Choosing between the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) involves considering your priorities; the MacBook Air offers a sleek design and long battery life, ideal for general use and portability but with less capacity for upgrades and repairs. The Framework Laptop, while typically more expensive, emphasizes repairability and customization, better catering to individuals requiring specific performance enhancements or who wish to keep their laptop up-to-date with the latest hardware; it would suit users involved in more intensive tasks such as engineering, machine learning, or content creation. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is somewhat better.
The MacBook Air, with its GPU capabilities, is adequate for light 3D tasks, but its lower screen refresh rate and the fact that many games aren't compatible with macOS may limit its use for gaming. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop, with a potentially more robust GPU and higher refresh rate, offers a better experience for both gaming and 3D applications, although you should still manage expectations as it's designed to handle moderate, not extreme, gaming and 3D workloads.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a balance of performance with its efficient CPU, high-quality screen, and ample RAM, which is well-suited for engineering and design tasks; however, its integrated GPU may limit performance in highly demanding graphical applications. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop's upgradability means it can house a more powerful GPU, and it also boasts a high-quality display and keyboard, making it ideal for those who need more robust graphics handling and customization opportunities, albeit with a potential compromise on portability compared to the MacBook Air.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
8.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Air's Retina display offers vivid colors and sharp details, making it suitable for everyday tasks and engineering designs due to its high resolution, good brightness, and wide color gamut. The Framework Laptop 16's larger, high-resolution screen also delivers excellent detail and color accuracy, which benefits engineering and design users who rely on precise color representation. However, for activities like gaming and 3D rendering, both laptops may fall short due to their lower refresh rates compared to specialized gaming laptops, which means less fluid motion and potentially less immersive experiences.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 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
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,699
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) costs $1,699.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air offers solid performance, good battery life, and is highly portable due to its lightweight design, making it ideal for general tasks on the go. The Framework Laptop 16, with its superior CPU and RAM, better screen quality, and similar emphasis on portability and battery life, offers more power for demanding applications while still being suitable for everyday activities.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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
7.7/10
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) compare to other laptops
"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."
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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 Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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