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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The decision between the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 largely depends on your preferences and needs. The MacBook Air, more expensive, boasts a stronger battery life, higher display resolution, marginally better portability, and a fanless design for silent operation, making it ideal for users who need prolonged usage without a power source and prefer MacOS. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is more cost-effective, offers a touchscreen, and runs Windows 11, which might be more familiar or required for certain applications. It also scores well in heat management and has a good portability rating but falls short in display resolution and battery life compared to the MacBook Air. If performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks is a priority, neither laptop is designed for intensive gaming or specialized tasks requiring high-end GPUs, but the MacBook Air performs slightly better in these areas. 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 engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2022).
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.0
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is rated higher for general use than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 due to the MacBook's superior CPU performance, higher RAM efficiency, sharper screen quality, longer battery life, and more lightweight design. Both laptops have excellent portability, but the MacBook's larger battery capacity and more vibrant screen give it an edge in overall user experience despite the Surface Laptop Go 2 offering a touchscreen option and a more traditional aspect ratio for those who may prefer it.
Engineering and Design
7.5
6.5
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.9
7.1
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is somewhat better.
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
7.0
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
6.9
13.6in
SIZE
12.4in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air's high-resolution screen and color accuracy make it excellent for engineering and design tasks where color fidelity is critical, but its standard refresh rate limits its effectiveness for 3D applications where smoother visuals are key. The Surface Laptop Go 2 has sufficient resolution and brightness for typical tasks and can handle design work, but falls short for gaming and 3D due to its modest refresh rate and less precise color gamut. For general use, both offer quality displays with the clarity and brightness needed for everyday activities like browsing and video streaming.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 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.
Build Quality
10.0
7.8
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.0
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a dedicated GPU within its M2 chip which supports moderate 3D tasks, yet its MacOS may not support many popular games, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2’s Intel Iris Xe graphics can handle some gaming and 3D content, but its overall performance in these areas is limited by a less powerful integrated GPU and an average screen refresh rate. Both laptops have decent CPU and screen quality, but neither is built specifically for high-performance gaming or demanding 3D applications due to modest refresh rates and graphics capabilities.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
13.6in
SIZE
12.4in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$769
$774
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $769 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $774.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$769 | $774 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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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