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11.6″ Macbook Air 2012 vs. Asus Zenbook Prime UX21A

Back in November 2011, we did a comparison between the Asus Zenbook UX21 and the 2011 Macbook Air 11.6″. This quarter, with the introduction of the 2012 Macbook Air 11.6″ and the Asus Zenbook Prime UX21A, we’re again faced with the question on which ultrabook to get.

As a backgrounder, I already own and use both the Zenbook UX21 and the 2011 Macbook Air 11.6″. This year, I am planning to upgrade either one of them, or both of them (probably just one).

Yugatech 728x90 Reno7 Series

Compared to the Zenbook UX21, the UX21A got some physical improvements on top of the hardware upgrades. These includes a better keyboard with backlit feature, an improved trackpad, use of 2 USB 3.0 ports instead of just one, and the biggest improvement is the use of an IPS LCD screen with full 1080p resolution.

Asus Zenbook UX21A
Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz, up to 2.60 GHz on Turbo Boost
Intel Core i7-3517U 1.9GHz, up to 3.00 GHz on Turbo Boost
11.6″ IPS LCD, 1080p, 1920×1080 pixels, 189ppi
4GB DDR3 RAM
128GB and 256GB SATA SSD
Intel HD Graphics 4000
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band 2.GHz & 5GHz
Bluetooth 4.0
1 x micro-HDMI port
1 x mini-VGA port
Windows 7 Home Premium

A screen pixel density of 189ppi for the UX21A actually qualifies it in the Retina Display category. You also get the USB Charger+ which allows your USB to charge your devices really fast and also charges it even on sleep mode.

The Asus Zenbook also includes an adapter for the mini-VGA port and the USB-Ethernet port out-of-the-box.

On the other hand, the Macbook Air 2012 only got a hardware upgrade and no modifications on the design or exterior of the device. What was added is the two USB 3.0 ports and the 720p Facetime camera. The backlit keyboard and the Thunderbolt port are already there since 2011.

What the new Macbook Air offers better is the customization of the upgrades you want in it. You can get either 4GB or 8GB of RAM as well as 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of SSD.

2012 Macbook Air 11.6″

Intel Core i5 3317U 1.7GHz dual-core (up to 2.6GHz)
Intel Core i7 3667U 2.0GHz dual-core (up to 3.2GHz)
11.6″ LCD, 1366×768 pixels, 135ppi
Intel HD 4000 Graphics
4GB or 8GB DDR3 RAM
512GB SATA SSD
2 x USB 3.0 ports
720p Facetime camera
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
Thunderbolt
Mac OS X Lion

Based on the Apple Online Store, here are the actual retail prices of the new Macbook Air 11.6″:

● 11.6″ 64GB – Php47,990
● 11.6″ 128GB – Php52,990
● 11.6″ (maxed out) 512GB SSD, 2.0GHz Core i7, 8GB RAM – Php105,490

On the other hand, the Asus UX21A is not available in the Philippines (just the UX31A). However, last year’s UX21 retailed for Php52,990 which is now the same price as the 128GB Macbook Air 11.6″.

If, and this is a big IF, the Zenbook Prime will also be priced at Php52,900, we have a great match here (same 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Intel Core i5 processor). To give us a better perspective, the Zenbook Prime UX31A retails for Php69,995 while a similarly spec’ed Macbook Air 13 retails for Php77,990 (Core i7, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD).

The biggest advantage the Zenbook Prime has over the Macbook Air is actually the Retina Display (i.e. 1080p full HD display) and since this feature is the crowing glory of the new Macbook Pro w/ Retina Display, we’re inclined to give a split decision in favor of the Zenbook Prime.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

21 Responses

  1. Avatar for Jefferson Jefferson says:

    to the author: Retina Display is patent by apple by asus. kindly coorect your article it was misleading and you can be charged for that.

    what you can do in windows still you can donit in macbook it now has a Parallel software where in your mac you can run both windows and a mac os.

    for me air is better for because it worth the price :)

  2. Avatar for Prakash Heda Prakash Heda says:

    other 2 binefit missed are….

    it has widi macair dont have that even in bootcamp running windows 8

    and it has touch screen

    and as auther said 1080p display….if u like ratina display this is for you, if u hate ratina display you can lower resolution

  3. Avatar for jaysonmoy jaysonmoy says:

    I’ll go with Asus.
    Inspiring innovation, persistent perfection :-)

  4. Avatar for royax royax says:

    sir, im now thinking of buying a macbook air.. just wondering if this book is ok for gaming? if not? can anyone recommend?

  5. Avatar for Maui Maui says:

    “The biggest advantage the Zenbook Prime has over the Macbook Air is actually the Retina Display…”

    huh? baligtad?

  6. Avatar for Gio Gio says:

    The pictures are misleading. That is not the new Asus zenbook prime. Why arent you displaying the new one? Which features a black chiclet keyboard.

  7. Avatar for lance lance says:

    Macbook Air parin. Status symbol. Basta Apple product, sosyal.

  8. Avatar for euro euro says:

    iSheeps. LOL

  9. Avatar for JHAZbewithyou JHAZbewithyou says:

    I’d go for MacBook. :)

  10. Avatar for tomtom tomtom says:

    mas rounded corners ng macbook.

  11. Avatar for Mr. Serious Mr. Serious says:

    It’s funny that when you look at the two laptops side by side in the photo above, They look as if they’re exactly the same model but of a different color variant. Same bezel thickness, screen, keyboard, size of the track pad, material, finish, and general aesthetic. 3 visible difference: brand print, color, and Windows stickers ;) I guess people have to remember to ‘Innovate NOT Imitate’.

  12. Avatar for Nomad Nomad says:

    I cringed every time the author mentioned retina display!
    I say the biggest advantage of Mac air over that asus is the OS.

    • Avatar for Obob Obob says:

      cringed? OA mo tsong… Biggest advantage ang OS? patawa! ang magagawa ng Mac magagawa din ng Windows. It all boils down to personal preference..

      I don’t own a Mac but I’ve used one in the office. Halos the same lang function mas inclined lang ang MAC for dev and multimedia use. I prefer Windows because I’m more of a gamer pero kung casual user ka any of the two will do.

    • Avatar for Marc Marc says:

      Well said. Spot on! Couldn’t agree more on you Obob. Its really annoying to read fan boys alike “apple=god” comments.

  13. Avatar for edmers edmers says:

    that is not retina display (since it’s not an apple product), nor is it “retina display country” (189 ppi is not high enough). you can just say it has a better screen than the macbook air. that said, i think it depends ultimately on which OS you prefer to use

  14. Avatar for dave dave says:

    asus will release another zenbook…. its just a facelift..

  15. Avatar for jonaflormicfren jonaflormicfren says:

    I go for the later, it is more practical.

  16. Avatar for nelldnine nelldnine says:

    can you clearly see 1080p in a 11.6″ screen?

    • Avatar for Fleeb Fleeb says:

      If 1280×720 resolution in a 4.3″ screen is still clear, why not 1920×1080 in an 11″ screen?

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