If portability and battery life are top priorities, the MacBook Air would be the better choice as it's known for its lightweight design and long-lasting battery. On the other hand, if you're focused on a laptop that's built for business environments and value a robust build with a variety of ports, the ThinkPad X13 is likely to fulfill those needs. For general use, the MacBook Air may offer a more user-friendly experience with its intuitive operating system, while the ThinkPad could provide better customizability and compatibility in professional software environments, especially if you require specific Windows-based applications. 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 overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.4/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a balance of performance and portability with a high-quality screen and excellent battery life, making it well-suited for everyday tasks on the go. In comparison, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 provides robust CPU and ample RAM for efficient multitasking, and it's favored for its durable build and keyboard quality, which benefits prolonged work sessions, despite being slightly less portable than the MacBook Air.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.9/10
15.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, AI, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air's high-resolution display and bright panel offer vivid details and clarity which is essential for general use, while its strong color gamut coverage ensures accurate colors for engineering and design tasks, but its standard refresh rate isn’t ideal for 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13’s display offers adequate resolution and brightness for general tasks and good color reproduction for professional work, although its screen may not have the high refresh rate required for the best experience in gaming or 3D content. Essentially, the MacBook Air excels in visual fidelity and color accuracy, important for both everyday and design work, but for those into 3D work or gaming, a laptop with a higher refresh rate would be a better fit.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,138
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,138.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air 15, while equipped with a quality screen and capable CPU, has a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate that can limit 3D performance and gaming capabilities, and also many popular games are not compatible with its operating system. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, despite its better GPU which is beneficial for gaming and 3D tasks, might also have some limitations in refresh rate but is typically compatible with a wider range of games.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
8.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad X13 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air 15, with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU, excels in demanding engineering tasks and offers a superior screen for design work, but the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while also well-equipped in these areas, has the advantage of enhanced portability and is known for its robust keyboard quality and lower operating noise, making it a strong contender for on-the-go professionals. Both laptops are suitable for rigorous engineering and design applications, but if you prioritize a lightweight design and comfortable typing experience during prolonged use, the ThinkPad X13 holds an edge.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both very good for content creation.
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
8.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
13.3in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 ThinkPad X13 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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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.