Apple MacBook Air 2020 13-inch
Score: 78/100
HP 14 Ultralight
Score: 73/100Rankings
The 2020 MacBook Air offers a premium build, excellent Retina display, and all-day battery life in a fanless, ultra-light chassis, but its entry-level i3 processor and lack of upgradability limit performance for power users.
The HP Newest 14" Ultral Light Laptop offers a lightweight chassis, decent battery life, and a Microsoft 365 subscription, targeting students and budget-conscious users. Its performance is limited by an eMMC drive and a low-resolution TN screen, making it unsuitable for demanding workloads.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
12 hoursbest | 11.5 hours | |
8 GBbest | 8 GBbest | |
13.3 inches | 14 inchesbest | |
256 GBbest | 64 GB | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.27 kgbest | 1.471 kg |
3,733 MHzbest | 2,400 MHz | |
400 nitsbest | 250 nits | |
2 countbest | 1 count |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Performance(2) | ||
Processor Model | Intel Core i3-1000NG4 | Intel Celeron N4120 |
Graphics GPU Model | Intel Iris Plus Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 600 |
Memory & Storage(3) | ||
RAM Speed (MHz) | 3733 MHz | 2400 MHz |
Storage Type | PCIe SSD | eMMC |
Storage Capacity (GB) | 256 GB | 64 GB |
Software(1) | ||
Operating System | macOS Catalina 10.15 | Windows 11 Home in S Mode |
Display(3) | ||
Display Size (inches) | 13.3 inches | 14.0 inches |
Display Resolution | 2560x1600 | 1366x768 |
Brightness (nits) | 400 nits | 250 nits |
Battery & Power(3) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 12 hours | 11.5 hours |
Weight (kg) | 1.27 kg | 1.471 kg |
Thickness (mm) | 231 mm | 18 mm |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.4 |
USB‑C Ports (count) | 2 count | 1 count |
Warranty & Support(1) | ||
Warranty Period (years) | 0.25 years | 1 years |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praised the refined design, Magic Keyboard, and improved performance over earlier Intel models, but cautioned that the entry-level i3 processor makes it a marginal upgrade and recommend opting for an i5 or the newer M1 version for better value.
Everyday users love the Air's portability, excellent keyboard, and vivid display, but repeatedly complain about the sluggish i3 CPU, low-resolution webcam, and the inability to upgrade memory or get Wi-Fi 6, making it feel dated for power users.
“Perfect for school and writing - lightweight and lasts all day.”
“The i3 is too slow when I have more than 10 Chrome tabs open.”
“Webcam is terrible in low light - looks grainy on Zoom.”
Professional reviewers acknowledge the attractive price and Microsoft 365 inclusion, but caution that the Celeron N4120 and eMMC storage restrict it to very light tasks, recommending at least 8 GB RAM for acceptable performance.
Everyday users praise portability, long battery life, and the included Office subscription, while noting sluggishness with many tabs, quickly filled eMMC storage, dim low-resolution screen, and occasional overheating.
