Best Windows laptop under $1,250 (50,000 TRY) for a translator/editor? Trying not to regret skipping a MacBook Air

Country Turkey Budget ≈50,000 TRY (≈$1,250 USD), though cheaper is always welcome. Are you open to refurbs/used options? No. Screen size 13" to 15.6" Weight limit Around 1.6-1.8 kg, ideally lighter. Purpose General purpose/professional work device. I'm a freelance translator/editor and this is my main work tool. Form factor Standard clamshell. Intended usage Word, PDFs, browser with many tabs open, research, CAT tools, and usually several apps open at once. No video editing or GPU-heavy work. For gaming, I mostly play The Sims 4, Crusader Kings 3, Stardew Valley, and similar titles. I don't need dedicated GPU performance for AAA games. Desired battery life 8+ hours of real-world use. I work 8-12 hours a day on this device, so I'd like something that can get close to lasting a full workday. Please list your priorities from most important to least important Battery life Performance Weight Size Info/Requirements At least Core Ultra 7 or i7-level CPU At least 16GB RAM At least 512GB SSD Comfortable keyboard, preferably backlit Good build quality and longevity Something that will still feel solid and responsive several years from now Since I'm in Turkey, I'm mostly focused on Lenovo, HP, Acer and Asus because they have the best local availability and service support. Current candidates: Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G7 (Core Ultra 7 155H) Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G8 (Core Ultra 7 255H) Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (i7-13620H) Asus Vivobook 15 I would honestly have preferred a MacBook Air, but M4/M5 models with 512GB storage are outside my budget here. I'm trying to get as close as possible to that experience on Windows in terms of battery life, build quality, day-to-day responsiveness, and longevity. I'm also open to other Lenovo, HP, Acer, or Asus models if there's a better fit that I've overlooked.