Should You Buy the MacBook Air M5? Three Alternatives for 20,000 Hryvnias
Apple's MacBook Air series is renowned for its slimness and lightweight design, yet the price often rivals that of an iPhone Pro Max. In light of this, we explore three competitive alternatives that weigh no more than 1.5 kilograms and could serve as cost-effective replacements for budget-conscious consumers.
The MacBook Air series, produced by Apple, is celebrated for its sleek and lightweight design. However, the price of these laptops is frequently compared to that of the iPhone Pro Max. Consequently, we decided to examine three alternative options from competitors that weigh no more than 1.5 kilograms and could provide a beneficial substitute for those seeking more affordable solutions.
As noted by NV Tech, Apple introduced its new line of MacBook Airs in March of this year. The 2026 model of the MacBook Air operates on the next-generation M5 chip and weighs in at 1.23 kilograms. Official retailers offer the version with a 13.6-inch display and 512 GB of storage starting at 65,999 hryvnias. This price point may be considered quite steep for many consumers, prompting the need to explore alternatives.
The thin chassis of Apple laptops is undoubtedly an advantage, yet the Windows laptop market provides numerous quality alternatives across various price ranges. Here, consumers can find both budget-friendly options for casual users and more expensive models designed for graphic processing and professional tasks.
It is important to note that we do not aim to spark a debate on 'macOS versus Windows.' If you are already a supporter of the Apple ecosystem, it is unlikely that anything will persuade you to abandon it. However, for those who view Windows as a perfectly acceptable environment for everyday work, the choices are indeed vast. This is precisely what we will discuss next.
The first laptop in our review is the Asus Vivobook S 14 S5406SA-QD101. This laptop features a sturdy aluminum chassis weighing 1.3 kilograms and meets military standards MIL-STD 810H, ensuring its reliability. The keyboard boasts colorful backlighting, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The 14-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels (16:30) and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The glossy OLED panel provides brightness of up to 600 nits, making images sharp and vibrant.
This laptop is equipped with an 8-core Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, which excels at multitasking, handling heavy spreadsheets, and office software without overheating the device. The Intel Arc Graphics card, while lacking its own memory, utilizes the 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM available in the model. The SSD storage capacity is 1 TB, allowing for ample data storage. Although the price of this laptop may be relatively high, for those who value compactness, the Vivobook S 14 is an excellent choice.
The second option is the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14AKP10. This versatile laptop features a hinge that allows it to open 360 degrees, making it convenient for use in both traditional and tablet modes. Included with the laptop is the YOGA Pen stylus for touch control. The screen, with a resolution of 1920×1200, also measures 14 inches, and the OLED panel offers brightness of up to 600 nits.
The Yoga 7's chassis is made of aluminum, and it weighs 1.38 kilograms. The keyboard has basic white backlighting. The laptop runs on a 6-core Ryzen AI 5 340 processor, providing high performance alongside 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Memory expansion is not possible, and data storage is provided by a 512 GB SSD. The integrated AMD Radeon 840M graphics card is not suited for gaming. However, Lenovo promises up to 18 hours of battery life in video playback mode, and the Rapid Charge Express technology allows the laptop to charge for over 3 hours of use in just 15 minutes.
The final option in our review is the Acer Aspire Lite AL15-45P. This ultra-budget option does not boast premium materials, as its chassis is made of plastic and lacks keyboard backlighting. The weight of this laptop is 1.49 kilograms. Nevertheless, the energy-efficient AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor delivers decent performance, even capable of running indie games. The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics card, while not powerful, still allows for the completion of work tasks.
The laptop features 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The screen has a classic Full HD diagonal of 15.6 inches with an IPS panel. While buyers have noted minor light bleed in the lower corners, it is not critical. Users particularly praise the battery life of this laptop, which ranges from 6 to 8 hours, as well as the quiet operation of the system. For its price, the Acer Aspire Lite AL15-45P is a fairly fast and reliable option worth considering if your budget is limited.