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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize high performance for tasks like video editing or intensive engineering software, the Apple MacBook Air is a superior choice, though at a higher price point. For everyday use such as web browsing, office applications, and streaming, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 offers adequate functionality at a more affordable price. The MacBook Air will typically have a more robust build and potentially longer battery life, making it suitable for heavy users who also value portability. On the other hand, the Vivobook is considerably lighter and might be favored if portability is a top priority and you're looking to minimize costs. 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)
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
5.6
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is considered good for general use due to its powerful CPU, ample RAM, high-resolution screen, balance of portability and battery life, and efficient heat management. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is rated poorly for general use because it has a less capable processor, less RAM, a lower quality screen, and although lightweight, it sacrifices battery life and overall performance.
Gaming and AI
6.5
5.4
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is fair for 3D because it has a more capable Apple M2 GPU, a better screen with higher resolution, and runs macOS, which aligns with the quality needed for some 3D applications, albeit many popular games do not operate on Macs. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 falls short for gaming and 3D as it has a less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a lower-quality TN screen, making it less suitable for activities that require high graphical fidelity and performance.
Engineering and Design
7.6
5.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.0
5.7
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
8.1
5.7
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
5.1
15.3in
SIZE
11.6in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the MacBook Air offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness, ensuring crisp and clear visuals, whereas the ASUS Vivobook Go's lower resolution and dimmer screen result in a less immersive experience. Engineering and design professionals prefer the MacBook Air because it displays a wide range of colors accurately, essential for precise work, but the Vivobook Go falls short in color reproduction. When it comes to 3D applications, the MacBook Air's lower refresh rate makes it less suited for smooth motion rendering, while the Vivobook Go's poor screen attributes make it ill-fitted for 3D tasks altogether.
Battery
15.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 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
5.1
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$267
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 costs $267.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
15.3in
SIZE
11.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.3 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook Go 12 to have excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | ASUS Vivobook Go 12 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $267 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 2.31 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 10.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 7.52" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 38 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 480p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
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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