MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air: Which 13-Inch Apple Laptop Is Best for 2020?

In 2019, Apple discontinued both the 15-inch MacBook Pro (in favor of a larger 16-inch MacBook Pro model), and the standard, small-screen MacBook. With the middleman removed, only the 13-inch MacBook Air (just refreshed, in March 2020) and the 16-inch MacBook Pro were fully up to date.

Now, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has been given a revamp on several fronts, causing a conundrum for Apple-loyal laptop shoppers looking for a 13-inch Apple laptop. The MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages, so you may be torn on which to buy. They're both excellent in our view, and of course they share a similar style, but one is no doubt a better fit for your needs.

That depends, though, on what you do every day on your laptop. For some folks, the Air is the right machine; for others, the Pro. We'll help you sort through the various features, as well as the processor, memory, and storage options to find the best fit.

Setting the Stage: One 13-Incher Versus Another

When we compared the sizes of the 2020 MacBook Air to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, there was an obvious winner for portability. This new 13-inch Air-against-Pro faceoff is a much closer call, though the edge still goes to the machine you would expect.

The MacBook Air, the prototypical ultraportable in its early days, isn't as light or unique as it used to be (many Windows laptops are as light or lighter), but it is still the lightest current Apple-laptop option, at 2.8 pounds. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is a little heftier, at 3.1 pounds, but that's not enough of a difference to base your decision on, in the end. 

The 2020 Apple MacBook Air

Instead, it's the more lightweight price that will be the leading factor. The MacBook Air starts at just $999, while the least-expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro model is $1,299. There are, of course, multiple configurations available for each, though. The MacBook Air unit we reviewed was priced at $1,299, while our 13-inch MacBook Pro sample was a $1,799 config. 

The 2020 Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch

We'll get into the components offered in the starting configurations and our review units below, but the long story short with the starting models is this: If you're not someone who needs a fancier or more powerful laptop for work, and who wants portability and value, the Air is the way to go. As the entry point into current-generation Apple laptop hardware (and thus, the Apple software ecosystem, as well), it's an attractive price point.

Professionals, especially content creators, will want to more strongly consider the MacBook Pro. There isn't a huge performance gap, but it's enough to differentiate the two, and save you money if you don't need the added power.

Designs and Features: Similar, but Different

Of course, the MacBook Air's lower price has to come from somewhere, but it's not from a drop in quality or from cutting the fundamentals. You get the same all-metal design as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is a hallmark of the entire MacBook brand. This is essentially a non-negotiable aspect, as you don't want any owner to feel they got an obviously subpar version. The display panels are also very similar. Each is a 13.3-inch IPS screen, with the same native resolution (2,560 by 1,600 pixels).

The 2020 MacBook Air's screen

Both also support Apple's newer Magic Keyboard, finally phasing out the much-maligned butterfly keyboard in both models. That was an advantage the MacBook Air held over the older MacBook models, but with this update, they're even. The butterfly keyboard had an infamously flat feeling when typing, with little feedback. It was also prone to malfunction when dust or debris got under the keycaps, disabling certain keys. The Magic Keyboard offers a much more traditional, satisfying typing experience on both models. A scissor mechanism with rubber-dome springback delivers more feedback, and feels more stable when typing. (We will have to see long-term whether the new keys indeed prove more reliable.)

The 2020 MacBook Air's "Magic Keyboard"

Both laptops also offer USB Type-C as the only physical ports apart from a headphone jack. This is a common side effect of super-slim laptops for both Windows and Mac, as there simply isn't room for larger, standard USB Type-A ports. USB-C connections are great, offering versatility and faster data transfer speeds, but they can be limiting for peripherals that you already own using Type-A; a dongle or new cable is necessary. Both laptops' USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 3 connectivity and transfer speeds.

As you can see, many of the core features are the same across both models. But within those there are some key differences, and many of them have to do with putting the "pro" in MacBook Pro to make the price gap worthwhile. 

The 2020 MacBook Pro 13-Inch's screen

Starting with the display, the MacBook Pro's screen, while the same size and resolution, is rated to cover the P3 color gamut, while the MacBook Air's isn't. This wide color spectrum is useful for photo and video editors, as well as anyone who does color correction or color matching. If that's you, the MacBook Air's less advanced display may not cut it. 

One more visually obvious difference is the Touch Bar. The keyboards may be the same, but this touch-enabled OLED strip above the keyboard is only present on the MacBook Pro. It's included on every MacBook Pro model, not just offered as an option on some, while there is no MacBook Air with a Touch Bar, period. We've said before that we don't think this is exactly an essential feature (and that's perfectly fine for the MacBook Air audience) but its shortcuts and hotkeys can definitely be useful for content creators using a MacBook Pro. Applications like Adobe's Photoshop and Premiere can benefit from its contextually relevant tools.

The keyboard and Touch Bar on the 2020 MacBook Pro 13-Inch

One last difference is that the MacBook Air tops out at two USB-C ports, while there are 13-inch MacBook Pro models with two ports and models with four ports. The starting-model MacBook Pro and the midrange $1,499 preset model have two USB-C ports, while our higher-end test model came with four.

Two USB-C ports on the 2020 MacBook Air Components Considerations: Who Is Each Laptop For?

Plenty of shoppers are more concerned with the physical traits of each laptop, which makes those factors a natural starting point for comparison, but a subset of users are all about the specs. The MacBook Air, made for less demanding users focused on portability and a lower price point, tops out with less powerful component options. With the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple smartly offers a wide range of price and power.

