The MacBook Air is more affordable and offers longer battery life with a silent, fanless design, which is great for general use and work environments that demand quiet. If you prioritize a larger screen, the MacBook provides more screen space with a higher resolution, enhancing visual detail. On the other hand, the Razer Book comes with more storage and memory, which is better suited for demanding tasks such as engineering and heavy multitasking. The Razer Book also runs Windows, which might be preferred for certain software compatibility, while the MacBook Air runs macOS, known for its streamlined user experience. The MacBook's M2 chip is designed for efficient performance, while the Razer's Intel processor is well-regarded for its power. Consider the Razer if you require a backlit RGB keyboard and touchscreen capabilities, features absent in the MacBook Air. Overall, the right choice depends on your specific needs regarding performance, operating system preference, storage requirements, and display features. 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
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Razer Book 13
Excellent portability
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
7.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Razer Book 13 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 efficient M2 CPU and integrated GPU handles engineering and design tasks smoothly, supported by its high-quality screen with great color accuracy. Meanwhile, the Razer Book 13 boasts a powerful Intel i7 processor with Iris Xe graphics and a sharp screen, ample RAM for multitasking, in a more compact design enhancing portability for engineering professionals on the move.
Software Development
8.1/10
7.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Razer Book 13 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
7.8/10
7.3/10
15.3in
SIZE
13.4in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
507.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Razer Book 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air 15's screen stands out in general use due to its high resolution and brightness, ensuring crisp text and vivid images. For engineering and design, its wide color gamut ensures accurate color reproduction which is crucial for detailed work. However, its lower refresh rate compared to gaming-focused laptops makes it less ideal for 3D work where smooth motion is key. The Razer Book 13, while offering good resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, still provides respectable color accuracy for professional work, but falls short for gaming and 3D due to the refresh rate not being as high as those on dedicated gaming laptops.
Battery
15.0 Hours
14.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Razer Book 13 has 14 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 Razer Book 13 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
$1,389
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,000 and the Razer Book 13 costs $1,389.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Razer Book 13 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is favored for general use due to its high screen quality, lightweight design for enhanced portability, and excellent battery life, all delivered by the efficient Apple M2 processor and ample RAM. Conversely, the Razer Book 13, while offering a touch-enabled display, larger storage capacity, and more RAM, which is beneficial for multitasking, will not match the MacBook's battery longevity or the silent, fanless operation but excels in portability with its smaller form factor and slightly lighter weight.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.2/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Razer Book 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15's integrated M2 GPU and the Razer Book 13's Iris Xe Graphics are both capable of handling 3D tasks and gaming to an extent, but they lack the power of dedicated gaming GPUs, leading to a fair performance in these areas. Additionally, popular games may not run on the MacBook due to its macOS, while the Razer's better screen quality and Windows operating system provide a more compatible gaming experience, even if its GPU is not top-tier for gaming.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) to be very good for content creation, while the Razer Book 13 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
15.3in
SIZE
13.4in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Book 13 to have excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Razer Book 13 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 Razer Book is like an XPS 13, but faster. The Book 13 combines the design philosophy and performance of a Blade Stealth with the 16:10 display of a Dell XPS 13 for an impressive piece of hardware. Office users who want something more stylish than the typical Dell, HP or Lenovo will certainly find themselves drawn to this Razer subnotebook. If your priorities are to have the best-looking and fastest 13-inch laptop in the office over auxiliary features, however, then the Book 13 proudly fulfills that niche."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Razer Book 13
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 Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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
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
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