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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MacBook Air (2022) is often less expensive and provides a balance of performance and portability, featuring the newer Apple M2 processor, which is ideal for general use and lighter creative tasks. It's slim, light, and operates quietly without a fan. On the other hand, the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has an Apple M1 chip that still offers strong performance for most tasks and could be better for heavier workloads like video editing, thanks to better cooling provided by its fan. The Pro has a slightly larger battery offering more usage time but is also heavier and typically more expensive. Consider how much value you place on portability, performance, and battery life against cost when making your decision. 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 (2022)
- Very good for software development
- Excellent portability
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.6
7.6
13.6in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for software development.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and MacBook Pro 13 (2020) both feature high-resolution Retina displays with bright panels, making text and images appear sharp and vibrant for general use. Their screens cover a wide range of colors within the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, which is crucial for accuracy in engineering and design work. However, for 3D applications where motion fluidity is key, these MacBooks fall short as they offer standard refresh rates, not the higher rates preferred for such tasks.
Battery
15.0 Hours
20.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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.
Cost
$899
$1,249
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) costs $1,249.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.7
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
20.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) both have similar key features such as CPU and RAM, ensuring smooth performance for general use, with sharp, high-quality screens that are IPS type and comparable in size. The MacBook Air is slightly lighter and offers superb portability, whereas the MacBook Pro has a marginally larger battery capacity, likely leading to a longer battery life; both offer silent operation and excellent build quality, making them well-suited for typical day-to-day activities.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.3
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both equipped with integrated GPUs that are suitable for basic 3D tasks but may struggle with more complex 3D modeling or gaming, both featuring similar screen refresh rates that aren't ideal for high-end gaming or advanced 3D applications. The MacBook Pro has slightly better battery capacity and contrast ratio, indicating marginally superior screen quality and potential for longer use between charges, which may slightly benefit 3D work within its performance limitations.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.9
7.8
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) 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
8.0
7.8
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2022) to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (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.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.6in
SIZE
13.3in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2022) to have excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
10.0
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) both have best in class build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$899 | $1,249 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 8.36" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Apple M1 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 20 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 58.2 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 3 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air (2022)
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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."
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2022
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
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.
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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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CEO and Laptops Editor
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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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