If you’re seeking a higher-performance laptop for more intensive tasks like engineering or 3D work, the Apple MacBook Air offers a robust processor and superior display quality, yet it costs more. The MSI Modern 14, while lighter on the wallet, offers more storage and larger RAM out of the box, which is advantageous for multitasking, but has a less powerful processor and less impressive display quality. The MacBook boasts a longer battery life and better portability due to its lighter weight and fanless design, making it a better option for on-the-go use. On the other hand, the MSI may lean towards better connectivity with a variety of ports and upgradability with extra RAM and storage slots. 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 portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2022).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is a great choice for general use, with its powerful Apple M2 CPU, high-quality screen, and long battery life, all wrapped in a lightweight and silent design; however, it has less RAM and storage compared to the MSI Modern 14, which offers a larger storage capacity and more RAM, useful for multitasking but with shorter battery life and a heavier build.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
6.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is better equipped for engineering and design tasks, thanks to its higher-resolution screen for detailed work, superior color accuracy important for design, and the efficiently integrated M2 CPU and GPU which provide smooth performance. The MSI Modern 14, however, offers double the RAM, which is beneficial for multitasking and handling larger projects, but it falls short in screen quality and computing performance compared to the MacBook Air.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and MSI Modern 14 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
8.0/10
7.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the MSI Modern 14 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
7.6/10
6.4/10
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and ample brightness, making everyday tasks enjoyable and detailed work in engineering and design accurate due to excellent color reproduction. However, its refresh rate isn't designed for 3D applications where fast motion is common. The MSI Modern 14, while competent for day-to-day tasks and some technical work, doesn't match the MacBook Air's color accuracy and peak brightness, and its moderate refresh rate is also less ideal for demanding 3D environments or fast-paced gaming.
Battery
15.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a high-quality GPU that's built into its Apple M2 chip, which is fine for some 3D tasks, but its MacOS limits the selection of games available, and its standard 60Hz refresh rate is not ideal for high-refresh gaming. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 also has a decent integrated GPU suitable for light gaming and 3D, and runs on Windows 11, which supports a wider range of games, but similarly offers a 60Hz screen refresh rate, thus not excelling in high-refresh-rate gaming.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the MSI Modern 14 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."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the MSI Modern 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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 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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