If you prioritize portability and battery life, and mostly need a laptop for general use, the Apple MacBook Air is lighter with a longer-lasting battery. However, if you require higher performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering tasks, the ASUS Zenbook Pro with its more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card is better suited, though it is heavier and has a shorter battery life. The ASUS also has a higher-resolution touch screen, which is better for creative tasks, but it comes at a higher price compared to the MacBook Air. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.5/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers superior gaming and 3D performance with its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU which supports hardware ray tracing and DLSS, technologies geared towards high-performance gaming, while the Apple MacBook Air 15, with its Apple M2 integrated GPU, provides more modest 3D capabilities and cannot run many popular games due to MacOS compatibility issues. Additionally, both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, but the dedicated GPU in the ASUS makes it a better choice for demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
8.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X outperforms the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) in various aspects crucial for engineering and design, such as a more powerful Intel processor, double the RAM for multi-tasking, and a dedicated high-end Nvidia GPU advantageous for complex graphical tasks; it also offers a higher-resolution OLED display which is superior for color-sensitive work. In contrast, the MacBook Air, while less powerful, provides a silent, fanless operation and is more portable due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize mobility and less noise over raw power and screen quality.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for content creation, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.3/10
15.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 offers a high-resolution display and bright screen suited for everyday tasks and viewing fine details in design work, while its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation crucial for engineering and design professionals. However, its refresh rate may be lower, making it less ideal for 3D work where smoother motion representation is key. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X similarly provides a clear and bright display with excellent color accuracy for general and engineering uses, but like the MacBook, may fall short in refresh rate, making it less than optimal for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is paramount.
Battery
15.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 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
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is equipped with an efficient CPU and sufficient RAM for general use, also boasting an extensive battery life and lightweight design for greater portability, but with lesser storage and a non-touch IPS screen.
Software Development
8.1/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for software development.
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.
Cost
$1,299
$1,300
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X costs $1,300.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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 new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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.
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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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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.