Apple is popular MacBook Air for years, set the bar for what you would expect from a $ 1,000 laptop and gave you a great access point to MacOS without using an iMac or MacBook Pro. However, PC manufacturers have caught up with the Apple laptop and in some cases surpassed what is possible for an ultra-portable laptop.
Despite the best computer management system in existence, MacOSApple rarely delivers the best value on key components (processor, RAM, and hard drive capacity), battery life, ports, and connections. And the Apple MacBook Air does not offer a touch screen option – a useful feature found in an increasing number of competing models, as well as Apple’s own popular iPad and iPad Pro.
Look at this:
CNET laptops pick their favorite 2020 laptops
4:01
All six laptops, listed below as MacBook Air alternative options, cost about as much as Apple’s MacBook Air, have a 13.3-inch or slightly larger screen, weigh less than 1.4 kg, and are fairly streamlined and stylish. Each will be a worthy alternative to a new MacBook. Look at them.
Sarah Tew / CNET
If you are a Windows person and want a balance between portability, power and price, it’s hard to find a better laptop than the XPS 13. This lightweight laptop is attractive from $ 1,000, easy to use, incomparably slim and offers a ton of configuration (and price) flexibility. In 2020, Dell introduced a larger 13.4-inch screen, which gave you a little more space to view your spreadsheets, yet the body became smaller overall. That said, the larger screen also enhances users’ web browsing and streaming experiences on this Dell laptop. Dell is also making a 15-inch version, starting at $ 1,000. Read our review of Dell XPS 13 (2020).
Sarah Tew / CNET
By the end of 2019, the premium two-in-one from the HP looks like its predecessor until you see it side by side and realize how much smaller the newer HP Specter x360 is. This device also has a tenth generation Intel Core i7 that performs better than the last generation model with a similar configuration with an Intel eighth processor. The HP Specter x360 has a battery that keeps it running for more than ten hours in our tests. Read our HP Specter x360 13 (late 2019) review.
Sarah Tew / CNET
This thin, 3-pound convertible kitchen is regularly available for less than $ 750 and is a great choice for anyone who needs a laptop for office or school work. The all-metal chassis gives an excellent look and feel, it has a comfortable keyboard and responsive, smooth precision touchpad. Although the device is light with extra features compared to the premium line size, the C940, it does have one of Lenovo’s sliding doors for its webcam that gives you privacy whenever you want it. And it has a long battery life to start. Read our Lenovo Yoga C740 (14-inch) review.
Josh Goldman / CNET
The Swift 3, which offers AMD’s Ryzen 4000 series of mobile processors, is a special bargain for anyone who needs a cheap, lightweight laptop for work or school. This 14-inch laptop weighs only 1.2 kg (2.7 kg), costs around $ 600 and has processor performance that is twice as good as laptops. As you would expect, a few angles have been lowered to keep the price on the Acer Swift lower, but if your price, performance and weight are the biggest concerns, you will end up with this device. Read our Acer Swift 3 (14-inch, 2020) review.