The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) usually offers better performance, a high-quality build, and a longer battery life, making it ideal for power users and professionals who need a reliable laptop for tasks like video editing, graphic design, and software development. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is more affordable and should be sufficient for basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and watching videos; however, it may not handle intensive tasks as well. If you prioritize portability, the lighter Lenovo might be easier to carry around. The MacBook Air is less portable but typically has a better screen and user experience. Consider how important performance, build quality, and battery life are to you against the higher cost of the MacBook Air. If your main concern is budget and you only need to perform simple tasks, the Lenovo could be the more appropriate choice. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
6.1/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) excels in general use due to its capable Apple M2 processor, higher quality IPS display with better screen resolution and color accuracy, longer battery life, and larger RAM and storage, making it faster and more visually pleasing.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
5.5/10
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
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its Apple M2 integrated GPU and high-quality IPS display is better suited for 3D applications than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14", which uses an Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU with a lower-quality TN panel. However, the MacBook's MacOS may not support many popular games, which alongside the Lenovo's modest hardware, limits gaming capabilities on both laptops.
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Apple M2 CPU and integrated M2 GPU, providing higher performance for demanding tasks, and its superior screen quality with a higher resolution and color accuracy. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" falls short with a basic Intel Celeron processor and lower-tier Intel UHD Graphics, along with a lower resolution screen, which makes it less capable of handling engineering software and detailed design work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
6.2/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
6.4/10
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
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
5.3/10
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air's display offers high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, and it covers a wide range of colors crucial for engineering and design work. However, its lower refresh rate can hinder the experience in fast-paced 3D environments where smooth motion is key. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1's display lacks in resolution, brightness, and color range, detracting from the experience across general use, professional creative work, and gaming where these features enhance visibility, accuracy, and immersion.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 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
14.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" 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
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$165
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" costs $165.
"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 IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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