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Updated January 10, 2024·
Consider the Apple MacBook Air if you prioritize a silent, fanless design with a longer battery life and a higher-quality display, which is essential for creative work involving color accuracy. It's better suited for general use and engineered for better heat management. However, it comes at a midrange price, which is often somewhat more expensive, and its performance for 3D tasks and engineering might not be as robust due to its less powerful hardware compared to some other models. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro offers a touchscreen, better 3D and machine learning capabilities, and higher refresh rates suitable for fast motion clarity on the screen. Its lower midrange price makes it somewhat less expensive, with better value if you need more storage and RAM for multitasking and complex tasks. The tradeoff is slightly less battery life and a noisier operation due to fans, which could be a downside if you prefer quieter work environments. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.3
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is favored for general use due to its high-quality display, lightweight design, and long battery life, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro's advantages lie in a more powerful CPU, greater RAM, and a higher storage capacity, which can handle more intensive multitasking, although it offers a shorter battery life. Both laptops deliver portability, but the Apple MacBook Air, being slightly lighter, would be easier to carry around, and its screen presents better color accuracy, making it ideal for tasks requiring precise color representation.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.0
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro are both good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its Apple M2 processor and integrated 10-core GPU offers efficient performance for design software while its high-resolution IPS screen provides strong color accuracy and brightness, suitable for detailed engineering work.
Content Creation
8.0
7.4
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
7.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
7.7
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro for software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air's screen boasts high resolution and brightness, along with a panel type that offers vibrant colors and wide viewing angles, making it ideal for everyday tasks and professional design work, which benefit from accurate color reproduction. Similarly, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, with its high-quality panel and robust color range, provides an excellent visual experience for both general use and design-related applications where color fidelity is crucial. However, both laptops lack high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth visuals in 3D applications and gaming, making them less optimal for those particular uses.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has 8.5 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
7.8
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$799
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro costs $799.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.1
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has an integrated Apple M2 GPU, which generally underperforms compared to dedicated gaming GPUs and its 60Hz screen refresh rate isn't ideal for smooth 3D rendering or fast-paced gaming that benefits from higher refresh rates. On the other hand, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro's Intel Iris Xe graphics offer modest gaming performance and can handle 3D tasks to an extent, its 90Hz refresh rate does provide a slightly smoother visual experience, yet it is limited by a lack of popular game titles compatible with MacOS.
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $799 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 3.04 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 12.29" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i5-11300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 60.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 395 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
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Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"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."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
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NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | October 2021
"The main selling point of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro versus a regular IdeaPad Slim 7 is its faster Core H-series CPU. In reality, the Core i7-11370H is only marginally faster than the U-series Core i7-1165G7 to the point where most users are not likely to notice the benefits. The slight performance uptick comes at the cost of slightly higher power consumption as well meaning owners will have to deal with potentially warmer temperatures or louder fans to compensate. Unless if you happen to be a power user, then the regular non-Pro model will be more than enough. Once you go 90 Hz, you can't go back."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
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.
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