The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is typically less expensive and more portable with a higher-resolution display, but has less storage, less RAM, and integrated graphics, making it suitable for general use and portability. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is more costly and less portable due to its larger size and weight but offers more storage, more RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, catering to more intensive tasks including engineering and 3D/machine learning applications. 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 Pro 17
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-resolution screen and an efficient M2 chip that combines central and graphics processing, which ensures strong performance within a very light and quiet device. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17, on the other hand, offers a larger screen, significantly more RAM and a dedicated graphics card for handling more demanding engineering applications, although it is heavier and might not be as quiet as the MacBook Air.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.2/10
13.6in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 for general use, AI, engineering and design, and software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a better screen for software development.
The Apple MacBook Air's screen offers a high resolution and good brightness, making text and images crisp and clear for tasks like web browsing and word processing, which is important for general use. For engineering and design, its broad color gamut reproduces colors accurately, which is essential for professionals in graphics-related fields. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D applications and gaming, where a high refresh rate is crucial for smooth motion and better visual experience.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.6in
SIZE
17.3in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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 Zenbook Pro 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 costs $1,500.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.9/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.1/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a lower tier integrated GPU suitable for less demanding 3D tasks and a screen with a 60Hz refresh rate; however, MacOS can limit game compatibility. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 features a more powerful Nvidia graphics card and the same refresh rate, which, combined with its Windows operating system, provides better performance for gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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
7.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2022) to be very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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 Zenbook Pro 17 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17
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 is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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