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Updated January 10, 2024·
The document uploaded is not accessible with my browsing tool. To assist you with your decision between the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, it's important to consider several factors such as your budget, the specific tasks you'll be performing, and your preferences regarding portability and operating systems. The MacBook Air is known for its sleek design, portability, and long battery life, making it a great choice for general use, traveling professionals, or students who value lightness and an intuitive user interface that macOS offers. On the other hand, if your work involves heavier software, like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, the Surface Laptop Studio might be a better fit since it usually offers more powerful hardware and the versatility of a 2-in-1 design with a touchscreen, benefiting users who also use their laptops for drawing or other creative tasks. Additionally, it runs Windows, which can be a decisive factor if your work requires Windows-specific software. Remember that if you have a more flexible budget and desire higher performance for professional tasks, the Surface Laptop Studio could be the right choice despite being less portable and potentially having a shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Air. However, for everyday tasks, if you value ease of carrying and longer usage without needing a power outlet, the MacBook Air is an attractive option. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Content Creation
7.9
7.4
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
8.0
13.6in
SIZE
14.4in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air offers high resolution and brightness, along with a robust color gamut, which is ideal for vivid and accurate color representation needed in general use and engineering/design tasks but lacks the high refresh rate required for smooth 3D visuals. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio also boasts high resolution, brightness, and a wide color range, making it excellent for general tasks and professional design work where color fidelity is key. However, its refresh rate, while sufficient for most tasks, doesn't meet the requirements for high-end gaming or 3D applications, where faster screen updates are essential for optimal performance.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.6in
SIZE
14.4in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
8.5
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$839
$1,700
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $839 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.4
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a balance of efficient CPU performance, sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, a high-quality screen, and excellent portability with long battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use and general computing needs. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, while also providing a quality CPU and ample RAM, features a versatile screen that can be used for drawing or presenting and typically has better heat management for prolonged use, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it more suited to stationary use where power and versatility are key.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.6
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air (2022) with its Apple M2 GPU is fair for 3D tasks but may fall short in gaming performance and game availability compared to Windows-based laptops like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, which boasts an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and higher screen refresh rate, making it better suited for gaming and 3D applications that benefit from its more capable hardware and wider game support.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) delivers silent operation with its efficient Apple M2 CPU and GPU, appropriate for design tasks, with a high-resolution, color-accurate screen that benefits engineering visualization; however, it may fall short for computationally intensive simulations due to its modest RAM.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$839 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
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 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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.
By the numbers
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Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
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Recommendations made
37,288
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About the laptop team
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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
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.
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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.
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