The components tell a story about who and what each of these laptop families are made for, and you can glean this from both the starting configurations and the top component options available. The $999 MacBook Air starts with a Core i3 10th Generation processor, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD. The starting $1,299 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with an 8th Generation Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD. The physical differences explained above and the CPU discrepancy make up the starting price gap.

From the back: The 2020 MacBook Air

As you may have noticed, Apple opts for older 8th Generation Intel processors in the less expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro models. This is somewhat curious, as I don't know if anyone will be thrilled to spend over $1,000 on a laptop whose chips are already previous-generation, but it does help keep the costs of the less expensive models down. Our $1,799 review unit included a 10th Generation Core i5 ("Ice Lake") CPU, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD.

As I said, the differences in these laptops extend to where the component options top out, too. The MacBook Air's memory maxes out at 16GB, and its storage at 2TB. The 13-inch MacBook Pro's memory tops out at 32GB and its storage at 4TB. None of the configurations on either laptop offers a discrete graphics option—you'll have to go up to the 16-inch MacBook Pro for that. 

Configuring these options upward, of course, gets much more expensive, but the throughline is that, from CPU to storage, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has a higher capability ceiling. With more memory and storage, it's better suited to replace a desktop, or to serve as your only "real" work machine. 

Processor Specifics

The MacBook Air, while far from a powerhouse, still brings Intel's 10th Generation processors to bear, allowing you to choose among Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 CPUs. Apple is cagey about sharing exactly which processors it's using, but our $1,299 MacBook Air review unit included the Core i5-1030NG7 "Ice Lake" chip with a low 1.1GHz base clock speed. This is a low-power-consumption chip good for everyday use (think web browsing, editing documents), but it is not meant for CPU-intensive work. Since the CPU in the starting $999 model is only a Core i3 chip, it's an even more modest performer.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro ups the ante by comparison. Our review unit includes a 2GHz Intel Core i5-1038NG7 chip, a better Core i5 choice for media work (though still without hitting the next tier of performance seen in laptops 15 inches and up). Core i5 is also as low down the hierarchy as the MacBook Pro's chip options go—there is no Core i3 on the menu, which tells you about the expectations and intention of each laptop. 

Head over to our full review of the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro to see exactly how it performed on our benchmark tests. Like the MacBook Air, the Pro can also go up to a Core i7 option, but unfortunately we can't tell you firsthand how that specific unit performs. We got our hands only on the Core i5.

As a quick comparative performance conclusion, the 13-inch MacBook Pro definitely offers more speed than the MacBook Air, but once you scale each laptop up a bit, it's not a whole world of difference between these CPUs. If you're strictly looking at the starting models (and indeed, the much lower price point of the Core i3 MacBook Air is part of the appeal), it is a bigger gap.

If you need more full-bodied power for your work, you may need to move up to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and definitely forget the MacBook Air. Our 16-inch review unit packed the far more potent Core i9-9980HK, in a different class of performance entirely. These H-series CPUs are designed for power-user laptops, while the ones in the MacBook Pro 13-Inch and the MacBook Air are designed with portability and trim designs in mind.

A Portable MacBook Option for Everyone

With its two 13-inch laptops, Apple has made machines that are perhaps more similar than you'd expect, but still distinct. The MacBook Air is the obvious choice for value seekers and those with light workloads, with the $999 model an especially good deal for casual, everyday use. If you want a bit more oomph or storage, but don't need the fancier features of the MacBook Pro, you can up-configure your MacBook Air by a couple of notches.

From the back: The 2020 MacBook Pro 13-Inch

If you need to do some real work on your laptop, but still prioritize portability compared to the 16-inch MacBook Pro and don't need a true powerhouse, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the choice for you. And if you're considering a Windows laptop, or want to see how far your dollar would go outside of the Apple ecosystem for comparison, check out our guides to today's best ultraportable laptops, as well as our picks for the overall best laptops.

Laptop Best Picks Laptop Reviews Further Reading

2019 MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro - Which is the RIGHT LAPTOP

Microsoft Surface laptops coming to South Africa

Microsoft has announced that its Surface devices are coming to South Africa.

The announcement came as part of the unveiling of the new Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3, Surface Headphones 2, Surface Earbuds, and Surface Dock 2.

"To help better address the global demand we are seeing for Surface, we are excited to share that we will bring Surface to Mexico and South Africa later this year," said Microsoft's Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer for Windows and Devices, and Robin Seiler, Corporate Vice President for Devices.

Microsoft previously told MyBroadband that it was interested in bringing its Surface device lineup to South Africa at some point in the future.

In October 2019, Ami Silverman, Microsoft Corporate VP for Worldwide Sales and Marketing: Consumer and Devices, said the company was certainly considering launching the devices in South Africa.

"We would absolutely consider expanding to South Africa in the future, but we don't have a date to share yet," Silverman said at the time.

"Our intent and desire are to have Surface in South Africa."

New Surface devices

Microsoft said the features of its new Surface devices are as follows:

Surface Go 2 – Delivers incredible value in a light, portable design, providing a great device for anyone in your company or family.

Surface Book 3 – Microsoft's most powerful laptop ever. Designed for professionals who need desktop-level performance from anywhere.

Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds – Help you find focus wherever you are and stay connected to the people and content that matters.

Surface Dock 2 and Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub – Help you set up the ultimate workspace wherever that may be.

