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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Air is more portable with a lighter build and longer battery life, ideal for general use on the go. It has solid screen quality but lacks a touchscreen. The ASUS Zenbook, however, offers more storage and memory, a higher resolution OLED screen which might be preferable for color-sensitive work, and a GPU better suited for 3D tasks and engineering software. It is heavier and has a significantly shorter battery life, which may not be ideal if mobility is a priority. The MacBook operates silently without a fan, while the Zenbook's higher performance may lead to more heat and noise. 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 Zenbook 14X
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Software Development
8.0
7.4
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
8.3
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
339.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 14X for software development, and content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Air's high-resolution display with its bright, vibrant panel, and the ASUS Zenbook's similar screen features offer crisp, clear visuals for activities like browsing the web, watching videos, and productivity tasks. In the realm of engineering and design, both the MacBook Air and the Zenbook 14X support wide color gamuts, essential for accurate color work in graphic design and photo editing. However, for 3D applications and gaming, where higher refresh rates provide smoother motion, both laptops may fall short due to their standard refresh rates, whereas dedicated gaming laptops usually excel in this aspect.
Battery
15.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 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
Very Good
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good 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 Zenbook 14X 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
7.6
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
339.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) with its M2 processor and 8GB of RAM is well-suited for everyday tasks, boasting a high-quality screen, long battery life, and is remarkably portable due to its lightweight and fanless design, providing silent operation. Meanwhile, the ASUS Zenbook 14X steps up with a more potent Intel i7 processor, double the RAM at 16GB, and an OLED screen, which makes for superior display quality; however, it is slightly heavier and has a notably shorter battery life, making portability and all-day use more of a compromise compared to the MacBook Air.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.5
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air with its Apple M2 integrated GPU and standard screen refresh rate provides a fair experience for 3D applications but falls short for many popular games that aren't compatible with MacOS. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook 14X, with its Nvidia MX550 dedicated GPU and higher screen refresh rate, offers a fair gaming and 3D performance suited to Windows-based titles.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.7
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) with its efficient M2 CPU and integrated graphics is favored among engineering and design users for its screen quality and silent operation, while being lighter and easy to carry around. In comparison, the ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a higher-powered Intel i7 CPU with a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a higher-resolution OLED display, making it well-suited for more intensive design tasks but with a trade-off in portability and operating noise.
Content Creation
7.9
7.6
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and ASUS Zenbook 14X 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.
Cost
$769
$777
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $769 and the ASUS Zenbook 14X costs $777.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the ASUS Zenbook 14X compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | ASUS Zenbook 14X |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$769 | $777 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 3.09 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 12.25" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 8.71" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 63 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 339 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 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 Zenbook 14X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | April 2022
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the ASUS Zenbook 14X
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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