Two　types　of　solar　air　collectors　(SACs),　namely,　a　conventional-tube　collector　(C-TC)　and　a　transparent-tube　collector　(T-TC),　are　designed　on　the　basis　of　flat　micro-heat　pipe　arrays　(FMHPA)　and　are　compared.　FMHPA　is　used　as　the　core　heat　transfer　element　for　both　collectors.　Absorption　coatings　are　located　at　different　places.　It　is　located　at,　namely,　on　the　inner　wall　of　vacuum　tube　and　on　the　FMHPA　evaporation　section　in　the　C-TC　and　the　T-TC.　A　large　volumetric　flow　rate　of　air　contributes　to　high　efficiency.　Results　of　the　comparative　experiment　show　that　even　if　the　thermal　efficiency　of　the　C-TC　(77.6%)　is　smaller　than　that　of　the　T-TC　(85.0%),　the　useful　energy　of　the　C-TC　(641　W)　is　larger　than　that　of　the　T-TC　(497　W).　Moreover,　the　COP　values　of　the　C-TC　and　T-TC　are　11.4　and　8.9,　respectively.　The　unit　initial　investments　are　0.15　and　0.21　$/W.　Hence,　considering　the　heating　capability　and　price　advantage,　the　C-TC　is　a　better　collector　form　than　the　T-TC　in　the　same　collector　gross　area.　The　collector　pressure　drop　does　not　exceed　19.1　Pa.　These　results　can　serve　as　a　reference　for　the　selection　and　design　of　SACs　for　heating　applications　and　crop　drying.