Last updated on 5 July 2022
Although Microsoft was established a year earlier, Apple has managed to solidify its reputation as one of the more innovative tech brands in recent years, thanks to its unique range of devices.
Both Microsoft and Apple are now two of the leading names in the industry, constantly creating new products that rival each other.
In fact, both companies have recently launched new models in their lineup of high-quality laptops, namely Apple’s new 14-inch MacBook Pro and Microsoft’s latest RTX Surface Laptop Studio.
Picking between the two models can prove to be a tough choice for users, as both laptops offer different features at similar price points. So, what exactly are their differences? Moreover, which is the better choice for you?
To help you out, this article has listed down all the differences between these two models, ranging from their design and dimensions to their overall performance.
A big thanks to MaxTech for the information provided in the blog. Please go subscribe to them, they are amazing!
Comparison Table: Intel vs M1 Max MacBook Pro
| MacBook Pro | Surface Laptop Studio | |
| Processor | Unknown clock speed, 8-core | Up to 4.8GHz, 4-core |
| Graphics | 14-core GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6 |
| RAM | 16GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB | 256GB |
| Display | 14.2 inch mini LED, 3024 x 1964, Wide Color (P3), True Tone, 120Hz | 14.4 inch PixelSense Flow (2400 x 1600), Dolby Vision, up to 120Hz refresh rate, touch, Surface Pen support |
| Audio | Six-speaker stereo sound with force canceling woofers, Dolby Atmos | Quad Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos |
| Webcam | 1080p front-facing webcam | 1080p front-facing webcam |
| Biometric Security | Touch ID on power button | Windows Hello IR camera |
| Battery | 69.6Wh battery (14-inch): Up to 17 hours of battery life | 58Wh battery |
| Ports | 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports HDMI MagSafe 3 charging port SD card reader 3.5mm headphone jack | 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports 1 Surface Connect port 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.1 Xbox Wireless |
| Colors | Silver Space Grey | Platinum |
| Size (WxDxH) | 14-inch: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 (312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm) | 12.72 x 8.98 x 0.746 in (323.28 x 228.32 x 18.94 mm) |
| Weight | 14-inch: Starting at 3.5lbs (1.59 kg) | Core i5: 3.83 lbs (1.74 kg) |
Design and Dimensions
To start, let’s take a look at their dimensions and overall design. Apple’s new MacBook Pro has retained its signature Silver aluminum look that made it famous among users, although you can now find it in another color – Space Gray.
This new version is also slightly heavier than its 13-inch predecessors, weighing around 3.5 lbs. However, it retains its usual thickness at 0.61 inches. It also comes with a new keyboard, called the Magic Keyboard, designed to make typing easier and more comfortable.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s offer is slightly thicker and heavier than Apple’s new MacBook Pro, weighing around 4 lbs with a thickness of 0.7 inches. However, the Surface Laptop Studio offers something slightly different in terms of design.
The Surface Laptop Studio comes with two hinges that give the laptop more versatility. One hinge allows you to open it as a regular laptop, while the other enables you to pull out the screen for better viewing angles and use it as a tablet.
Screen and Display
Both laptops offer fantastic high-resolution displays that allow users to immerse themselves in what they’re viewing. However, only the Surface Laptop Studio offers a touchscreen capacity, adding another level of personalization to your regular PC use.
The MacBook Pro comes with a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 3024 x 1964 at around 254 PPI and has a refresh rate of 120Hz. Meanwhile, the Surface Laptop Studio has a 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow screen that offers a resolution of 2400 x 1600 at 201 PPI and a refresh rate of 120Hz.
Although it has a lower resolution, the Surface Laptop Studio has a built-in sensor that allows it to easily track the Surface Slim Pen 2 when used as a tablet. This gives it better friction when writing or drawing, perfect for those who want an easier time writing.
Overall Performance
It can be tough to compare the performance, especially considering the two models use different operating systems – Windows and macOS. However, both models come with their respective companies’ new processors, allowing them to deliver powerful performance for every task.
The new MacBook Pro comes with Apple’s new M1 Pro chip that has six performance and two efficiency cores, a total of eight cores for just processing. This new chip has been proven to handle even the most heavy-duty processing tasks with ease and efficiency while maintaining the laptop’s battery life.
In contrast, Microsoft’s new model comes with its signature x86 Intel processor, now in its 11th generation. However, it only comes with four cores as opposed to the more popular eight. Nevertheless, this laptop still manages to deliver a solid processing performance and hold its own against Apple’s new chips.
Battery Life, Ports, and Others
In terms of battery life, the Surface Laptop Studio offers up to 18 hours’ worth of use on a single charge. In comparison, the MacBook Pro is said to deliver around 17 hours before needing to recharge.
Aside from the battery, the MacBook Pro offers more ports to users than the Surface Laptop Studio, with the former having three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a full-sized SD card slot, a MagSafe3 charging port, and an HDMI port. It also comes with a jack for 3.5mm headphones.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s laptop comes with only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, only one Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack. If you need additional ports, you’ll have to purchase a separate USB hub.
Both laptops feature a high-resolution 1080p webcam that delivers clear images during video calls.
Conclusion
Both laptops undeniably represent the best each company has to offer, further reinforcing why Microsoft and Apple are the two most notable names in the tech industry.
However, which of the two is better? Well, while their specs and features differ and the two models tend to alternate when it comes to outperforming each other, both are excellent choices for those looking for high-quality laptops.
So, you can never go wrong with either model; the final decision ultimately depends on your preferences as a user.
A big thanks to MaxTech for the video review:
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