Mac Vs Microsoft Laptop

Best for most

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2

Professional powerhouse

Apple MacBook Pro

Jul 21, 2018  The rivalry between the MacBook and the PC laptop has been wading on for many a year. It is as fabled as the legendary battle of David vs. On one hand, the MacBook. Which Is Best For Me? Best Laptops In US 2020. Best Laptops Under $200 in 2020. Best Laptop Guides is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC. PC showdown started when IBM—not Apple or Microsoft—was the king of the computer. The IBM PC was IBM's answer to the flourishing personal computer market that started with the Altair 8800 and was being led by companies like Apple and Commodore. Business productivity tools were domain of the Windows operating system, while editing, photo and other creativity apps were clearly a Mac world. And though the PC tends to dominate in the workplace, many software programs for professional use—including Microsoft. Office and the Adobe. Creative Suite—have versions for both operating systems. Your Mac will last for a long time, and if it breaks, you know exactly where to take it. Apple I've owned several Macs, but the first one I got to use at home was an iMac my mom bought for our.

  • Mar 04, 2020  Laptop vs. Chromebook: Which portable computer is best in 2020. Not sure how a Windows or Mac laptop is different than a Chromebook? Here's the answer.
  • May 31, 2017  Forbes takes privacy seriously and is committed to transparency. We will never share your email address with third parties without your permission. Chromebook Vs. Windows Laptop.

The Surface Laptop 2 looks identical to the first one save for a new black paintjob, but the important updates are underneath. It's now more powerful while delivering better battery life, and it still has that stunning touch display.

Pros

  • Stunning touch display
  • Digital inking support
  • Great battery life
  • More affordable
  • Latest generation processors

Cons

  • No USB-C
  • Not all colors available in all configurations

The MacBook Pro is packed with hardware to excite the professional market, but all that comes at a pretty high price. It's available in two sizes, too, while the Surface Laptop 2 is not.

Pros

  • Optional six-core processors
  • Stunning Retina Display
  • Can run Windows 10
  • USB-C Thunderbolt 3
  • Dedicated graphics options and eGPU support

The Surface Laptop 2 and MacBook Pro are really for very different target audiences. The Surface Laptop 2 is one of the best Windows laptops you can buy, but it's not equipped for the professional or serious power user. The MacBook Pro has the hardware for that type of buyer, with the added bonus of being able to boot into Windows 10 as well.

Surface Laptop 2 vs MacBook Pro basic tech specs

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the closest to the Surface Laptop 2 in terms of outright specs, but Apple still has more options on the table for its professional buyers. There are two sizes, and in the larger 15-inch model you can build a quite ridiculously powerful laptop.

The Surface Laptop 2 has quad-core Intel Core i5 or i7 processors with Intel UHD 620 graphics, a 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504 resolution touch display, up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

By contrast, Apple has options on the MacBook Pro that include quad-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors on the 13-inch model, and six-core processors up to a Core i9 on the 15-inch model. The 13-inch can support up to 2TB of storage and 16GB of RAM, while the 15-inch goes up to 32GB of RAM and an insane 4TB of SSD storage.

All models of the MacBook Pro 13-inch use Intel Iris Plus graphics, while on the 15-inch you have options for Radeon Pro 560X, Vega 16 or Vega 20 dedicated GPUs from AMD.

Surface Laptop 2 is a nice upgrade on its predecessor

The Surface Laptop 2 itself is only a mild upgrade to the original model, but it has some important improvements. In our review, we determined you can expect at least an extra hour from its battery, despite the processor having been bumped to a quad-core over the dual-core from the first one.

It isn't perfect — there's no USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 for example, and the Alcantara keyboard can certainly get quite dirty — but it's still an excellent laptop. You're getting cutting edge hardware, with a gorgeous high-resolution, pen-enabled screen thrown in for good measure.

