We compare Microsoft\u2019s latest Surface device with Apple\u2019s MacBook to help you decide which laptop is best for you.<\/b>
\nBy
Jim Martin | 34 mins ago
12″ MacBook:
\u00a31,249 (256GB model) and \u00a31,549 (512GB model) , US$1,299 (256GB model) and $1,599 (512GB model)
Microsoft Surface Laptop:
From \u00a3979, From US$999
Price comparision from, and manufacturers
The Surface Laptop is beautiful, but it\u2019s also a little confusing. It\u2019s aimed at students, but it\u2019s expensive. It runs a cut-down version of Windows 10, but has powerful components.
Its price and design appear to compete with Google\u2019s Chromebook Pixel, but that\u2019s no longer on sale. But there is a similar laptop that we can sensibly compare it to: the 2016 MacBook.
We’ve also compared the Surface Laptop and Surface Book, in case you’re choosing between those.
This thin-and-light notebook was launched last year and weighs less than a kilo. Its 12in screen is smaller than the 13.5in Surface Laptop, though, and as with all Macs, doesn\u2019 t have a touchscreen.
As prices depend on the specification you opt for, we\u2019 ve summarised them in the table below
Core specs
Price
Microsoft Surface Laptop
Core i5,4GB, 128GB storage
\u00a3979 \/ US$999
Core i5,8GB, 256GB storage
\u00a31249 \/ US$1299
Core i7,8GB, 256GB storage
\u00a31549 \/ US$1599
Core i7,16GB, 512GB storage
\u00a32149 \/ US$2199
Apple MacBook
Core m3,8GB, 256GB storage
\u00a31249 \/ US$1299
Core m5,8GB, 512GB storage
\u00a31549 \/ US$1599
You can pre-order a Surface Laptop from Microsoft\u2019s online store, and buy a MacBook directly from Apple .
Both laptops are high-end models with great design and precision manufacturing. They\u2019 re built using premium materials, all of which helps to explain \u2013 and justify \u2013 their high prices.
Each is offered in four different colours, with Apple offering Rose Gold in addition to the familiar Silver, Gold and Space Grey.
Microsoft has chosen similar hues Platinum (silver) and Graphite Gold, with Burgundy and Cobalt Blue for the other two.
In the UK only Platinum is currently available, but if you\u2019 re in the US and want a different colour, you can currently only pre-order the Core i5 \/ 8GB \/ 256GB model for $1299.
The MacBook has an all-aluminium chassis and the design is hard to fault. We can easily criticise the lack of ports \u2013 a single USB-C is not going to be enough for a lot of people and although adaptors are readily available, these add cost and are inconvenient.
But in terms of build and how it looks, we do love the MacBook.
Microsoft has clearly taken some inspiration from it for the Surface Laptop. It was keen to point out at its launch that the joins are seamless and that \u201cyou won\u2019 t find a single screw or fastener\u2026 anywhere\u201d.
Some have bemoaned the fact Alcantara has been used as the cover for the keyboard deck. A material more commonly associated with car seats, it\u2019s soft and good quality but does mark easily and will likely become grubby since you\u2019 re resting your palms on it, if not your fingertips.
Here\u2019s how the two laptops compare on their main specifications:
Microsoft Surface Laptop
Apple MacBook
Operating system
Windows 10 S
macOS Sierra
Display
13.5in, 2256 x 1504,201ppi
12in, 2305 x 1440 pixels, 226ppi
Touchscreen
Yes
No
Processor
Intel Core i5 \/ Core i7
Intel Core m3 or Core m5
GPU
Intel HD 620 (i5) or Iris Plus Graphics 640 (i7)
Intel HD Graphics 515
RAM
4,8 or 16GB
8GB
Storage
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB
256GB or 512GB
Colours
Burgundy, Platinum, Cobalt Blue, Graphite Gold
Rose Gold, Space Grey, Gold, Silver
Connectivity
USB 3.0,3.5mm jack, mini DisplayPort, SurfaceConnect
USB-C, 3.5mm jack
Wireless
802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
Battery
Non-removable. Up to 14.5 hours
Non-removable. Up to 11 hours
Dimensions
308 x 223.2 x 14.5 mm
280.5 x 196.5 x 13.1mm
Weight
1.25kg
0.92kg
Clearly, the main difference is that the MacBook is powered by last-generation Core m processors. Although Intel has muddied the waters by renaming these \u2018Core i\u2019 chips in the latest seventh generation, thankfully the Surface Laptop doesn\u2019 t use these ultra-low-power Y-series models.
Instead it sensibly opts for the U-series CPUs, which are the \u2018real\u2019 Core i5 and i7. And yes, it\u2019s i5 and i7, not i3 and i5. This means there should be plenty of performance for whatever you need to do.
And while you may already be aware that Windows 10 S allows you to install apps solely from the Windows Store, you\u2019 ve always got the option to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. This is free until 31 December 2017, and will cost \u00a350 after that.
The MacBook runs macOS Sierra and while this means it can\u2019 t run any Windows apps, there are of course many popular apps available on both platforms.
Add in web-based services and macOS is really only limited in the choice of games compared to Windows. And neither of these is really designed for gaming.
We\u2019 ll have to wait until we can benchmark the Core i7 Surface Laptop, but it does benefit from Iris Plus Graphics 640, which could well be able to handle some of the latest titles, albeit not at the screen\u2019s native resolution we suspect.
Which operating system you prefer is down to you, and which apps you need to run.
Microsoft said at the Surface Laptop\u2019s launch that the Core i5 version was 50 percent faster than the Core i7 MacBook Air, and it\u2019s likely to be an even bigger percentage quicker than the Core m3-equipped MacBook.
Both laptops have backlit keyboards, but Apple doesn’t offer a UK layout. Traditionally, Microsoft has offered different layouts for different regions and languages, with specific UK layout keyboards for Surface Pro tablets. We’ve not had confirmation that the Surface Laptop will be the same, but we’d be surprised if it wasn’t the same.
The MacBook has its clever Force Touch trackpad which lets you use different amounts of pressure depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Plus, multi-finger gestures let you zoom and scroll just like on a touchscreen.
One of the biggest differences aside from performance is the display. The MacBook has a 12in IPS screen which makes it smaller than the 13.5in Surface Laptop. Resolutions are similar, though, which means the Surface has a slightly lower pixel density.
It\u2019s not so low you\u2019 ll wish you\u2019 d chosen the MacBook and also has the benefit of being a touchscreen. That\u2019s impressive given the screen is just 3.5mm thick \u2013 it\u2019s currently the thinnest laptop touchscreen in existence.
It also works with the Surface Pen \u2013 the stylus bundled with Microsoft\u2019s Surface tablets – so you can draw, annotate and sketch. That won\u2019 t be a killer feature for everyone, but for some people it will be a deal-maker and a key reason to choose the Surface Laptop over a MacBook.
You don\u2019 t get a Surface Pen with the laptop, though.
It\u2019s rare to have a clear winner in a versus battle, but in this case the Surface Laptop gets our vote over the MacBook. Partly it\u2019s because Apple\u2019s laptop uses the older and ultra-low-power CPU, but it\u2019s also because even then entry-level Surface Book has a sensible specification. Plus it has more ports and a touchscreen and you can upgrade to \u2018proper\u2019 Windows if you want to. Sure, it may lack USB-C, but that\u2019s its only real flaw.
Price comparision from, and manufacturers
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Similarity rank: 3.1<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: 0<\/div>\n

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