When choosing between the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the ASUS Zenbook 14, consider the operating systems as a significant factor. The MacBook runs MacOS, which is preferred for its seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, offering a smooth user experience and optimized software performance, especially for creative tasks, but could limit software choices compared to Windows. On the other hand, the Zenbook's Windows 11 Home may offer greater flexibility with a wider range of software compatibility, which can be crucial for some professional or gaming applications.
The MacBook Air features the M2 processor, which provides efficient, fanless operation and strong performance for a range of tasks, including video editing and graphic design. Though quieter and cooler, the MacBook's fanless design may not sustain maximum performance under prolonged heavy loads compared to a laptop with active cooling. The ASUS Zenbook, with its Intel i5 processor and Iris Xe graphics, may handle everyday tasks well and offer reasonable performance for light gaming and multimedia, but it might be less capable for more demanding applications compared to the MacBook Air.
Battery life is another critical aspect, and while exact figures are not provided, a larger battery capacity in the Zenbook suggests longer unplugged usage. However, actual battery life varies with usage patterns. If mobility and long battery life are priorities, the Zenbook is notable, but you should also consider the MacBook Air's performance capabilities if those are more aligned with your needs.
The MacBook Air's larger 15-inch IPS display provides more screen real estate, which is great for multitasking and media consumption, though the smaller 14-inch OLED screen on the Zenbook offers vibrant colors and higher contrast, potentially making it more appealing for entertainment purposes.
Regarding portability, the MacBook Air is slightly heavier than the Zenbook, which, alongside its larger size, could be a drawback if frequent travel is anticipated. The Zenbook, being lighter and more compact, might therefore be more suitable for on-the-go users.
Pricing is an unavoidable consideration, with the MacBook Air sitting in a higher price range reflecting its premium build and performance capabilities, whereas the more affordable Zenbook aligns with budget-conscious users who still seek a quality machine.
In conclusion, if budget is a constraint and you prioritize portability and battery life over top-tier performance, the ASUS Zenbook 14 could serve you well. However, if you're focused on a higher-performing device and are engaged in more intense creative tasks or prefer MacOS, the MacBook Air 15 (2023) could be a worthwhile investment despite its higher cost. 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
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.2/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
339.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 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
8.1/10
7.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 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
7.8/10
8.3/10
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
339.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 14 for software development, and content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
Both the MacBook Air and ASUS Zenbook provide crisp, clear displays with high resolution and brightness, making them ideal for everyday tasks and productivity, which is why they excel in general use and engineering. Their panels likely cover a wide range of colors, essential for precision in engineering and design work, allowing for accurate color representation. However, for activities like gaming and 3D rendering, which demand high refresh rates to be smooth and seamless, these laptops may fall short, as their screens are not primarily built for such high-intensity graphical output.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 14 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
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the ASUS Zenbook 14 costs $300.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a fair GPU for 3D tasks and games, but with macOS, it can't run many popular games and its screen refresh rate is capped at a standard level, which is less ideal for smooth gameplay. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook 14 with its integrated Iris Xe graphics also offers fair performance for 3D and gaming, benefits from a higher screen refresh rate for more fluid visuals, and runs Windows 11, which supports a wide range of games.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
7.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is equipped with an Apple M2 processor and M2 GPU, offering strong performance and good screen quality required for engineering and design tasks, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 utilizes an Intel i5-1240P processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics and an OLED display, which also offers high performance for design and engineering work, with the added benefit of superior color representation.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the ASUS Zenbook 14 compare to other laptops
"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."
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the ASUS Zenbook 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.
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.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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