It's also cheaper at the entry level, while offering a better spec and performance compared to the cheapest MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro has (mostly) superior specs

Even though there are no longer any legacy ports on the MacBook Pro, it still has a fairly big advantage over the Surface Laptop 2. Not only does it have the new USB-C, it has Thunderbolt 3 as well. And Thunderbolt 3 opens up a world of possibilities. You can attach high resolution displays to it, connect fast external storage, and perhaps most interesting of all, hook up an eGPU, putting a full desktop graphics card into your MacBook Pro. Even the integrated graphics on the 13-inch MacBook Pro are better than those on the Surface Laptop 2.

The Surface Laptop 2 has no USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 and to get the most from it, you'll need to buy the first-party Surface Dock.

Besides this, the MacBook Pro has the latest generation six-core processors from Intel right up to the Core i9, options for dedicated graphics that go up to AMD's Radeon Vega Pro, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 4TB of storage.

The outlier is the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro with a dual-core processor and 128GB of storage. It costs quite a bit more than the Surface Laptop 2 for no gain, and you're going to be hitting the $1,799 price point for the Touch Bar model before you see any real advantages.

Different laptops for different people

The Surface Laptop 2 is a closer match to Apple's MacBook Air, in the sense that they're both highly portable yet capable Ultrabooks, and they appeal to the same type of laptop buyers.

The MacBook Pro is simply in a different class. It's a pro-grade laptop with a ton of powerful options, much better graphics capabilities and if your wallet will go far enough, even a ridiculous Core i9 processor. It also comes in two sizes, 13 inches and 15 inches, while the Surface Laptop 2 is limited to the single 13.5-inch model. The base model might be a bit of a dud, but the higher specs start to move away.

If you're already looking at the Surface Laptop 2 as something you think you'd like to buy, get it. The MacBook Pro isn't really a direct competitor, and you're going to end up spending a lot more money on the Mac. If you're thinking of the very bottom spec MacBook Pro, the Surface Laptop 2 will offer better value

Best for most

Surface Laptop 2

For most, the Surface Laptop 2 is a better buy

Mac

While lacking the ultimate power available in the MacBook Pro, of the two, the Surface Laptop 2 is the better value for most people.

Professional powerhouse

MacBook Pro

Stacked with professional power

The professional buyer looking for massive horsepower and dedicated graphics can get everything they need in the MacBook Pro. Including Windows 10.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Red team for life

These are all the best AMD Ryzen-powered laptops

Looking for a new laptop but you'd prefer to have something powered by AMD Ryzen rather than Intel? The choice isn't as wide, but fortunately, there are some excellent notebooks out there to choose from.

Best for most

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Professional powerhouse

Apple MacBook Pro

The Surface Laptop 3 now comes in two sizes and uses both Intel and AMD hardware inside. Everything that made the first two great remains, except it now has USB-C as well!

Pros

  • Stunning touch display
  • Digital inking support
  • Great battery life
  • Two sizes
  • Intel and AMD processors

Cons

  • No Thunderbolt 3
  • Not all colors available in all configurations

The MacBook Pro is packed with hardware to excite the professional market, but all that comes at a high price, though you do also have the option for dedicated graphics.

Pros

  • Optional eight-core processors
  • Stunning Retina Display
  • Can run Windows 10
  • Thunderbolt 3
  • Dedicated graphics options and eGPU support

The Surface Laptop 3 and MacBook Pro are for very different target audiences. The Surface Laptop 3 is not targeted at the serious power user. The MacBook Pro has the hardware for that type of buyer, with the added bonus of being able to boot into Windows 10 as well.