Now read: MTN reopens all stores in South Africa

TOP 10 BEST Laptop in The World Right Now 2020✔️

Asus’ New Gaming Laptop Has Two Screens. We’re Not Sure Why

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is a gaming laptop built for a world that doesn't exist anymore, and maybe never did. That's not to say that gaming laptops aren't important in our new and ruined world, but one this ostentatious somehow feels like a relic of a bygone age.

It has two screens. That's the Duo part. It's also the whole "why does this exist" part. Imagine the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar, but if it was as big as a keyboard. The Duo's secondary display takes up half of the lower part of the laptop. Otherwise, this is essentially the standard Asus ROG Zephyrus chassis we've seen on the non-Duo Zephyrus 15. Same dimensions, same display, same hardware. Which means it's a good and capable gaming laptop. So why does it need a second display? It doesn't.

Two Displays, Both Alike in Dignity

This is not the first dual-screen laptop from Asus. And on paper, it's not a bad idea for content creators.

When you're working in Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, a laptop display can feel cramped. That's why you see so many creative professionals hooking up MacBook Pros to full-size desktop monitors. Extra screen real estate is nice to have when you're juggling so many windows. Similarly, a secondary display like the one on the Duo could be helpful when you're doing intensive work—like videogame livestreaming.

There's a catch though. OK, several catches. First, and this is the same one that makes Apple's Touch Bar a misfire from a design perspective: It's just not intuitive to look down from your main screen to check out the fun-sized second screen that's at keyboard-height. It's like typing on a tablet—you have to keep looking down, not to mention it feels stilted and uncomfortable.

The second screen does sit at an angle, but I kept wanting to swivel it out and just have it beside the main display on the Duo. There's something about having two displays side-by-side that feels more intuitive than having them stacked on top of each other.

Game streaming is the stated purpose of this two-headed machine, but streaming from a laptop is a pain. If you're unfamiliar, to stream a game to a service like Twitch or YouTube you need to be running the game, a webcam (and often a separate microphone), and broadcast both your gameplay and the output from your webcam and mic. It's common for professional streamers to use two computers for this, but you can do it from a single gaming PC if it has enough horsepower (and usually a second full-size monitor).

You can stream games from a laptop, technically, but it's less than ideal. Even the Zephyrus Duo doesn't crack that particular formula. A second display and top-tier hardware improve the streaming-from-a-laptop experience, but it's still a little bit like trying to do an entire day's work from your phone. Sure, you can do it. But you'll feel cramped and confined.

Mismatched

There are some other odd design choices here that make the Zephyrus Duo, which is set to launch in July, a puzzling machine. The second screen has a higher 4K resolution than the main display (1080p), which makes for an awkward user experience if you upscale the second screen to its maximum resolution. Windows has trouble with the mismatched resolution and gets confused about where each display is in physical relation to the other, so moving things from one screen to the other gets tricky if they're not both set to 1080p.

The laptop's chassis has excellent durability, aesthetics, and cooling capabilities, but I'm not a fan of its keyboard layout. To accommodate the second screen, the keyboard is pushed all the way to the bottom edge of the laptop, with the trackpad squished in where a numpad would be. It's an exclusionist design since it makes the Zephyrus Duo almost impossible to use if you're left-handed.

The Incredible Dual Screen Laptop Is Here

CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6 review: Budget 4K laptop could be great if not for some glaring flaws

CHUWI is back with another crowdfunded laptop on Indiegogo, this time a 15.6-inch AeroBook Pro with 4K display and all-metal chassis. A lot like the LapBook Plus that we previously reviewed, the AeroBook Pro trades modern performance, and some features for a rather brilliant display and sleek design. I've been using the laptop for the last week for general productivity work and some movie watching to see where it excels and, ultimately, whether or not it's worth a buy.

CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6 at a glance

CHUWI provided Windows Central with a review unit of the 15.6-inch AeroBook Pro. It's the baseline offering, with 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6287U processor (CPU), 8GB of LPDDR4-2133MHz RAM, 256GB M.2 solid-state drive (SSD), and 4K display. This model is priced at about $510 at Indiegogo, with a number of upgrades and config options available.

Doubling RAM up to 16GB costs about $90, bringing the total up to $600. RAM is soldered, so you might want to get as much as possible from the get-go. There are two SSD slots inside the laptop, so an upgrade after purchase is possible.

If you'd like to upgrade to a more powerful CPU, an AeroBook Pro with 6th Gen Intel Core i7-6567U, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD costs about $850. Here are the exact specs found in the review unit I received for testing.

Category Spec OS Windows 10 Home Processor 6th Gen IntelCore i5-6287UDual-coreUp to 3.5GHz RAM 8GB LPDDR4-2133MHz Graphics Intel Iris Graphics 550 Storage 256GB M.2 SSD Display 15.6 inches3840x2160 (UHD)IPS, glossy Ports Two USB-A 3.0USB-CHDMImicroSD card reader3.5mm audio jack Audio Top-firingDual speakers Wireless 802.11acBluetooth 4.2 Camera Front-facing 2MP Battery 55.9Wh Dimensions 14.25 x 9.53 x 0.63 inches(362mm x 242.1mm x 15.9mm) Weight 3.75 pounds (1.7kg)

What I love about the CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6

Like most of CHUWI's latest creations, the AeroBook Pro has a rather fancy all-metal chassis with shiny beveled edges. It looks like a premium device from the outside, and inside you're treated to a full keyboard with number pad and monstrous Precision touchpad. It certainly apes the MacBook look. Weighing in at 3.75 pounds (1.7kg) for a 15.6-inch 4K device isn't bad, and it's just 0.63 inches (15.9mm) thin. If you'd like to take it with you when you leave your home or office, it shouldn't pose much of a problem.

