If you prioritize portability and battery life for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, or media consumption, the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is a great choice, especially if you're looking to save a little. However, if you need more power for gaming, 3D modeling, or video editing and are willing to pay extra and carry a heavier device with potentially shorter battery life, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio would be a suitable option. Keep in mind that the two brands operate on different operating systems, with MacBook Air running macOS and MSI running Windows, so consider which software ecosystem aligns better with your needs. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.8/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is built with an integrated GPU that is adequate for entry-level 3D work and is not optimal for many popular games due to software compatibility issues with macOS. Conversely, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, designed with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a high refresh rate screen, offers a superior experience for gaming and 3D tasks on Windows, which supports a wider range of games.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The MacBook Air (2022), with its Apple M2 CPU and integrated graphics, offers ample power for many engineering and design applications; its high screen quality and lightweight design enhance portability and ease of use. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio steps up performance with a more robust Intel i7 CPU, a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, and double the RAM, catering to more demanding engineering software and tasks, though it is slightly heavier and less portable.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the MSI Stealth 14 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
7.6/10
7.6/10
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air's screen offers high resolution and brightness, making text and images sharp and clear for everyday tasks, and its wide color gamut ensures precise colors for engineering and design work. The MSI Stealth's display also provides good resolution and brightness suitable for general use and sufficient color accuracy for technical applications. However, both laptops have screens with lower refresh rates, which isn't ideal for 3D applications where smoother motion and quicker screen updates are crucial.
Battery
15.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 5 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
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) with its Apple M2 processor, 8 GB RAM, high-resolution IPS screen, remarkable battery life, and lightweight design, offers a silent, fanless operation, making it an excellent choice for general use with great portability and ease of use.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for content creation.
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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the MSI Stealth 14 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 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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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
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