If you prioritize high-end performance for tasks like video editing or software development and prefer a premium build quality with a longer battery life, the Apple MacBook Air might justify the higher cost. On the other hand, if you need a more budget-friendly option for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and streaming, and are willing to compromise on performance and battery life, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 could be sufficient. The MacBook Air will generally provide a more robust and smooth experience, whereas the Vivobook offers basic functionality at a much lower price point, with the trade-off being less power and potentially lower durability. 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)
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2022).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
5.6/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-resolution IPS screen, leading to better performance and excellent visual quality, complemented by its lightweight design and long battery life, making it well-suited for general use. Conversely, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has a less capable CPU, less RAM, and a lower-resolution TN screen, which may result in slower performance and poor visual experience, though it maintains good portability and sufficient battery life for basic tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
5.4/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) offers better 3D capabilities due to its more powerful integrated M2 GPU that outperforms the ASUS Vivobook Go 12's Intel UHD Graphics 600, but is limited for gaming as many popular games aren't compatible with macOS. Conversely, the Vivobook's inferior graphics and lower-quality TN display with a lower resolution, impact both gaming and 3D performance, further hampered by its less capable CPU compared to the MacBook Air's M2 processor.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
5.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is equipped with a powerful Apple M2 processor and an 8-core GPU, along with a high-resolution IPS display, which makes it well-suited for demanding engineering and design software, while also offering a backlit keyboard and silent operation that can enhance user experience for professionals.
Content Creation
7.9/10
5.7/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
5.7/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
7.6/10
5.1/10
13.6in
SIZE
11.6in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high-resolution display, exceptional brightness, and wide color coverage, which ensures clear, vibrant images and accurate colors necessary for detailed design work. However, its screen falls short for 3D applications because of a lower refresh rate, which can make fast-moving visuals less smooth. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12, on the other hand, has lower resolution and brightness, and limited color gamut, resulting in a less sharp, dimmer display that doesn't render colors as accurately for any of the mentioned uses, and it also lacks the high refresh rate needed for optimal 3D viewing.
Battery
15.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 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
5.1/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$267
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 costs $267.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
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
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
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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Laptops Expert
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