You can certainly use it offline, but some features won’t be available. Since ChromeOS was designed with cloud computing in mind, it generally requires a constant internet connection in order to perform optimally. ChromeOS, meanwhile, is super fast and smooth but more akin to Android-based tablet operating systems. The former is arguably the more powerful OS, sitting closer to Microsoft Windows in terms of capabilities and user interface. The key difference here is the operating system: MacBooks use MacOS, while Chromebooks rely on the more cloud-focused ChromeOS. (Image credit: Future) MacBook Air vs Chromebook: Features But if you’re looking more towards the premium end of the scale, the MacBook Air still offers a sound price-to-performance proposition. We’re still going to give the win to Chromebooks in this category, since the wide range of options to suit any budget is great for any potential buyer. If you need a laptop with solid performance for running more intensive software, a MacBook Air with an M1 or M2 chip is likely to beat most Chromebooks hands down. These cheap Chromebooks obviously won’t compete with any thousand-dollar laptop when it comes to performance, though.

The Chromebook Flip series from Asus sits in the $500-600 range depending on the specs, while you can snap up super budget options like the 2021 Acer Spin 311 for less than $300. While premium Chromebooks with similar pricing to the MacBook Air do exist - like the excellent Google Pixelbook Go and HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook - most are quite a bit cheaper.

They’re still more expensive than the best Chromebooks, which were always positioned as a more wallet-friendly alternative to conventional laptops. Older MacBook Air models such as the 2020 M1 version or Intel-powered editions came in at $999 (£999 / AU$1,599), but you can generally find them for less nowadays.

Google chrome for macbook air