The Apple MacBook Air is ideal for general use, with a focus on portability, a longer battery life, and a user-friendly operating system, especially suitable for those invested in the Apple ecosystem. The Dell Alienware x14 R1, on the other hand, is tailored for gaming and more intensive engineering programs due to its powerful graphics card and higher performance hardware, yet this also makes it heavier and with shorter battery life, along with a higher price tag. Your choice should depend on whether you prioritize everyday mobility and battery life, or if you require enhanced performance for specialized tasks. 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 Dell Alienware x14 R1
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.6/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
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
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is fair for 3D due to its integrated GPU, which is less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, and a standard screen refresh rate, which is adequate for basic tasks but not optimal for gaming. Conversely, the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications, as it features a powerful Nvidia graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing both visual detail and motion fluidity, essential for a superior gaming experience; additionally, the Alienware supports a wider range of games due to its Windows operating system.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers a more powerful Intel processor, double the RAM, and a dedicated Nvidia graphics card compared to the Apple MacBook Air (2022)'s Apple M2 integrated GPU and lesser RAM, making the Dell better suited for demanding engineering software and multitasking. However, the MacBook Air is lighter with a higher-resolution screen and longer battery life, appealing to those who prioritize portability and vibrant display quality, along with its silent operation.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.9/10
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
411.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Dell Alienware x14 R1 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the MacBook Air's screen offers excellent resolution and brightness, making text and images crisp and easy to view, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1, though good, may not match the MacBook's clarity and vibrancy. With engineering and design in mind, the MacBook Air stands out due to its wide color gamut, rendering colors more accurately critical for detailed work, whereas the Alienware's color reproduction is good but less precise for professional design tasks. For 3D purposes, the Alienware sacrifices here with a lower refresh rate which is less smooth for fast-moving visuals, while the MacBook Air also falls short, suggesting neither are the best fit for high demands of 3D applications where high refresh rates are key.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware x14 R1 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
Very Good
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$1,201
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 costs $1,201.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Alienware x14 R1 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is favored for general use thanks to its lightweight design and long battery life, along with a high-quality screen and silent, fanless operation suitable for day-to-day tasks. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware x14 R1, with its more powerful CPU and GPU, improved RAM, and higher refresh rate screen, is also suitable for general use but leans towards more demanding applications and gaming, though at the cost of extra weight and shorter battery life.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.9/10
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
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Alienware x14 R1 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.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.7/10
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
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2022) to be very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 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 Dell Alienware x14 R1 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."
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Dell Alienware x14 R1
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 Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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