When choosing between the Apple MacBook Air and the Framework Laptop, consider that the MacBook Air offers a lightweight design with long battery life, making it ideal for everyday use and portability, but its performance might be limited for heavy tasks like 3D modeling or intensive programming. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop is designed to be customizable and repairable, potentially offering better performance for demanding tasks and future upgrades at additional costs. However, it may be heavier and have a shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Air, which could affect its portability. 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)
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The MacBook Air offers a high-quality CPU and screen, making it suitable for engineering and design, and its excellent portability, keyboard, and speakers also enhance the user experience for professionals on the go. The Framework Laptop 16 stands out with its robust CPU, expandable RAM, and GPU capabilities, catering well to demanding engineering software, and its commitment to upgradability and repairability ensures long-term value despite being less portable than the MacBook.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.4/10
13.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
If you prioritize excellent image clarity and vibrant colors for everyday tasks or visual-oriented work like photo editing or graphic design, both the MacBook Air and Framework Laptop offer crisp displays with high resolution and sufficient brightness. For professionals in engineering and design, these laptops provide wide color gamuts, ensuring color accuracy for projects requiring precise hues and contrasts. However, for 3D applications or gaming, where fluid motion is key, neither model excels due to lower refresh rates, which means they are not ideal for tasks demanding smooth real-time rendering or fast-paced gameplay.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 16 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
16.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$1,699
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) costs $1,699.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a balance of a strong CPU, high-quality screen, and long battery life in a very portable design, but it's generally pricier and might come with less RAM, affecting multitasking performance. The Framework Laptop 16, on the other hand, gives you the flexibility to customize RAM and storage to enhance performance, with a focus on screen quality and repairability, though it may be bulkier and have a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.8/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air, while equipped with a capable GPU, suffers from a lower screen refresh rate and macOS's limited game compatibility, resulting in a less than optimal gaming and 3D experience. Conversely, the Framework Laptop 16 has a GPU powerful enough for moderate 3D tasks and gaming, and its higher refresh rate screen aligns well with these demands, while also offering the versatility of running a wider range of popular games thanks to its Windows operating system.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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
8.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for software development.
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 Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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 trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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 Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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
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.