CHUWI's svelte AeroBook Pro is an affordable way to land a 15.6-inch 4K display.

The thin lower portion of the chassis houses a generous number of ports, including two USB-A 3.0, USB-C, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader. There's also a barrel-style charging port on the left side. The power button is placed in the top-right corner of the keyboard, so not much risk of hitting it when picking up and walking around with the device.

The full keyboard with number pad stretches almost edge to edge, with a bit of space on either side for top-firing speakers. Despite appearing to run the entire depth of the keyboard, the speakers and punched grill only make up a small portion; the rest of the "grill" is just painted on. It's not a big deal, and the audio is pretty good. The sound gets loud and doesn't distort, but I wish it had more bass. It's good enough that I didn't mind leaving headphones aside when watching a movie.

The best feature of the AeroBook Pro — especially at the price point — is the 15.6-inch 4K display. It has a glossy finish, but it does hit a maximum of 349 nits to help counteract glare. At its lowest, it only gets down to 88 nits, which can be a bit of an issue if you often use your laptop in the dark. Even with the Windows 10 Night Light enabled, it is a bit hard on the eyes.

Testing color with the DataColor SpyderX Pro, I got back 94% sRGB, 73% AdobeRGB, and 76% DCI-P3. Those are respectable numbers, but a bit lower than the 100% sRGB CHUWI claims. Using the display for media and productivity is no problem. The raised plastic bezel isn't too thick to be unsightly, though it is noticeably larger than on other premium 15-inch laptops.

The AeroBook Pro is packing a 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6287U, which is more than a few years old. CHUWI advertises it as the same CPU used in the MacBook Pro, which is technically true — it was the late-2016 MacBook Pro that used it. Despite its age, this dual-core CPU puts up performance close to a modern 10th Gen Core i3 CPU and much more performance than the Atom chips we've seen in other CHUWI laptops. If it weren't for the terrible keyboard and touchpad, this would be a great laptop for office work.

The 55.9Wh battery is a significant upgrade compared to the 36.5Wh battery in CHUWI's other 4K LapBook Plus laptop, but life is about the same due to the beefier CPU. I tested with PCMark 10's Modern Office battery rundown test and saw three hours and 28 minutes with 60% display brightness and power set to maximum performance. Lowering brightness to 40% and changing to a better battery power plan will extend that time to somewhere around five hours of regular use. It could be better, but for a 4K laptop, this price it's a decent life. You can expect about 50% battery life in an hour when charging from dead, though the second half takes quite a bit more time.

I ran some synthetic benchmarks to see how well the AeroBook Pro compares to other laptops we've reviewed.

CPU PCMark Cinebench SSD CPU Geekbench 5.0 Benchmarks (Higher is better)Device CPU Single core Multi core CHUWI AeroBook Pro i5-6287U 925 2,049 Lenovo Yoga C640 i3-10110U 1,015 2,111 Lenovo Yoga C740 15 i7-10510U 1,229 3,531 Lenovo Yoga C740 14 i5-10210U 1,094 3,767 Dell XPS 13 (9300) i7-1065G7 1,284 4,848 LG gram 17 (2020) i7-1065G7 1,208 3,349 Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) i7-1065G7 1,202 3,600 Surface Pro 7 i7-1065G7 1,205 4,852 Surface Laptop 3 13.5 i5-1035G7 1,177 4,413 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 i7-1065G7 1,209 3,571 Dell XPS 15 7590 i9-9980HK 1,176 7,624

Performance from the dual-core 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6287U CPU is just less than you'd get from a 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10110U, as seen in the benchmark result above. It's enough to handle standard productivity work, but don't expect it to perform miracles with anything specialized or intensive.

PCMark PCMark 10 ExpressDevice Score CHUWI AeroBook Pro 3,780 Lenovo Yoga C640 4,008 Lenovo Yoga C740 15 5,302 Lenovo Yoga C740 14 4,941 Dell XPS 13 (9300) 4,524 LG gram 17 4,157 Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) 4,415 Surface Pro 7 (i5) 3,992 Surface Laptop 3 15 (AMD) 4,006 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) 4,427 Dell Inspiron 13 7390 2-in-1 3,764 Dell XPS 15 7590 5,521 Dell Precision 3541 3,906

Again we can see how a system with 6th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU is slightly less powerful than something with a 10th Gen Intel Core i3 CPU. Still, everyday tasks feel snappy and responsive.

Cinebench Cinebench (R20) (Higher is better)Device CPU Range CHUWI AeroBook Pro Core i5-6287U 845 to 862 Lenovo Yoga C640 Core i3-10110U 924 to 929 Lenovo Yoga C740 15 Core i7-10510U 1,415 to 1,613 Lenovo Yoga C740 14 Core i5-10210U 1,450 to 1,535 LG gram 17 i7-1065G7 1,079 to 1,199 Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) Core i7-1065G7 1,361 to 1,400 Lenovo ThinkPad P53 Xeon E-2276M 2,686 to 2,701 Surface Laptop 3 13.5 Core i5-1035G4 1,584 to 1,606 Surface Laptop 3 15 Core i7-1065G7 1,703 to 1,745

Running the Cinebench R20 render test multiple times in a row can show how well a laptop deals with heat and thermal throttling. The laptop keeps cool under load, no doubt, thanks to the metal chassis dispersing a lot of heat. The fan does get loud at times, but for the most part, it runs quietly.

