If you prioritize higher performance for tasks like video editing or more demanding software, the Apple MacBook Air will serve you well, though at a higher cost. On the other hand, if your usage is limited to basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and casual media consumption, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" should suffice, saving you money. The MacBook Air also tends to offer better build quality, a sharper display, and longer battery life, but the Ideapad is lighter and might be preferable if portability is a key concern for you. Remember that software ecosystems differ; MacOS on the MacBook may provide a more seamless experience with other Apple devices, while the Ideapad's Windows operating system offers broad compatibility with a wide range of software. 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)
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2022).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
6.1/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) excels in general use due to its powerful Apple M2 chip, more RAM, higher-quality IPS screen, longer battery life, and lighter weight, which together offer fast performance, better multitasking, sharper display, and greater portability compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14".
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
5.5/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a more capable GPU, the Apple M2 with an 8-core GPU, which provides better performance for 3D tasks compared to the less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600 in the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14", though gaming on the MacBook Air may be limited due to many popular games not supporting MacOS. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, which is adequate for basic tasks, but the superior screen quality of the MacBook Air with its higher resolution and color accuracy is a significant advantage for visual tasks over the Lenovo's lower resolution TN display.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
5.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) provides strong performance for engineering and design tasks with a more powerful CPU, higher RAM capacity, and superior GPU compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14", which has a less robust CPU, lower RAM, and a weaker GPU that may struggle with demanding applications.
Content Creation
7.9/10
6.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
6.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
7.6/10
5.3/10
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air's screen offers higher resolution and brightness, making it clear and vibrant for everyday tasks and detailed work in engineering and design, while also covering a wide range of colors. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad's screen may fall short in clarity, color accuracy, and brightness, impacting its performance across general use and professional applications. However, for 3D applications, the MacBook Air's screen lacks a high refresh rate crucial for smooth rendering, which can be a disadvantage compared to laptops designed specifically for gaming or 3D work.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" 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
3.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$165
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" costs $165.
"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 IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
103,695
Recommendations made
22,468
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
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.