Apple MacBook Air 2020 13-inch
Score: 78/100
HP Chromebook 14
Score: 59/100Rankings
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 Chromebook 14 offers strong portability and long battery life for basic web-based tasks, but its low-end processor, limited RAM, and modest display keep it in the budget segment.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
12 hours | 14 hoursbest | |
8 GBbest | 4 GB | |
13.3 inches | 14 inchesbest | |
256 GBbest | 64 GB | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.27 kgbest | 1.47 kg |
3,733 MHz | 4,266 MHzbest | |
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(4) | ||
RAM Capacity (GB) | 8 GB | 4 GB |
RAM Speed (MHz) | 3733 MHz | 4266 MHz |
Storage Type | PCIe SSD | eMMC |
Storage Capacity (GB) | 256 GB | 64 GB |
Software(1) | ||
Operating System | macOS Catalina 10.15 | Chrome OS |
Keyboard & Input(1) | ||
Backlit Keyboard | true | false |
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 | 14 hours |
Weight (kg) | 1.27 kg | 1.47 kg |
Thickness (mm) | 231 mm | 18 mm |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Wi‑Fi Standard | Wi‑Fi 5 | 802.11ac |
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 consider the HP Chromebook 14 a solid budget option with strong portability, battery life, and a clean Chrome OS experience, but they warn that the Celeron processor and limited 4 GB RAM restrict performance for anything beyond basic web tasks.
Everyday users praise the Chromebook for its instant boot, reliable webcam, and versatile ports, especially for students and casual browsing, while common complaints focus on the low-resolution screen, limited storage, RAM constraints, warmth during use, and the lack of a backlit keyboard.