SSD CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)Device Read Write CHUWI AeroBook Pro 556.38 MB/s 416.27 MB/s Lenovo Yoga C640 1,906.78 MB/s 970.69 MB/s Lenovo Yoga C740 15 1,442.30 MB/s 357.40 MB/s Lenovo Yoga C740 14 3,408 MB/s 2,982 MB/s LG gram 17 (2020) 3,477 MB/s 2,900 MB/s Surface Laptop 3 15 2,028 MB/s 806 MB/s Surface Laptop 3 13.5 2,338 MB/s 1,583 MB/s Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) 1,641 MB/s 1,025 MB/s Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 2) 3,416 MB/s 3,016 MB/s Lenovo ThinkPad P53 3,567.23 MB/s 2,813.25 MB/s Lenovo ThinkPad P52 3,120 MB/s 1,551.5 MB/s Dell XPS 15 7590 3,000 MB/s 2,796 MB/s MSI PS63 Modern 3,300 MB/s 1,875 MB/s

The HikVision SATA SSD used here is comparatively slow but performs as it should. I ran a PCMark 10 System Drive benchmark as well and got a score of 722.

What I dislike about the CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6

A lot of minor issues can be ignored, especially when a laptop is priced at around $500. SATA storage really isn't a big deal, older Intel hardware still performs well for office work, and the average webcam is passable. These issues don't interfere with the overall package.

The biggest issue with the AeroBook Pro — and one that is noticeable as soon as you start using the laptop — is the keyboard and touchpad. At first glance, it looks like the combination is going to be a winner. Keys are large and spaced well, it has a bright backlight, and the enormous touchpad uses Precision drivers. But typing and pointing is a pain.

While typing, the spacebar won't work unless you hit it directly in the middle or very hard along the outer edges. This immediately makes the typing experience miserable, and it's not helped by some other keys feeling a bit sticky. Anytime you want a space, you must consciously tap your thumb instead of plowing along at your normal speed. I lasted about an hour before giving up and returning to my regular keyboard.

The touchpad, with Precision drivers, is huge, and I was excited to test it out. Unfortunately, it tracks poorly and has inconsistent clicks. Pointing and clicking will often result in the cursor teleporting to the bottom corner of the screen or not clicking at all. Even after adjusting cursor speed and sensitivity, the issues remained.

It's a shame about the keyboard and touchpad because this laptop would otherwise be an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a budget 4K laptop for general use. As it stands, it's really not good for anything other than watching TV or movies on the high-res display.

Should you buy CHUWI's AeroBook Pro?

CHUWI's AeroBook Pro is a great budget laptop turned into a poor budget laptop because of the keyboard and touchpad. Using the device for anything but setting up something to watch or browsing the web often results in frustration because of the sticky keys and inaccurate pointing. Those issues are solved with an external mouse and external keyboard, but they shouldn't be necessary.

3 out of 5

Considering the price, the 4K display, port selection, and overall all-metal design are stellar. A 6th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU puts up performance close to a 10th Gen Intel Core i3 chip, which is enough to handle office productivity. Altogether, though, I'd only recommend this laptop to anyone who needs a secondary device strictly for media. Trying to type or otherwise be productive all day with the built-in inputs is just not worth your time.

Budget 4K Laptop CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6

Affordable 4K laptop with some flaws

It's an exceptional device for watching movies and TV, but the keyboard and touchpad make productivity a painful experience.

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Teclast F15 Unboxing & Hands-On Review 15.6 Gemini Lake Laptop

Computer Vision Market Share Scope Revenue Trade Analysis Trends Drivers 2018-2023

The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

May 03, 2020 (AmericaNewsHour) -- Global Computer Vision Market Research Report Information by By Component, By Application, By End-User and By Region Forecast Till 2023

The computer vision technology landscape continues to undergo relentless transformation, concurrently creating new application opportunities. In 2017, the global market for computer vision stood at over USD 9,200 Mn and is expected to surpass a valuation of USD 48,300 Mn by 2023, reflecting a steady growth. Vision computing is viewed as a technology with high potentials, and from the current standpoint the future looks bright. Though we are still a long way from getting computers view, picture and identify real-world objects with high accuracy, advent of computer vision has been a steppingstone in moving towards that direction. Moreover, integration of deep learning and artificial intelligence with computer vision has significantly increased the level of efficacy of the technology. This has also prompted a fast adoption of computer vision systems in various industrial verticals.

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Report Overview

This report delivers an unbias market foresight on computer vision technology for the next five years. It also discusses the key developments that took place in the global computer vision market in recent years, as a part of the market's historical analysis. The users of the report will come across market opportunities and trends that are likely to arise during course of the projected years.  The scope of research covers components such as hardware and software. The market is also analyzed based on computer vision applications, which comprise face recognition, gesture recognition, and character recognition. Key end-users discussed in report include agriculture, automotive, healthcare, entertainment, consumer electronics, transportation. This will allow report users to identify the segments that are highly lucrative and capitalize on growth opportunities while minimizing risks. All the segments and sub-segments are profiled under four major geographies- North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & Africa (MEA) with the respective country-level market sizes.

Players Covered

Intel Corporation (U.S.), Keyence Corporation (Japan), National Instruments (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Nvidia Corporation (U.S.), Cognex Corporation (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Autoliv Inc. (U.S.), Sony Corporation (Japan), and Basler AG (Germany)

The report offers insights on the leading market players and evaluates their current market share. Company information with regards to revenue, segmental share, geographical income, SWOT, growth strategies, new product launch, M&A activities, and the latest R&D initiatives.

