Since you're considering the Apple MacBook Air (2022) versus the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and have noted the MacBook Air is generally less expensive, it's important to consider what you need from your laptop. If you prioritize a lightweight and slim design with solid performance for everyday tasks like browsing, video streaming, and work-related software, the MacBook Air with its long battery life could serve you well. On the other hand, if you require a machine for gaming, 3D rendering, or more demanding software typically used in engineering, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15, despite being heavier and perhaps having a shorter battery life, offers the high performance and graphical power necessary for those tasks. Thus, the choice hinges on whether portability and cost outweigh the need for the more robust capabilities of the ASUS, which excel in performance-intensive scenarios. 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
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming A15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
8.0/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15, with its high-refresh-rate screen and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, excels in gaming and 3D performance compared to the Apple MacBook Air (2022), which has a lower refresh rate screen and relies on its processor's integrated GPU that's less powerful for such tasks. Additionally, the MacBook Air's operating system may not support many popular games, making the ASUS a preferable option for gaming enthusiasts.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
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.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.2/10
13.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Air tends to have excellent panel types, high resolutions, and impressive brightness, providing a crisp and vibrant display well-suited to general use and design tasks that demand accurate colors. By contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15, while having a decent resolution and panel, might not match the MacBook Air's brightness and color accuracy for engineering and design work. However, for 3D purposes, although both laptops may not offer the high refresh rates desired by enthusiasts, the gaming-oriented ASUS could be more tailored to handle motion better than the MacBook Air.
Battery
15.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has 11 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
Good
13.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$1,987
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 costs $1,987.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) with its lightweight design, long battery life, and silent operation is well-suited for general use and mobile productivity, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 boasts a more powerful CPU and graphics unit that handle demanding applications, and comes with additional features such as a high refresh rate display and efficient heat management, making it a versatile choice that also satisfies gamers and power users.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming A15 to be 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.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2022) to be very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 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."
"With the release of the TUF Gaming A15, Asos have concentrated on the essentials: gaming performance. Our base version, which can be had for around $1,169, already provided enough power to play current games smoothly in a native resolution of 1080p and with maximum details - thanks to its new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. If you utilize upscaling, then you can even manage to run ray tracing."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the ASUS TUF Gaming A15
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.
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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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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