What To Know
- The world of ultraportable laptops is a competitive battleground, with two of the top contenders being the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1.
- The ZenBook features a sleek and sophisticated all-metal chassis with a striking Celestial Blue finish, while the MacBook Air M1 comes in a more subdued silver or space gray finish.
- Battery life is a key consideration for ultraportable laptops, and both the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 excel in this regard.
The world of ultraportable laptops is a competitive battleground, with two of the top contenders being the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1. Both devices offer sleek designs, powerful performance, and impressive battery life, making them ideal for students, professionals, and anyone else who needs a portable and capable laptop. But which one is the better choice for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll pit the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA against the MacBook Air M1 and examine their key features, performance, and value to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality
Both the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 boast premium designs. The ZenBook features a sleek and sophisticated all-metal chassis with a striking Celestial Blue finish, while the MacBook Air M1 comes in a more subdued silver or space gray finish. In terms of build quality, both laptops are exceptionally well-crafted with sturdy construction and durable materials. The ZenBook’s metal chassis provides excellent rigidity, while the MacBook Air M1’s unibody design ensures a seamless and robust build.
Display
The ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 both offer impressive displays, but with different strengths. The ZenBook features a 14-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels. This display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it ideal for multimedia consumption and creative work. The MacBook Air M1, on the other hand, has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2560 x 1664 pixels. This display offers sharp images, accurate colors, and excellent brightness, making it suitable for a wide range of tasks.
Performance
Performance is a crucial aspect for any laptop, and both the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 deliver in this area. The ZenBook is powered by an Intel Core i7-1260P processor, while the MacBook Air M1 features Apple‘s own M1 chip. Both processors provide excellent performance, but the M1 chip has a significant advantage in terms of efficiency and battery life. For everyday tasks like web browsing, productivity apps, and video streaming, both laptops perform exceptionally well. However, for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and intensive gaming, the MacBook Air M1 offers superior performance thanks to its optimized architecture and integrated GPU.
Battery Life
Battery life is a key consideration for ultraportable laptops, and both the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 excel in this regard. The ZenBook boasts a 63Wh battery, while the MacBook Air M1 has a 52.6Wh battery. In real-world usage, the ZenBook typically provides up to 10 hours of battery life, while the MacBook Air M1 can last up to 18 hours. This significant difference in battery life gives the MacBook Air M1 a clear advantage for users who need extended unplugged use.
Features
Both the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 offer a range of features to enhance productivity and user experience. The ZenBook comes with a full-size backlit keyboard, a large touchpad, and a dedicated fingerprint sensor. It also has a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a microSD card slot. The MacBook Air M1 features a Magic Keyboard with a backlit design, a spacious Force Touch trackpad, and a Touch ID sensor. It also has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Price and Value
The ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 are both premium laptops with price tags to match. The ZenBook typically starts at around $1,200, while the MacBook Air M1 starts at $999. In terms of value, both laptops offer a lot for their respective prices. The ZenBook provides a larger and more vibrant display, a wider range of ports, and a more powerful processor. The MacBook Air M1, on the other hand, offers superior battery life, a more efficient processor, and a more refined user experience. Ultimately, the best value for you depends on your individual needs and priorities.
Which One Should You Choose?
The choice between the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1 ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you prioritize a larger and more vibrant display, a wider range of ports, and a more powerful processor, the ZenBook is a great option. However, if you value extended battery life, superior performance, and a refined user experience, the MacBook Air M1 is the better choice.
Beyond the Comparison
In addition to the key differences discussed above, there are some other factors to consider when choosing between the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA and the MacBook Air M1:
- Operating System: The ZenBook runs on Windows 11, while the MacBook Air M1 runs on macOS Monterey. Both operating systems have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your workflow and preferences.
- Ecosystem: The ZenBook is part of the Windows ecosystem, while the MacBook Air M1 is part of the Apple ecosystem. This means that you’ll have access to a wider range of software and peripherals with the ZenBook, but you’ll enjoy a more seamless and integrated experience with the MacBook Air M1.
- Upgradability: The ZenBook allows you to upgrade the RAM and SSD, while the MacBook Air M1 has a soldered-on RAM and SSD. This means that you’ll have more flexibility to upgrade your ZenBook in the future, but you’ll be stuck with the fixed configuration of the MacBook Air M1.
Questions You May Have
1. Which laptop has a better display?
The ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA has a larger and more vibrant OLED display, while the MacBook Air M1 has a sharper and more efficient Liquid Retina display.
2. Which laptop has better performance?
The MacBook Air M1 has superior performance for demanding tasks due to its optimized architecture and integrated GPU.
3. Which laptop has better battery life?
The MacBook Air M1 has significantly better battery life, lasting up to 18 hours compared to the ZenBook’s 10 hours.
4. Which laptop is more affordable?
The MacBook Air M1 starts at a lower price point than the ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA.
5. Which laptop is better for students?
Both laptops are suitable for students, but the MacBook Air M1 offers better battery life and a more efficient processor, making it a better choice for students who need extended unplugged use.
6. Which laptop is better for professionals?
The ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA offers a larger and more vibrant display, a wider range of ports, and a more powerful processor, making it a better choice for professionals who need a powerful and versatile laptop for demanding tasks.
7. Which laptop is better for creative professionals?
The ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA’s larger and more vibrant OLED display makes it a better choice for creative professionals who need accurate colors and a wider color gamut for their work.
8. Which laptop is better for gaming?
Neither laptop is ideal for gaming due to their integrated graphics, but the MacBook Air M1 offers slightly better gaming performance thanks to its more powerful integrated GPU.
9. Which laptop is better for video editing?
The MacBook Air M1 has superior performance for video editing due to its optimized architecture and integrated GPU.
10. Which laptop is better for photo editing?
The ASUS ZenBook UX3402ZA’s larger and more vibrant OLED display makes it a better choice for photo editing, as it provides more accurate colors and a wider color gamut.
