If you prioritize high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with its powerful Intel processor and Nvidia graphics card, is a preferable option and it's also better suited for engineering tasks. However, it is more expensive, heavier, and has a shorter battery life, which makes it less portable than the Apple MacBook Air. On the other hand, if you prefer a laptop that is lightweight, has a long battery life, and is significantly less expensive while offering silent operation and sufficient performance for general use, the MacBook Air with its M1 chip is the better choice. It's also known for its excellent build quality and high-resolution display, though its performance for intensive tasks isn't on par with the MSI Raider. 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 MSI Raider GE77Hx
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
8.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020), with its integrated Apple M1 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz, is capable of modest 3D performance but may struggle with high-end gaming, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx, equipped with the powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and a 240 Hz refresh rate, excels in gaming and 3D tasks, offering smoother visuals and better support for Windows-exclusive games.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) with its Apple M1 processor and integrated GPU is suitable for engineering and design tasks within a lightweight, portable design, and its high-resolution display sustains quality visual work. The MSI Raider GE77Hx, on the other hand, offers more powerful CPU and GPU performance with an Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, substantially more RAM, and a larger, high-refresh-rate screen, which is better for more demanding engineering tasks but comes with reduced portability due to its larger size and weight.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
8.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The MacBook Air's screen excels in resolution and brightness, making it ideal for general tasks and engineering where crisp text and clear visuals are essential. It also covers a wide range of colors, beneficial for design work where color accuracy is key. However, its refresh rate is lower, which is less optimal for 3D applications that require smoother motion to be shown effectively.
Battery
15.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE77Hx has 5.5 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
Poor
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor 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 MSI Raider GE77Hx 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
$2,140
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx costs $2,140.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider GE77Hx to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is praised for its excellent portability and silent operation, featuring an efficient CPU and longer battery life which makes it ideal for on-the-go users needing a machine for general purposes, despite having less storage and RAM compared to some competitors.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider GE77Hx 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
7.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the MSI Raider GE77Hx 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 MSI Raider GE77 offers a lot of power for a lot of money. The main components consist of a Core i9-12900HX CPU, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP, 16 GB VRAM), and 64 GB of RAM, which makes for a high overall performance level. The GeForce GPU in particular scores some of the highest scores we have seen from this chip. Both the CPU and the GPU are able to run at continuously high clock speeds. The relatively high heat and noise emissions match our expectations for this device class. With approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours, the battery life is good for a powerful 4K laptop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
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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