MacBook Pro vs. Surface Laptop 4: Battery Life and Connectivity Showdown
What To Know
- The Surface Laptop 4 lacks a Touch Bar but features a comfortable Alcantara-covered keyboard and a Precision Touchpad.
- The MacBook Pro excels in performance, battery life, and macOS integration, while the Surface Laptop 4 offers a more affordable price, a versatile operating system, and a beautiful design.
- The MacBook Pro has a slightly higher resolution display, but the Surface Laptop 4’s PixelSense display with 120Hz refresh rate provides a smoother experience.
The rivalry between Apple and Microsoft has been a defining characteristic of the tech industry for decades. Their latest offerings, the Apple MacBook Pro and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, represent the pinnacle of their respective ecosystems. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into a detailed comparison of these two powerhouses, examining their design, performance, features, and more.
Design
MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro exudes a sleek and minimalistic aesthetic with its unibody aluminum chassis. It is available in two sizes, 13-inch and 16-inch, and comes in Space Gray and Silver color options.
Surface Laptop 4: The Surface Laptop 4 also boasts a premium design, featuring a magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis. It is slightly heavier than the MacBook Pro but offers a wider range of color options, including Platinum, Sandstone, Matte Black, and Cobalt Blue.
Display
MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro offers a stunning Retina display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 (13-inch) or 3072 x 1920 (16-inch). It supports True Tone technology, which adjusts the color temperature of the display based on ambient lighting.
Surface Laptop 4: The Surface Laptop 4 has a slightly lower resolution display at 2256 x 1504 (13.5-inch) or 2496 x 1664 (15-inch). However, it features a PixelSense display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz, providing smoother scrolling and animations.
Performance
MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro is powered by Apple’s latest M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, which offers exceptional performance. It handles demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and software development with ease.
Surface Laptop 4: The Surface Laptop 4 is equipped with Intel’s 11th-generation Core i5 or i7 processors. While it is not as powerful as the MacBook Pro, it still delivers solid performance for everyday tasks and light productivity work.
Battery Life
MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro offers impressive battery life, lasting up to 17 hours (13-inch) or 21 hours (16-inch) on a single charge.
Surface Laptop 4: The Surface Laptop 4 has a slightly shorter battery life, lasting up to 17 hours (13.5-inch) or 19 hours (15-inch). However, it supports fast charging, allowing it to reach 50% battery capacity in just 30 minutes.
Features
MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro includes a Touch Bar, a narrow OLED display above the keyboard that provides context-based shortcuts and controls. It also has a Force Touch trackpad and a MagSafe 3 charging port.
Surface Laptop 4: The Surface Laptop 4 lacks a Touch Bar but features a comfortable Alcantara-covered keyboard and a Precision Touchpad. It also has a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support and a Surface Connect port.
Operating System
MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro runs on Apple’s macOS Monterey, which provides a user-friendly interface, robust security features, and a wide range of applications.
Surface Laptop 4: The Surface Laptop 4 comes with Windows 11 pre-installed. Windows 11 offers a more customizable experience, compatibility with a vast library of software, and access to the Microsoft Store.
Price
MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro starts at $1,299 for the 13-inch model and $2,499 for the 16-inch model.
Surface Laptop 4: The Surface Laptop 4 starts at $999 for the 13.5-inch model and $1,299 for the 15-inch model.
Final Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro and Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 are both exceptional laptops with their own strengths and weaknesses. The MacBook Pro excels in performance, battery life, and macOS integration, while the Surface Laptop 4 offers a more affordable price, a versatile operating system, and a beautiful design.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you prioritize raw power and a seamless user experience, the MacBook Pro is the clear winner. If you value affordability, flexibility, and a stylish design, the Surface Laptop 4 is a compelling option.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which laptop has a better display?
The MacBook Pro has a slightly higher resolution display, but the Surface Laptop 4’s PixelSense display with 120Hz refresh rate provides a smoother experience.
2. Which laptop is more powerful?
The MacBook Pro with Apple’s M1 Pro or M1 Max chip offers superior performance compared to the Surface Laptop 4 with Intel’s 11th-generation Core processors.
3. Which laptop has a longer battery life?
The MacBook Pro has a longer battery life, lasting up to 17-21 hours, compared to the Surface Laptop 4’s 17-19 hours.
4. Which laptop is more portable?
The MacBook Pro 13-inch is slightly lighter and thinner than the Surface Laptop 4 13.5-inch.
5. Which laptop is better for gaming?
Neither laptop is specifically designed for gaming, but the MacBook Pro with discrete graphics options offers better gaming performance than the Surface Laptop 4.