Surface Laptop 3 vs MacBook Pro basic tech specs

CategorySurface Laptop 3 (13-inch)Surface Laptop 3 (15-inch)MacBook Pro (13-inch)MacBook Pro (15-inch)
Operating SystemWindows 10Windows 10macOSmacOS
Display13.5-inch Pixelsense, 3:2 aspect ratio, 2256x1504 (201 PPI)15-inch Pixelsense, 3:2 aspect ratio, 2496x1664 (201 PPI)13.3-inch Retina 2560 x 1600 (227 PPI)15.4-inch Retina 2880 x 1800 (220 PPI)
ProcessorIntel 10th GenAMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 custom CPUIntel Core i5 or i7 (quad-core)Intel Core i7 (hexa-core)
Intel Core i9 (octa-core)
GPUIntel IrisAMD Vega 9
AMD Vega 11
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
Up to Radeon Pro Vega 20
Memory8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR4x8GB or 16GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz16GB or 32GB DDR4 2400 MHz
Storage128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD (replaceable)128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD (replaceable)Up to 512GB SSDUp to 4TB SSD
Ports1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x Surface Connect, 3.5 mm headphone jack1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x Surface Connect, 3.5 mm headphone jackUp to 4 x USB-C Thunderbolt 3, 3.5mm headphone jack4 x USB-C Thunderbolt-3, 3.5mm headphone jack
BatteryUp to 11.5 hoursUp to 11.5 hoursUp to 10 hoursUp to 10 hours
WeightUp to 2.79 lbsUp to 3.4 lbs3.02 lbs4.02lbs
Macbook air vs surface laptop

Surface Laptop 3 is a great upgrade

The Surface Laptop is one of our absolute favorites and the latest incarnation doesn't change any of that. For the first time, we have a little choice when buying, with both a 13- and a 15-inch model now. The experience of using each is mostly the same, with the biggest change coming underneath. The 15-inch version is exclusively available to consumers with a customized AMD Ryzen Surface Edition APU.

That packs four cores and eight threads on the Ryzen CPU portion, and either a Vega 9 or Vega 11 integrated GPU. Both of these have an additional GPU core over the Vega that AMD would put in other Windows laptops, giving it a little added grunt.

Apple Macbook Vs Windows Laptop

Even on the smaller version, performance takes a serious bump from the Surface Laptop 2, with Intel's 10th Gen processors and all-new Iris Plus graphics on the table. The Surface Laptop 3 isn't targeted at professional applications or creators, but the added horsepower certainly means you can get some good mileage in such areas.

Oh, and it has USB-C now, as well. So you don't need to buy a dongle. Hallelujah!

MacBook Pro has some superior specs

Even though there are no longer any legacy ports on the MacBook Pro, it has one fairly big advantage over the Surface Laptop 3. it has Thunderbolt 3 support on top of USB-C, and Thunderbolt 3 opens up a world of possibilities. You can attach high resolution displays to it, connect fast external storage, and perhaps most interesting of all, hook up an eGPU, putting a full desktop graphics card into your MacBook Pro.

Besides this, the MacBook Pro has six-core processors from Intel right up to a Core i9, options for dedicated graphics that go up to AMD's Radeon Vega Pro, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 4TB of storage. In all cases the AMD graphics options for the MacBook Pro are stronger than the Vega 9 or Vega 11 you're able to get on the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3.

Different laptops for different people

The Surface Laptop 3 is generally a closer match to Apple's MacBook Air in the sense that they're both highly portable yet capable Ultrabooks and they appeal to the same type of laptop buyers.

The MacBook Pro targets a different class of buyer. It's a pro-grade laptop with a ton of powerful options, much better graphics capabilities and if your wallet will go far enough, a ridiculous Core i9 processor.

The Surface Laptop 3 does come in two sizes for the first time, though, and they're both touch-enabled, something you don't get on any MacBook, with pen support for digital inking. The 15-inch model with AMD Ryzen and Vega inside is the better choice there, but the MacBook Pro can still over more outright power.

If you're already looking at the Surface Laptop 3 as something you think you'd like to buy, get it. The MacBook Pro isn't really a direct competitor, and you're going to end up spending a lot of money on the Mac to get anything really worthy.

Best for most

Mac Vs Microsoft Laptop Windows 10

Surface Laptop 3

For most, the Surface Laptop 3 is a better buy

While lacking the ultimate power available in the MacBook Pro, of the two, the Surface Laptop 3 is the better value for most people.

Professional powerhouse

MacBook Pro

Stacked with professional power

Mac Vs Microsoft Laptop Pro

The professional buyer looking for massive horsepower and dedicated graphics can get everything they need in the MacBook Pro. Including Windows 10.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Protect that Book

Protect your Surface Book 2 with one of these cases

Apple Vs Microsoft

Looking for some protection for your Surface Book 2? Here are the best cases we can find right now.