If you are looking for a new laptop and don’t want to buy one Windows laptopThere are two main competitors available to you. Yes, we know you can install Linux on a laptop, but if you do, you’re probably too tech-savvy to need our advice. For most consumers, the basic alternatives are macbook And Chromebooks.
Both have been around for ages, with the first Chromebooks released in 2011 and the original MacBook released in the solid days of 2006. They’ve come a long way from their humble and incredibly compact origins, with MacBooks becoming the preferred choice of premium laptops for creatives and professionals while Chromebooks have taken over the budget laptop market.
We’ll be comparing Chromebooks to MacBook Air Specifically, because it’s closer in specs to the more powerful (and more expensive) MacBook Pro. Chromebooks are also compact and lightweight, which makes them about as good as the MacBook Air if you want a nice little laptop for work, school, or on public transportation.
We’ll break down the pros and cons of each, and hopefully determine which one is the best—or at least, which one is right for you.
MacBook Air vs. Chromebook: Price
If we were looking purely at the price tags here, Apple would stumble and break its leg right out of the gate. The new 2022 model of the MacBook Air (which uses Apple’s powerful new M2 chip) costs $1,199 (£1,249 / AU$1,899) – a price that’s arguably more affordable for a Windows laptop or the more premium MacBook Pro power.
Older MacBook Air models such as Version 2020 M1 or Intel-powered versions have gone as low as $999 (£999 / AU$1,599), but you can generally find them for less nowadays. It’s still more expensive than the best Chromebooks, which have always been positioned as a more wallet-friendly alternative to traditional laptops.
While similarly priced premium Chromebooks to the MacBook Air are out there – just as premium Google Pixelbook Go And HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook Most are a little cheaper. the Chromebook Flip series from Asus falls in the $500-600 range depending on the specs, while you can pick up ultra budget options like 2021 Acer Spin 311 For less than $300.
Obviously, these cheap Chromebooks aren’t going to compete with any $1,000 laptop when it comes to performance. If you need a laptop with solid performance to run more intensive programs, the MacBook Air with an M1 or M2 chip will probably outperform most Chromebooks.
We still give the win to Chromebooks in this category, because the wide range of options to fit any budget is great for any potential buyer. But if you’re looking more toward the premium end of the scale, the MacBook Air still offers a decent price-to-performance offering.
Winner: Chromebooks
MacBook Air vs. Chromebook: Features
The main difference here is the operating system: MacBooks use it macwhile Chromebooks are more cloud-focused Chrome OS. The former is arguably the most powerful operating system, coming close to Microsoft Windows in terms of capabilities and user interface. ChromeOS, meanwhile, is very fast and smooth but more akin to Android tablet operating systems.
Since ChromeOS was designed with cloud computing in mind, it generally requires a stable internet connection for optimal performance. You can certainly use it offline, but some features will not be available. MacOS works just fine without accessing Wi-Fi, and has access to a wide range of compatible software available. ChromeOS is somewhat limited in this regard, though it can now run apps from the Google Play Store. If you need a laptop to use certain software, there’s a good chance it won’t work on your Chromebook.
Outside of the operating system, the MacBook Air doesn’t offer much in terms of physical features; We have some Thunderbolt 4 ports and a clean 1080p webcam. Chromebooks will vary widely in terms of features, with the base models usually only featuring a choice of a primary port and a 480p or 720p webcam. It’s a “get what you pay for” attitude.
An important feature of Chromebooks is that many of them are available in 2-in-1 or detachable tablet configurations, packing a touch screen and sometimes a stylus for a more user-friendly experience. While these models can be a little more expensive, it’s a great feature if you want the flexibility to switch between laptop and tablet modes.
Winner: Draw
MacBook Air vs. Chromebook: Performance
This will be a fairly short category to judge. Even the best Intel-powered premium Chromebooks struggle to keep up with Apple’s ultra-fast M1 and M2 silicon, which perform almost implausibly well considering Apple only introduced its own chips in 2020.
Chromebooks tend to use lower-power chips to keep the price down. Fortunately, ChromeOS isn’t a demanding operating system, so it can run smoothly on low-end hardware — it’s worth considering the processor of any laptop you’re planning to buy, though. The Intel and Qualcomm Snapdragon chips are good overall, but the MediaTek CPUs are only worthy of a budget Chromebook pick. Some Chromebooks will use older chips, so researching the release date of the CPU in question is a good idea.
While neither MacBook nor Chromebooks are ideal for gaming, the M-series chips of the MacBook Air have a huge advantage in graphical performance as well. While Windows laptops may come with an extension dedicated graphics cardChromebooks usually use processor integrated graphics, and M1/M2 iGPUs are simply superior. You won’t be playing the latest games, but the MacBook Air can handle some graphics-intensive tasks like photo editing and 3D rendering.
Winner: MacBook Air
MacBook Air vs. Chromebook: Design
Sure, personal taste is an important factor here, but even the most die-hard Apple hater (this writer included) will have to admit that the current MacBook Air is a beautiful, stylish little laptop. Apple has always left its mark on the tech industry with sleek and simple product designs, and this one is no exception.
Again, Chromebooks run the gamut from “aesthetically elegant” to “downright elegant.” If you’re only going to spend $250 on a Chrome laptop for a kid, it’s probably going to look like crap with chunky screen bezels and chubby keys. Some premium Chromebooks look amazing, like the HP Elite Dragonfly model mentioned above.
An often unattractive positive side Chromebook budget is that they tend to be a bit more rugged than other laptops, and designed for clumsy little hands. A cheap Chromebook 2-in-1 with a sturdy plastic casing and sturdy screen hinge can be an excellent choice if you’re looking for a hybrid tablet PC for a younger kid to do schoolwork and watch YouTube on.
Winner: Draw
MacBook Air vs Chromebook: Which Should You Choose?
MacBook Air vs Chromebook: Which Should You Choose?
We’ll bend the rules a bit here and make a candid recommendation despite the general tie in our results. If you can afford the asking price, get the MacBook Air: It’s a great, powerful, lightweight laptop where the only real drawback is cost.
Conversely, if you’re on a tight budget – or want to buy a domain Cheap laptop for a kid Chromebook is the right choice. They’re relatively limited when it comes to capabilities and performance versus MacBooks, but if all you want to do is live work and browse the web, they can handle it comfortably.
It’s also worth noting that with newly supported Google Play Store functionality on Chromebooks, you can now play some The best Android games On any Chromebook. If you are willing to subscribe to a game streaming service such as Nvidia GeForce NowYou can play the latest games on any device you want.