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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Air 15 with the M2 chip is designed for silent, fanless operation, providing a balance between performance and efficient energy consumption that suits general use, including everyday tasks and light creative work. Its display is higher resolution and it's lighter and thinner, enhancing portability. However, if you need a laptop for more intensive tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 with an RTX 3060 graphics card might be a better option, as it's built for such purposes. Although heavier and thicker, the ASUS offers a higher refresh rate screen for smoother visuals and more storage and RAM out of the box, beneficial for demanding applications and multitasking. The battery life appears more substantial in the MacBook Air, which might be a critical factor if you often work on the go away from power outlets. The MacBook runs on MacOS while the ASUS operates on Windows 11 Home, so consider which operating system you prefer. 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 15 (2023)
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Dash 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.4
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 excels in gaming and 3D because it features a high-refresh-rate screen and a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, which are very important for smooth visuals and detailed graphics. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Air 15's GPU is less powerful, and despite its high-quality display, the lower refresh rate and lack of compatibility with many popular games limit its efficiency for gaming and 3D applications.
Software Development
8.1
7.4
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 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
7.8
7.0
15.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
272.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Dash 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a high-resolution display and brightness, making it excellent for everyday tasks, and its superior color gamut coverage benefits engineering and design work where color accuracy is crucial. While the ASUS TUF Dash 15 provides ample brightness and a decent resolution that's fine for general use and satisfactory for engineering and design purposes, it may not be as color-accurate as the MacBook Air. However, both laptops fall short for 3D applications since neither offers a high refresh rate, which is essential for smooth visuals in fast-paced 3D environments.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 9 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
Very Good
Good
15.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.4
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$1,150
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the ASUS TUF Dash 15 costs $1,150.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.6
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
272.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS TUF Dash 15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) caters to general use with its high-resolution IPS screen, Apple M2 processor capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly, and a lightweight, thin design that enhances its portability and silent operation, complemented by long battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.8
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-resolution IPS screen and powerful integrated Apple M2 GPU, making it great for detailed visual tasks while maintaining a lightweight and fanless design for portability and silent operation. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 provides superior performance for demanding engineering software with its Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, coupled with double the RAM and a high refresh-rate screen, but it sacrifices some portability due to its heavier weight and greater thickness.
Content Creation
8.0
7.6
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) to be very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the ASUS TUF Dash 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | ASUS TUF Dash 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $1,150 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 13.9'' x 9.9'' x 0.81'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 4.41 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 13.94" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 76 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 272 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
ASUS TUF Dash 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | July 2022
"The Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the ASUS TUF Dash 15
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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
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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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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