When choosing between the Apple MacBook Air and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, consider that the MacBook Air generally offers a more seamless experience for users already invested in the Apple ecosystem and is known for its long battery life and lightweight design, making it ideal for on-the-go use. The ThinkBook can offer more customization options and may often better suit users needing specific software compatibility with Windows. However, the ThinkBook's portability and battery life typically fall short when compared to the MacBook Air, which could be a critical factor if mobility is a priority for you. 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 battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.2/10
13.6in
SIZE
13.5in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The MacBook Air is known for its high-resolution Retina display which offers vivid colors and excellent brightness, enhancing the visual experience for general use and detailed tasks in engineering and design due to its wide color gamut coverage. However, its standard refresh rate limits the screen's ability to smoothly render fast-paced 3D graphics which are crucial for a seamless 3D experience. Similarly, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offers sharp images with good color accuracy favorable for general tasks and professional design work, but its gaming and 3D performance is hampered by a refresh rate less optimized for the high-speed rendering these activities often require.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$944
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $944 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air is known for its efficient CPU, high-quality screen, and long battery life, making it highly portable and suitable for everyday tasks, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x also offers a robust CPU and ample RAM for smooth performance, a sharp display, and is lightweight, though it may have slightly shorter battery life. Both laptops have adequate storage and are crafted with attention to keyboard and speaker quality, with effective heat management and low operating noise, but the MacBook Air edges out with better integration of its operating system and hardware.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.6/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
Due to its limited GPU and screen refresh rate, the Apple MacBook Air isn't ideal for gaming or 3D applications, and it is further restricted by the lesser number of popular games available for macOS. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while also possessing a modest GPU and refresh rate which makes it only moderately suitable for gaming and 3D tasks, does not face the same software limitations and can run a wider array of games.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air provides a balance of a high-quality screen, CPU, and GPU suited for tasks like video editing and graphic design, and while it's highly portable with a lower operating noise and an excellent keyboard, it comes at a premium price. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offers similar CPU and RAM capabilities for engineering software, sacrifices slightly on the GPU and screen quality, but gains points with a more affordable price point and admirable portability, making it a strong contender for users who prioritize budget without major compromises on performance.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkBook 13x to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
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
7.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2022) to be very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
13.6in
SIZE
13.5in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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.
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