If we take a specific code example from the topics, I would prefer to write it like this:

$order = DB::table('orders')
    ->where(compact('quantity'))
    ->first();

And it is even better to use the Order model instead of direct reference to the table at least because in case of anything you will have to search through the code for all references to this table instead of Ctrl+Click on the class name.

$order = Order::query()
    ->where(compact('quantity'))
    ->first();

Let's check it:

1. Create a new app

laravel new test --api -n
cd test

2. Put a new console command to `routes/console.php` file:

use App\Models\User;
use Illuminate\Support\Benchmark;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Artisan;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;

Artisan::command('foo', function () {
    Benchmark::dd([
        'eloquent manual' => fn () => User::query()->where('name', 'foo')->first(),
        'eloquent magic'  => fn () => User::query()->whereName('foo')->first(),

        'db manual' => fn () => DB::table('users')->where('name', 'foo')->first(),
        'db magic'  => fn () => DB::table('users')->whereName('foo')->first(),
    ], iterations: 1000);
});

And, I don't know why there is such a difference in the case of Eloquent, but here is my result:

array:4 [
  "eloquent manual" => "0.267ms"
  "eloquent magic"  => "0.252ms"

  "db manual" => "0.149ms"
  "db magic"  => "0.151ms"
]