Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
I see you . You ’re considering a flashynew MacBook Air — perhaps one of the fresh M3 models or eventhe cheaper M2 configurations . I ’m not last to sit here and guess like that is n’t a fresh option to consider for your next laptop computer . These are first-class laptops , and that M2 theoretical account in particular is a solid value at a start terms of $ 999 .
But let me make an collection to you about a laptop that upends the value proffer of the MacBook Air in a number of ways . The laptop I ’m talking about is theAsus Zenbook 14 OLED ( Q425MA ) . This is a laptop we brush up before this year , but it continues to be the baron of value . No other laptop you could bribe properly now offers this much kick for your buck — the MacBook Air included .
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
Even more dumfounding , you may currentlybuy it at Best Buy starting at $ 599 . That ’s a mind - flabbergast deal . It derive with 8 GB of RAM , 512 GB of storage , and the latest Intel Core Ultra 5 processor . You still get the OLED CRT screen too .
That screen is important to point out because it present a real rise over what you get on the MacBook Air . Despite being significantly less expensive , the Zenbook 14 has a undecomposed screen in almost every way . OLED offer the deep blacks and unbelievable contrast the engineering is know for , as well as fantastic colouring reproduction and accuracy . It may not be quite as bright as the MacBook Air , but the upgrades in contrast and color more than make up for it .
In other actor’s line , it ’s not the budget laptop of past . In the preceding few long time , laptops that at this terms had major compromises , whether that was in the screen , construct timbre , or execution . Not so with the Zenbook 14 organic light-emitting diode . aside from the eyeglasses , it even has the quality - of - sprightliness goodies you ’d desire , include a fantastic keyboard , a 1080p webcam , and mint of ports . possess USB - A and HDMI 2.1 is still super ready to hand — and these are two port wine you wo n’t recover on the MacBook Air .
Now , I get it . This is n’t the prettiest laptop in the domain . The Asus logotype on the hat is a flake one-time school , which is a detriment to the overall intention . Asus does offer a spruced - up interlingual rendition ( theZenbook 14 organic light-emitting diode UX3405 ) that has a more interesting lid design , though there ’s only a higher - goal form offer with 32 GB of RAM — so it ’s rather expensive by equivalence .
And while the Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 is n’t as modern as the MacBook Air , it ’s about as compact . The screen door is slightly larger , but at 2.7 quid , it ’s the exact same weight as the MacBook Air . The 0.59 - inch thickness of the Zenbook is more or less thicker than that the 0.44 - column inch MacBook Air , but it ’s not as big of a difference as you may think .
There is , however , one major via media you ’ll have to make when going with the Zenbook 14 . It does n’t get quite as estimable a battery aliveness as the MacBook Air , which is still the champ in index efficiency . Even there , though , the Zenbook 14 is one of the good Windows laptop in terms of battery life that you could buy , hold out over 12 hour on a single charge in web browsing or up to 18 hour in local picture playback . The MacBook Air is still 7 or 8 hours out front in web - crop battery living — which is crazy to think about — but suffice it to say that the Zenbook 14 is no slouch .
All that to say : If these two laptops priced exactly the same , I ’d of course recommend buying the MacBook Air . There ’s no doubt about that .
But at half the cost when likewise configured , you just ca n’t beat the Zenbook 14 OLED in terms of economic value . If you ’re saving up for the MacBook Air , especially given its fair low price , I highly urge considering the Zenbook 14 OLED first .