Research Methodology

The research methodology employed by MRFR ensures collection of highly accurate data that imparts a vivid picture of the market. The trend involving the reshaping of markets which has gathered momentum recently is also addressed in the reports. Our research expertise also ensure that data is treated as objectively as possible. By focusing on the trends that are prevailing in dynamic markets and providing data to support effective decision making in these situations, we empower our clients to create robust growth strategies.

The report's insights also allow users to identify and invest in technologies and trends that are shaping the market. The well-established methods for data collection facilitate identification of the current state of the market. Our reports are held to an excellent set of standards that distinguish them from that of other intermediaries. The top-up and bottom-down approaches used include coverage areas and other important revenue pockets that add to the overall report quality.

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Analysis Period

Base Year- 2016

Projection Period- From 2017 to 2023

Currency- USD Million

Conversion Rate- Considered as per the respective financial years

For the scope of the research, MRFR's report offers a comprehensive segmental analysis of the global market for computer vision

By Component

Hardware

Software

By Application

Face Recognition

Gesture Recognition

Character recognition

By End-User

Agriculture

Automotive

Healthcare

Entertainment

Consumer electronics

Transportation

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By Region

North America; The U.S., Canada, and Mexico

Europe; Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific (APAC); China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

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Additional 7 company profiles

Criss-cross segmentation, 2nd level segmentation

Intended Audience

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Technology standard organizations, forums, alliances, and associations

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Universities and research organizations

Government bodies

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The best gaming laptops for 2020

This article was last updated by Digital Trends computing editor Luke Larsen on 5/2/2020.

is the best gaming laptop we've ever tested. It's sleek, powerful, and looks the part, with a fantastic display to boot. But it's not the only gaming laptop we love.

We've tested nearly 400 laptops, carefully deliberating how each performs against one another in key areas such as performance, display, battery life, and build quality. We've even included options for the best G-Sync laptops, serious desktop replacements, and even budget offerings.

Why you should buy this: You want a gaming powerhouse with a MacBook-like sense of style.

Who it's for: Gamers who need something small and light that can still pack a punch.

The Razer Blade offers serious gaming performance in a slim package. The system bolsters its slim design with an attractive, matte black, unibody aluminum exterior. The result is a system that looks a lot like the black MacBooks of yore (that's a compliment). With its slick design and impressive, Chroma-lit keyboard and touchpad, it stands out in the crowd.

Knowing which to pick up can be difficult, though, as Raze offers a wide assortment of configurations, ranging all the way up to a Studio model with the RTX Quadro 5000. The Blade will soon be available with 10th-gen H-series processors, up to 300Hz screens, and RTX Super graphics. There's even a wild 4K OLED model, even if that's not the best option for gamers.

Though it has many strengths, the Blade does fall victim to the limitations of its own footprint. Historically, they've run hotter and louder than competitors with a thicker chassis, and it's not as powerful as some laptops with larger frames. The price is also quite high, but if you're willing to pay it, you get an amazing gaming machine that doubles as a standard laptop just as well.

Why you should buy this: You want to play the latest games on a laptop at the highest settings and resolutions.

The Alienware Area-51m is unlike any gaming laptop you've seen. Not only does it have a bold look with its light grey exterior and sci-fi logos, but it's also a true desktop replacement. We mean that in terms of the power this thing enjoys, as well as the actual components inside. The Area-51m comes with CPU options up to an actual desktop-class processor, the Core i9-9900K.

That's an eight-core, 16-thread CPU that makes this laptop considerably more powerful than anything else out there.

But the best part? All the components, including the GPU and CPU, can be replaced. In our review, we found that getting access to those parts wasn't as easy as the marketing may have alluded to. All the same, it's an insanely powerful laptop that can run nearly everything at high framerates on its 1080p 144Hz screen. Even if you plug it into a 4K monitor, you'll be impressed by how well games run.

It's not the gaming laptop you want if you're taking it on the go, especially given its low battery life and hefty chassis, but if true power is what you want, look no further.

Read our in-depth Alienware Area-51m review

The best budget gaming laptop: Dell G3 Gaming Laptop

Why you should buy this: It's the best gaming machine you can buy for less than $1,000.

The Razer Blade

Who it's for: Students, gamers, anyone who wants a gaming laptop but doesn't want to break the bank.

Why we picked the Dell G3 Gaming Laptop:

This budget-friendly laptop may not seem like a gaming powerhouse, but as one of the cheapest systems with a dedicated GPU, it can't be ignored. It's more modest than the other systems here, coming standard with an Intel Core i5-8300H and 8GB of RAM.

The real star of the show is its graphics card, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card. During our tests, it nearly kept up with more expensive laptops like the Razer Blade. It doesn't look quite as sharp, but it has more than enough horsepower to run the latest games at high detail settings.

Our review unit handled games like Battlefield 1, Fortnite, and Civilization VI at around 60 frames per second — and that's with settings maxed. It has a harder time with gaming in higher resolutions, but there are configuration options for the GTX 1060, which would fare better. A new version is even available, which includes 9th-gen processors and new 16-series Nvidia graphics cards.

The G3 does look like a budget system, though it's not as bad as you might expect. It's a bit heavy, clad in plastic and numerous shades of blue. The screen's bezels are thick, the touchpad feels cheap, and the display is pretty dull. But if you can look past some of those compromises, you'll find a very capable gaming laptop that delivers impressive framerates — and for most people, that's what matters.

