The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 for software development, and content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a better screen for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 both have panels with high resolution and brightness, which results in sharp, clear visuals for everyday tasks, making them excellent for general use. Their ability to accurately reproduce a wide range of colors is essential for engineering and design work, where precise color representation can be critical. However, their lower refresh rates limit the smoothness needed for 3D applications, where fast-moving visuals are common, making them less ideal for 3D-intensive tasks.
Battery
15.0 Hours
10.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 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 Flip S13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 costs $1,400.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is favored for its high-quality screen, efficient CPU, and long-lasting battery life in a slim and lightweight design, making it ideal for everyday tasks and easy to carry around. The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, with its versatile CPU, substantial RAM, and premium screen, excels in similar general use scenarios while also offering a convertible form factor, but the battery life might not match that of the MacBook, which could be crucial for on-the-go productivity.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.3/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its Apple M2 processor and integrated GPU provides strong performance and high-quality screen for engineering and design tasks, yet it offers silent operation which is beneficial during intensive work sessions. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 includes a high-resolution touchscreen, more RAM, and an Intel CPU with Iris Xe graphics, making it versatile for various engineering and design applications, along with the added benefit of being a convertible 2-in-1 laptop for tablet use.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.8/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
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 Zenbook Flip S13 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
7.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) to be very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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
Very Good
Excellent
15.3in
SIZE
13.3in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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."
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13
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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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.