To assist you in making a decision between the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the MSI Modern 14, I would need to analyze the document you've uploaded containing their specifications and comparisons. However, there seems to be a technical issue that prevents me from accessing the document directly. Nonetheless, let me provide you with some general advice based on what is commonly known about these models.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is known for its thin and light design, making it highly portable. It runs macOS, which is preferred by users who enjoy a seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. The MacBook Air typically offers exceptional build quality and a sharp, vibrant display, and is favored for general use, content creation, and light programming tasks. However, its performance is not as high as some other laptops in its price range, and it may not be the best choice for more intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or heavy gaming.
On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is a Windows-based laptop that usually provides more powerful performance specs for the price, potentially making it a stronger choice for engineering, 3D modeling, and gaming. Additionally, MSI laptops often feature a variety of ports for connectivity and are generally more customizable in terms of hardware upgrades. However, they may not match the premium build quality of the MacBook Air and can be bulkier, hence less portable. Their battery life might not be as long as the MacBook Air's, which could be a drawback for users who need to work on the go.
Take into account what you prioritize—whether it's the operating system, performance, build quality, or portability—and weigh these factors against each other within your budget constraints to decide which laptop aligns better with your needs. 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)
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2020).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.6/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020), with its Apple M1 processor and GPU, is well-regarded for engineering and design due to its high-resolution screen, efficient heat management, and silent operation, which complement its respectable CPU and GPU performance.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Modern 14 are both good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is somewhat better.
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
7.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is somewhat better.
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
6.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air boasts a high-resolution Retina display with vibrant color accuracy, making its screen clear and detailed for general use and ideal for design tasks that require precise color representation; however, its moderate refresh rate limits 3D applications. While the MSI Modern 14 offers decent resolution and adequate brightness for typical tasks, its screen doesn't quite match the MacBook Air in color reproduction, impacting performance in tasks like engineering or graphic design. Neither laptop is optimal for 3D or gaming due to their lower refresh rates, which can make fast-moving visuals appear less smooth compared to screens designed specifically for these purposes.
Battery
15.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) features the efficient Apple M1 processor, which provides good performance for general use along with excellent battery life and a silent, fanless operation, while the MSI Modern 14 offers higher RAM and storage capacity, which may better suit users with greater multitasking needs or storage requirements, but at the cost of shorter battery life. Both laptops have quality IPS screens, but the MacBook Air offers a higher resolution and superior color coverage, making for a more vibrant display, and it's slightly lighter, enhancing portability, compared to the MSI Modern 14 which has a standard full HD screen.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.0/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Modern 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the MSI Modern 14 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."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the MSI Modern 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.