Our in-depth Dell G3 Gaming Laptop review

The best portable gaming laptop: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Why you should buy this: It has great 1080p gaming performance in a surprisingly tiny package.

The Razer Blade

Who it's for: Gamers and content creators.

Why we picked the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14:

The G14 is unlike any gaming laptop you've used. It's incredibly lightweight, at just 3.5 pounds — and uses just a 14-inch screen rather than the typical 15-inch variety. The result is the smallest gaming laptop ever made, especially given how powerful this thing is.

The heart of it is AMD's Ryzen 4000, eight-core processor. It's a beast. Multi-threaded performance is off the chart for a laptop this small, making it a capable option for video editors, 3D modelers, and content creators of every kind.

It's also provides excellent gaming performance, of course. You have options for either a GTX 1650, a GTX 1660 Ti, or an RTX 2060. If you can opt for the 2060, you'll be able to play most games over 60 frame per second. You'll have to pay an extra $500 for the fancy programmable LEDs on the lid, but the $1450 RTX 2060 model (without LEDs) is a great value.

Read our in-depth ROG Zephyrus G14 review

The best G-Sync gaming laptop: Acer Predator Triton 500

Why you should buy this: It's a powerful gaming laptop with a thin and light design at an affordable price.

The Razer Blade

Who it's for: For gamers who want G-Sync above all else.

Why we picked the Acer Predator Triton 500:

G-Sync might kill battery life, but when it comes to smooth gameplay, it's a must-have for many gamers. The Predator Triton 500 is a fantastic gaming laptop that just happens to include Nvidia's important display technology.

Starting with a Core i7-9750H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU and topping out with an RTX 2080 Max-Q upgrade, the Triton 500 can stand toe to toe with many of the other laptops on this list for significantly less cash. Like many gaming laptops right now, the Triton 500 has been announced to include support for 10th-gen Intel processors and RTX Super graphics cards, but those configurations are not yet available. This new version of the Triton 400 will also include a 300Hz screen.

There are some caveats. The Triton 500 doesn't look like a standard gaming laptop, but it also lacks the eye-catching build of other thin and light gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 15. Like its aesthetics, the Triton 500's battery performance is also underwhelming. But if you're looking for the best gaming bang for your buck with a G-Sync screen, it's hard to do better than this.

Our in-depth Acer Predator Triton 500 review

Research and buying tipsHow much is a gaming laptop?

Gaming laptops tend to be more expensive than more general-purpose laptops because they generally include a dedicated graphics chip for better game visuals and frame rates. But they needn't cost the Earth.

Our favorite budget gaming laptop, the

The Razer Blade

can be found for under $1,000. There are some alternative budget laptops that we like, although you'll struggle to find something that's great for gaming once you edge towards $500. On the higher end, you can end up spending well over $2,000 if you want the latest components and fastest screens.

What should I look for in a gaming laptop?

If you're going to play anything other than classic games or very low-intensity indie games, you want a dedicated graphics chip. It doesn't need to be something amazing, and AMD APUs with Vega graphics on board are worth considering at the low-end. Either way, you'll want something more than Intel integrated graphics if you want decent frame rates in most games.

It's also worth looking out for a high refresh rate display. We consider them more important than higher resolutions when it comes to gaming and they typically aren't too costly an extra either.

You might also want to consider battery life if you plan to play away from a power socket, although you won't find many gaming laptops that can last more than a few hours in intense games.

Are gaming laptops good for work?

Usually, yes. You don't need a dedicated graphics chip for working, but the fast processors and high-speed RAM that gaming laptops are typically equipped with are just as good at handling spreadsheets and Word documents as they are crunching the numbers for the latest games.

Then again, a larger, thicker gaming laptop with RGB lighting might not be appropriate for every job setting. A more subdued design like the Razer Blade or the G-series Dell gaming laptops fits in much better, though it's an issue to be aware of.

Are Mac laptops good for gaming?

Some aren't bad, but most of them aren't great. Apple only puts dedicated graphics chips in its 15-inch MacBook Pro models, and even they are underpowered compared to far more affordable Windows laptops. There's also software compatibility to consider, as many more games are available on Windows than MacOS, even with the addition of Apple Arcade.

If all you want is a little Fortnite on the side, a 16-inch MacBook Pro will get you by, but these are not gaming machines by any means. That being said, if you really want to stick with a Mac, there's always the option to dual-boot in Boot Camp, which lets you run Windows 10 games on your MacBook hardware.

Top 10 Best Gaming Laptop to Buy in 2020

How to connect your laptop to your TV wirelessly or with HDMI

If you're getting bored or annoyed with your laptop's tiny screen during the coronavirus lockdown, maybe you should try using your big TV as a monitor instead. It's great being able to sit back on your sofa and surf the web, play PC games or stream video from apps not available on your TV. Or maybe you just want a bigger view for video chat while you're stuck at home.

Using your TV as a monitor has downsides too. Text might be too small to see, input lag might ruin your gaming scores, and while the couch may seem comfy, it may turn into a neck ache when put into service as an office chair. And then there's the mouse, trackpad and keyboard to worry about. But going PC-to-TV works well in many situations, and the best part is that it's cheap (or free) depending on what gear you already have.

Read more: How to cast and mirror an Android phone screen to a TV

Mirroring vs. extending

Mirroring means putting the same content on both your laptop's screen and the TV. It's more common and generally easier than screen extending -- where you see different content on both, making the TV an extension of your laptop's screen. Extending is useful for things like having a YouTube video running on the TV while you're working on a spreadsheet on your laptop. It's a bit more involved but still possible depending on your equipment. Mostly we'll be talking about mirroring in this article.

