On the face of it, it'd be easy to assume the Surface Laptop is a MacBook- or MacBook Air-class device. That's certainly true in terms of design. But when it comes down to it, the Microsoft team squeezed some serious hardware into the Surface Laptop.
That makes it worth comparing to the top of Apple's notebook tree: The MacBook Pro.
So let's see how two devices stack up. We're looking at the smaller, 13-inch MacBook Pro here, not the 15-inch model which is larger and a bit pricier. The 13-inch version is the best, closest comparison to the Surface Laptop.
Surface Laptop vs. MacBook Pro technical specifications
| Category | Microsoft Surface Laptop | Apple MacBook Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 13.5-inch Pixel Sense display 10 point multi-touch | 13.3-inch Retina display Optional Touch Bar |
| Display resolution | 2256 x 1504 Aspect Ratio: 3:2 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Software | Windows 10 S | macOS Sierra |
| Processor | Seventh-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 | Seventh-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD) | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB PCIe SSD |
| Memory | 4GB, 8GB or 16GB RAM | 8GB or 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | i5: Intel HD graphics 620 i7: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 or 650 |
| Ports | One full-size USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, headset jack, Surface Connect | Up to four USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, headset jack |
| Battery | 14.5 hours of use | 10 hours of use |
| Pen | Surface Pen | No |
| Weight | 2.76 lbs | 3.02 lbs |
| Dimensions | 12.13 inches x 8.78 inches x 0.57 inches | 11.97 inches x 8.36 inches x 0.59 inches |
| Price | From $999 | From $1,299 |
This is a tough one to call. In some areas, the Surface nudges ahead, in others the MacBook Pro.
Trying to make a little sense of it, there are some key points that stand out:
- The Surface Laptop has a lower-spec, lower priced entry point that's $300 less with the main differences being half the RAM and lesser graphics. But it has a touch-screen.
- The high-end models actually favor Apple slightly, with better graphics and a $200 saving over the highest end Surface Laptop, at the sacrifice of 8GB of RAM compared to 16GB (without adding additional configurations).
- Neither of these laptops is great for port selection. Surface Laptop has the advantage of a regular USB 3.0, while MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 3 and a dongle to use for every occasion.
- The Surface Laptop's claimed battery life is significantly better than Apple's reported life for the MacBook Pro.
- They're both about the same size and weight.
What you don't get on the MacBook Pro, of course, is an Alcantara keyboard and a choice of color that isn't gray or silver.
Surface Laptop vs. MacBook Pro: Which one wins?
So which one comes out on top? It's basically a draw. The Surface Laptop and MacBook Pro are evenly matched across the board. One jumps ahead in one area, only to have the other claw back in another. The difference really comes down to the OS, which is a whole different kind of comparison. Also, remember if you do go for a MacBook Pro, it's pretty handy with Windows 10 installed on it.
