If you prioritize a lighter device with a strong ecosystem for general use and are invested in other Apple products, the MacBook Air could be a good fit. The HP Spectre x360, on the other hand, offers a versatile 2-in-1 design with a touchscreen, which can be beneficial for tasks like note-taking or design work. The Spectre may also provide more flexibility with hardware configurations for specific needs. Consider the MacBook Air for its longer battery life and seamless integration with Apple services, and the Spectre for its convertible functionality and potential hardware customization at a higher cost. 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
Excellent battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
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
General Use
7.6/10
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
395.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air boasts a lightweight design and long battery life, making it highly portable and convenient for on-the-go use, but its performance may be outpaced by the HP Spectre x360 14 which offers a more powerful CPU and additional RAM to handle more demanding tasks smoothly. Both laptops have high-quality screens and are very portable, yet the Spectre's convertible design with a better keyboard and speakers provides an edge for users seeking versatility alongside top-tier general performance.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 14 is somewhat better.
The MacBook Air, while having a decent CPU, is limited in gaming and 3D applications due to its less powerful GPU and standard screen refresh rate, further compounded by compatibility issues with many popular games not running on macOS. In contrast, the HP Spectre x360 14, with a more capable GPU and good screen quality, offers better performance for gaming and 3D tasks, despite sharing a similar screen refresh rate limitation that can affect fast-paced gaming experiences.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a robust CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU compared to the Apple MacBook Air, enhancing its performance for demanding engineering software and tasks that rely on high screen quality. While the MacBook Air is known for its portability and lower operating noise, the Spectre's advantage in core specs makes it better suited for engineering and design despite being slightly less portable and having a louder operating noise.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 is 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
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is 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.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
8.6/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MacBook Air's high-resolution Retina display with true-to-life colors satisfies general use and engineering tasks, but its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where smoother visuals at high speeds are essential. The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a bright, high-resolution display with expansive color coverage, meeting the precision required for detailed engineering and design work, and delivering an eye-pleasing experience for everyday tasks. However, like the MacBook Air, the Spectre's average refresh rate isn't suited for the fast-paced action of gaming or 3D modeling, where high refresh rate displays can provide more fluid motion and reduced motion blur.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 14 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
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and HP Spectre x360 14 both have very good portability, though the Apple MacBook Air (2020) has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the HP Spectre x360 14 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
$1,630
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
"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 numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the HP Spectre x360 14
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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