The easiest way: Wired HDMI

The most basic PC-to-TV connection consists of running a wire from your computer to the HDMI input on your TV. If you have an older TV and an older laptop, there are options like VGA, but that's basically the Dark Ages at this point.

Laptops and PCs have a bunch of different connections, so which wire or adapter you'll need to run depends on what computer you have. If you're not sure, check the manual or Google the model to determine its specs. Here's the rundown.

Full-sized HDMI: If you're lucky, your laptop has a full-sized HDMI output, so you can use a standard HDMI cable to run to your TV. 

Mini- or micro-HDMI: These smaller versions of HDMI just need an adapter, or a cable that has a regular HDMI at the other end, to connect directly to your TV. 

Thunderbolt, DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort: All of these usually work with HDMI as well. Thunderbolt is found on many laptops. The first two versions of the connector were the same as Mini DisplayPort, so Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cables or adapters should work. Newer versions use the same connectors as USB-C (see the next section). Full-sized DisplayPort is common to Windows PCs. Again, you'll need an adapter or cable with this type of connection on one end and HDMI on the other. 

USB-C port: Many modern laptops have only this kind of connection. Usually you'll just need an adapter (USB-C to HDMI) and it will work fine, but sometimes it might not work at all. MacBooks from the last few years should work, as will Microsoft Surface laptops and many others. Note that USB-C uses the same physical connection as Apple's Thunderbolt 3. Check your computer's specs to double check what connector/adapter you might need.

More wired tips: There are so many varieties of laptops out there, we can't make a blanket statement that a particular adapter will work for your PC. If you're not sure, Google your brand and model before you buy any kind of adapter.

Also, in some cases the quality might be diminished. You also won't likely get HDR or 4K resolution, for example, so if you want the best image quality for videos, you should use a different method to get the videos to your TV, like a Roku or Blu-ray player.

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1:25

Wireless connections

There are a few options to skip the wires completely. Again, it depends on what computer you have, as well as the capabilities of your TV (or the streaming device connected to your TV).

If you have an Apple computer: The easiest way is to use AirPlay. But you'll need a device that supports it, namely:

If you have a Windows PC: There's something called Miracast, though it's not as widespread as "all recent Apple products" like AirPlay. Your Windows 10 laptop should have the tech built-in. On the TV side, devices that support Miracast include:

If you have a Chromebook: Computers that run Google's Chrome OS can send content to a TV wirelessly too. To use it you'll need:

Casting from a Chrome browser: If you don't have a TV device with AirPlay or Miracast compatibility you can still mirror your screen from the Chrome browser on any laptop. It works with any of the devices from the Chromebook list above. Only content on the browser will be visible, and certain websites won't work.

You can also "cast" content from a variety of mobile apps, like Netflix or YouTube, to most smart TVs. This isn't screen mirroring, but if you're just looking to get some content from your phone to a bigger screen, this is an easy way to do it.

If your intention is to play games, the lag from a wireless connection is probably going to prohibit any fun with games that require fast and accurate clicking, like with first-person shooters and racing games.

Accessories

If you want to up your game a bit, consider a few optional accessories. A wireless keyboard or mouse can go a long way toward making your PC-on-TV experience easier. Here's a couple inexpensive options.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Put your laptop someplace to charge, and just keep a small, light keyboard on your lap. We like the Bluetooth Logitech K380 not least for its long battery life, but also its ability to toggle between devices, like from your laptop to your tablet.

Logitech

There are a lot of wireless mouse options, but I like this one because it's comfortable, and more importantly, quiet. Instead of click-click-click, it sounds more like a light tapping on a table. 

Settings tips

Your TV and your laptop's screen are probably different resolutions. In theory this won't be an issue, but if you're finding text hard to read, or overall the image looks poor, make sure the laptop's output matches your TV's resolution. 

It's easy to do on both Windows and Mac. If you're also trying to send audio, that might need to be switched on as well, either by clicking the speaker button in the lower right on Windows, or in System Preferences on Mac.

On the TV side, make sure you disable your TV's overscan. It might be disabled automatically, but if the edges of your desktop are cutoff, dig deep into your TV's menus for something like "size" or "zoom." If you're gaming, also see if your TV has a game mode. This should help reduce input lag, the delay between you pressing a button and that action showing up on screen. It's also a good idea to lower the sharpness control. I mean, in general this is a good idea, but here specifically it should help you make out fine details better, like text.

Speaking of text, if you're trying to work from your couch it's likely that despite the extra screen size, text is still too small. If that's the case, you can adjust text size on Windows and Mac. You can also use the zoom controls in certain apps, like Chrome browsers.

If you're not getting an image on screen at all, try unplugging the HDMI and plugging it back in (with the TV on), and if that doesn't work, leave it all plugged in but turn the TV off then on. This is trite advice for a reason: it solves so many issues.

Good luck, and if you have any favorite PC-to-TV tips, let us know in the comments.

Got a question for Geoff? First, check out all the other articles he's written on topics such as why you shouldn't buy expensive HDMI cables, TV resolutions explained, how HDR works and more.

Still have a question? Tweet at him @TechWriterGeoff, then check out his travel photography on Instagram. He also thinks you should check out his best-selling sci-fi novel and its sequel.

how to screen mirror your laptop/ PC screen to your television WIRELESS [EASY]