If performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering software is crucial, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its more powerful processor and better graphics is a superior choice. It also has a higher resolution display and a construction that balances strength and light weight for portability, plus it offers a long-lasting battery life. On the other hand, the Gateway 14.1" is designed for those on a tight budget and offers adequate performance for general use like internet browsing, office applications, and media consumption. It's less expensive but also less capable in demanding scenarios, with lesser graphics power and a simpler build, which might reduce its lifespan. Choose the MacBook Air if you need top performance and a premium feel, and the Gateway if budget and simple daily tasks are your priorities. 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 Gateway 14.1"
The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
5.6/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its powerful Apple M2 processor, ample 8 GB of RAM, and high-quality 15.3-inch screen offers smooth performance and stunning visuals for general use, alongside excellent battery life and a very good portability score.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
5.4/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its Apple M2 integrated graphics performs fairly for 3D tasks because the GPU is more capable, supported by a high-quality, high-resolution display, but as many popular games aren't available on MacOS, it is less suited for gaming.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
5.5/10
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 Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is better suited for engineering and design tasks due to its powerful Apple M2 chip with a 10-core GPU, higher RAM, and a high-resolution screen offering greater color accuracy and contrast, while the Gateway 14.1" has more modest specs including an Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics with lower RAM and screen quality that make it less capable for demanding engineering software and detailed design work. Despite being slightly heavier, the MacBook Air is still highly portable and offers silent operation, attributes less critical but beneficial for such users; conversely, the Gateway might be slightly more portable but falls short in performance and display, which are much more crucial for this user group.
Content Creation
8.0/10
5.8/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
8.1/10
5.8/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
7.8/10
6.0/10
15.3in
SIZE
14.1in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 likely has a high-resolution display with vibrant colors, making it well-suited for general use and tasks requiring precise color representation, such as engineering and design, but its lower refresh rate may hinder performance in 3D applications. The Gateway 14.1" possibly provides an adequate display for everyday tasks and engineering work but may not have the higher color accuracy or high resolution found in premium models, and like the MacBook, it falls short for 3D due to a likely modest refresh rate. Both laptops, while capable in various scenarios, might not satisfy users seeking the best experience in gaming or running 3D simulations, which demand not just good color and resolution, but also fast refresh rates to render smooth visuals.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Gateway 14.1" 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
14.1in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Gateway 14.1" both have very good portability, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
5.1/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$99
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Gateway 14.1" costs $99.
"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 Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Gateway 14.1"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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