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What we think
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Updated February 26, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Air is more affordable, lightweight, and has excellent battery life, making it ideal for everyday use, offering convenience for on-the-go tasks. In comparison, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is a powerful machine designed for demanding applications like gaming, 3D design, and machine learning, but it's heavier and can be more expensive, making it less portable and better suited for stationary use or as a desktop replacement. Choose the MacBook Air for general mobility and everyday tasks, or opt for the ROG Strix if you need high performance for specialized, resource-intensive activities. 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)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.7
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.6/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air, with its efficient CPU and high-quality screen, delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks in a sleek, lightweight design with long battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use and general computing needs. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G18, while offering superior CPU and RAM for demanding tasks, excels in screen quality for vivid visuals, but it sacrifices portability and battery life, which makes it less convenient for constant movement but better suited for high-performance activities like gaming and graphics-intensive work.
Gaming and AI
6.4
8.7
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air is not optimized for gaming due to its emphasis on portability and battery life, equipped with a less powerful GPU that doesn't support as many popular games, and has a standard screen refresh rate which isn't ideal for fast-paced 3D experiences. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is designed with a high-end GPU and a superior screen refresh rate, providing smoother and more immersive gaming and 3D performance, but this comes at the expense of greater weight and reduced battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.5
9.2
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a balance of performance and portability, with a high-quality screen and efficient CPU, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks, but the ASUS ROG Strix G18 delivers superior CPU, RAM, and GPU specifications for more demanding engineering software, along with a higher quality display for detailed design work; however, it is less portable and may have more operating noise due to its powerful components. While both laptops have good keyboards and speakers, the MacBook Air is known for its quieter operation and lighter design, which may benefit users who prioritize mobility and a low-noise environment.
Content Creation
7.9
8.8
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) 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.
Screen Quality
7.6
8.7
13.6in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Air offers a high-resolution Retina display with bright and vibrant colors that make it ideal for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. Engineers and designers would appreciate the MacBook Air's display for its wide color gamut, providing accurate color representation crucial for design work. However, its lower refresh rate can be a disadvantage for 3D applications, which benefit from higher refresh rates offered by gaming-oriented laptops like the ASUS ROG Strix for smoother visuals and better performance in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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
Excellent
Poor
13.6in
SIZE
18.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.8
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$799
$2,216
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $799 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) costs $2,216.
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Key similarities
Software Development
8.0
8.5
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both very 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 (2022) and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $2,216 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 6.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 11.57" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 422 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
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."
ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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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