The Apple MacBook Air is slightly more costly and offers less storage and memory compared to the XPG Xenia 14, but it does include Apple's M2 chip which is known for robust performance and efficiency, leading to longer battery life and a remarkably quiet, fanless design. It also has a higher-resolution screen and operates on macOS which is often preferred for its user experience and integration with other Apple products. Conversely, the Xenia 14 comes with more storage and memory, which is beneficial for multitasking and data-intensive tasks, and it sports an Intel chip, which might not match the efficiency of Apple's M2 but is still competent for a variety of applications. Additionally, with the Xenia 14 running Windows, it could be more versatile for those who need compatibility with a wide array of software. If you lean towards a sleek user experience, prefer macOS, and value a silent, lightweight machine with a sharper display, the MacBook Air is better. However, if you're looking for more storage, memory, and value a Windows environment, the Xenia 14 would be a wiser choice. 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 XPG Xenia 14
The XPG Xenia 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2022).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.3/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and XPG Xenia 14 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) excels in general use due to its powerful Apple M2 processor, high-resolution screen with great color accuracy, and long battery life, combined with its lightweight and fanless silent design which enhances portability and comfort. On the other hand, the XPG Xenia 14 offers more storage and RAM, and while not as portable due to a slightly heavier build and shorter battery life, it still features a high-quality IPS display and good overall build quality, making it a competitive choice for general use as well.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
6.8/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
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 XPG Xenia 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is suited for engineering and design due to its Apple M2 CPU and integrated GPU providing solid performance, paired with a high-quality screen that has very good color accuracy and brightness. In contrast, the XPG Xenia 14 has more storage and RAM which is beneficial for multitasking and complex projects, though its screen quality and color accuracy are a bit lower.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and XPG Xenia 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
7.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the XPG Xenia 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
6.9/10
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the XPG Xenia 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air stands out for general use and engineering tasks with its high-resolution and bright display that reproduces colors accurately, catering to professionals who rely on color fidelity for design work. The XPG Xenia 14, with its good display, suits everyday tasks and can handle engineering programs, but it may not match the MacBook Air's color precision for design-related projects. However, both laptops have screens with lower refresh rates, making them less suitable for 3D work where smoother visuals are crucial for an immersive experience.
Battery
15.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The XPG Xenia 14 has 10 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
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the XPG Xenia 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$800
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the XPG Xenia 14 costs $800.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and XPG Xenia 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022), with its integrated M2 GPU, offers fair 3D performance but is limited in gaming due to many popular games not being compatible with MacOS and lower game-specific optimizations. On the other hand, the XPG Xenia 14, also with integrated graphics via the Intel Iris Xe, delivers fair gaming and 3D capabilities for Windows-based titles, benefitting from a wider range of game compatibility, though its graphical prowess is not top-tier for demanding games or professional 3D applications.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
13.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.2 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and XPG Xenia 14 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the XPG Xenia 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."
"The Xenia 14 is a top 14-inch laptop under 1 kg. ADATA isn't exactly known for its laptops and so we weren't expecting much from its first 14-inch Ultrabook. With that said, we're pleasantly surprised by how well the Xenia 14 looks and performs. Not only is it incredibly light, but it has a color accurate 16:10 display, high CPU and GPU performance, easy RAM and SSD serviceability, plenty of port options including Thunderbolt 4, and long battery life. It packs a lot of punch and features considering the size and weight to be better than even the LG Gram series."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the XPG Xenia 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.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
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.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
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.