3
7.7
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is praised for its powerful Apple M1 CPU and GPU, which contribute to efficient performance in engineering and design applications, with outstanding screen quality and color accuracy; its light weight and fanless, silent operation also make it highly portable and comfortable for extended use.
Content Creation
7.8
7.6
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for content creation.
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
7.7
7.3
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for software development.
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.
Cost
$1,000
$940
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 costs $940.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2020) | ASUS TUF Gaming A16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $940 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2020 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.63'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.97'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.8 lbs | 4.85 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 13.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.36" | 9.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 49.9 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 395 nits | 294 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air (2020)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | July 2022
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Dominic Bayley | May 2023
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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.
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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