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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
The MacBook Air is known for its light design and long battery life, making it ideal for everyday use and travel; however, it's not typically the best for intensive tasks like gaming or engineering software. The ThinkPad, on the other hand, often has more customization options and ports, and its sturdy build suits professionals who need a reliable machine for multitasking and more demanding applications. Remember, also, that the operating system differs: the MacBook runs macOS, while the ThinkPad uses Windows, which could influence your software choices and user experience. Make sure to consider which system better fits your workflow and software needs. 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 T14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.5
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air, known for its high-resolution screen and efficient CPU, excels in providing a vibrant display and smooth performance for everyday tasks, with the added benefit of being lightweight and offering long battery life, making it highly portable. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, also delivering solid CPU performance and sufficient RAM for multitasking, has a reputation for a durable build and excellent keyboard, but is usually a bit heavier, which may affect portability, albeit offering comparable battery life for prolonged use.
Software Development
7.9
8.4
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
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 T14 is very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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
6.9
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
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 T14 for general use, AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The MacBook Air with its high-resolution display and excellent brightness offers a sharp, vivid viewing experience for everyday tasks, while its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation crucial for engineering and design work. However, its lower refresh rate can be a downside for 3D applications where smoother visuals are essential. The ThinkPad T14, while offering good resolution and sufficient brightness for general tasks, also provides decent color accuracy for professionals, but like the MacBook, falls short for gaming and 3D due to a less than optimal refresh rate.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
Build Quality
10.0
8.0
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,194
$1,319
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,194 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,319.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.9
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.5/10
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
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air, with its limited selection of compatible games and traditionally less powerful GPU, isn't the best fit for gaming, but its high-quality screen supports modest 3D tasks. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, on the other hand, offers a better GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it more suitable for gaming and 3D applications, but its CPU and screen quality, while decent, are secondary factors to consider.
Engineering and Design
7.3
7.8
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and a superior GPU, ideal for handling engineering software and design work, along with a vibrant screen that enhances visual tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while also boasting a strong CPU and enough RAM for engineering tasks, prioritizes a robust keyboard and overall durability, which some users might find more conducive to their work style, despite potentially falling slightly short in GPU performance and screen quality compared to the MacBook.
Content Creation
7.9
8.3
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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 T14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | Lenovo ThinkPad T14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,194 | $1,319 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 12.5'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 2.96 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | M2 (8C) | Radeon 780M | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 39.3 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Keyboard Lighting Color | |||
Keyboard Lighting Color | White | White | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
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 ThinkPad T14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | December 2023
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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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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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Recommendations made
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About the laptop team
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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
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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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