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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) emphasizes a balance between performance and portability with its Apple M2 chip, suited for general use and moderate engineering or creative workloads, and a high-resolution display which excels in color accuracy, making it ideal for visual tasks. It also boasts a fanless design for silent operation and runs macOS, offering seamless integration with other Apple products. The ASUS Zenbook 13, on the other hand, features a standard Full HD OLED display that delivers deeper blacks and vibrant colors, an AMD Ryzen processor capable of general use and light engineering tasks, and Windows 10, which may be preferable for wider software compatibility. It also offers more storage out of the box. The Zenbook's OLED screen is better for contrast and colors but may not be as sharp as the MacBook's. Both offer similar portability but differ in ecosystems and operating systems, which could be a critical factor depending on your software needs and personal preferences. 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 battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 13
- The ASUS Zenbook 13 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2022).
Key differences
Software Development
8.0
7.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 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.
Screen Quality
7.6
7.8
13.6in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 13 for software development, and content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the MacBook Air and the ASUS Zenbook 13 offer displays with high resolution and brightness, ensuring crisp and clear visuals for everyday tasks. The strong color accuracy of both laptops, covering a wide range of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color gamuts, makes them suitable for engineering and design work where precise color representation is crucial. However, the lower refresh rates on these laptops mean that rapid on-screen movements, which are typical in 3D applications, won't appear as smooth as they would on displays specifically designed for high-refresh-rate experiences.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 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
7.4
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.4
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) features an Apple M2 CPU and high screen quality, with a fanless design for silent operation and excellent portability, making it ideal for everyday tasks and on-the-go use; however, its storage is limited compared to the ASUS Zenbook 13, which offers double the storage capacity and an OLED screen for deeper blacks and contrast, powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, but with a tradeoff in shorter battery life and louder operating noise.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.2
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air, with its integrated M2 GPU, is acceptable for 3D tasks, but its performance may not match dedicated gaming laptops, and the limited software compatibility with many popular games diminishes its suitability for gaming. The ASUS Zenbook 13, while also fair for gaming and 3D with its Ryzen integrated Vega 8 GPU, will not offer the high frame rates or graphical detail of more powerful, gaming-specific machines, although it should handle moderate gaming better than the MacBook Air due to broader game support on Windows.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.1
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.6
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS Zenbook 13 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.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
13.6in
SIZE
13.3in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS Zenbook 13 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$899
$890
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the ASUS Zenbook 13 costs $890.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the ASUS Zenbook 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | ASUS Zenbook 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$899 | $890 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | February 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 2.55 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 7.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 67 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 378 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
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 | N/A | |
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 Zenbook 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | May 2021
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the ASUS Zenbook 13
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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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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Recommendations made
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About the laptop team
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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
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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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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