Apple and Microsoft have been competing for decades on the operating system front, but in recent years they have also had competing hardware. Both the MacBook and Surface lines have their pros and cons, so choosing between them isn’t easy. To give you some firmer recommendations, we’ve pitted the MacBook Pro against the Surface Pro 7 in a classic head-to-head.
One is a celebrated 2-in-1, and the other is an iconic laptop workhorse with classic Apple styling. Which one will be the best when the dust settles?
Once you’ve decided which model is right for you, take a closer look at the best MacBook deals and the best Microsoft Surface Pro sales available now.
To shape
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The MacBook Pro has been at the forefront of laptop style for generations, helping to redefine the look and feel of the premium laptop. While there are many more contenders for the best-looking laptop today, the MacBook Pro stands out as a superbly crafted machine. While we still don’t see the point of the Touch Bar, the overall look and feel of Apple’s MacBook Pro is top notch.
The Surface Pro 7 is disappointing in terms of its design. While we’ve approved of its minor design iterations in the past, this year we’ve finally had enough — as we said in our review, “the Surface Pro 7’s minor revisions are hardly worth the numerical jump from the 6 to the 7.” It still has big, unsightly bezels, which look increasingly out of place in 2019. Indeed, in a laptop market that so often sees mere millimeters of extra material around the screen, it feels decidedly dated. It’s also a tad too heavy for comfortable tablet use.
While the Surface Pro 7 may retain some styling cues from the past, its accessories are a little more comfortable. Its Type Cover ($129) is a fantastic must-have accessory if you intend to get into real typing. Its touchpad is also excellent; it’s easily one of our favorites among all Windows laptops.
The MacBook Pro keyboard is a disappointment in comparison. Apple has gone through several iterations of its butterfly button design, and while it’s improving, we’re still not impressed. Sticky and broken keys are common, and the typing experience is far from our favorite, with stiff, overly shallow keys that give you no tactile feedback for a comfortable and efficient typing experience. Fortunately, the touchpad is much better, so if you plan to browse and surf more than type, the pale keyboard might not be too much of a problem.
In terms of ports, Apple’s device has two or four Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack on the 13-inch version, meaning you’ll likely need adapters for a wide range of external devices. Microsoft has finally embraced USB-C, so the Surface Pro 7 comes with a USB-C port, a USB-A 3.0 port, a headphone jack, a Surface Connect port, a Surface Type Cover connector, and a microSDXC card reader. This means that it loses Mini DisplayPort output from the Surface Pro for 6 days.
Surface Pro 7 is also a 2-in-1 — and our favorite 2-in-1 — which means you can ditch the Type Cover and use it as a highly functional tablet. That’s something the MacBook Pro just can’t do. It’s a 100 percent laptop, where the Surface Pro 7 can be either at a moment’s notice. Tablet mode with Windows 10 doesn’t do it much favors, but as an addition to the full Windows 10 experience, it’s serviceable.
Performance
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The entry-level Surface Pro 7 comes with a dual-core Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage and costs $749. You can change the processor to an i5-1035G4 or i7-1065G7, equip it with 8GB or 16GB of RAM, and have up to 1TB of SSD storage, for between $899 and $2,299.
Every size and configuration of the MacBook Pro now comes with a Touch Bar, and in early 2019 Apple updated its entry-level model to come with 8th Gen Intel i5 quad-core processors. You also get 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, plus Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, all for $1,299. It can be expanded with a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU, as well as 16 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of super-fast SSD storage. It will cost you $3099.
While the entry-level MacBook Pro costs a full $550 more than the base Surface Pro 7, you get a much more powerful processor and twice the RAM. However, if you upgrade the Surface Pro 7 to an Intel i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, it will set you back $899, which is still significantly less than the MacBook Pro. Added to that is the fact that Microsoft is using Intel’s 10th generation chips compared to the 8th generation versions in the MacBook Pro; our review found this to be a “significant” step up from the Surface Pro 6.
MacBooks have always been known for their fantastic displays, and the latest generation MacBook Pro did not disappoint. It’s bright and high-contrast with a decent 2560 x 1600 resolution. It’s also fantastically colorful, with wide color gamut support and an impressively low color error value. The smaller 12.3-inch display of the Surface Pro 7 has a higher resolution, a much higher pixel density (2736 x 1824 and 267 pixels per inch), and is also bright and colorful. It’s not quite as stunningly bright as the MacBook Pro, but it’s not far behind.
Portability
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At 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches and just 1.7 pounds in tablet mode (1.74 pounds with the i7 chip and about 2.4 pounds with the Type Cover), the Surface Pro 7 is a thinner and lighter device. The MacBook Pro is a thin and relatively light laptop, measuring 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.59 inches and weighing 3.02 pounds, but it just can’t match the portability of the Surface Pro 7.
Both the MacBook Pro and Surface Pro 7 are somewhat disappointing in terms of battery life. Apple’s laptop lasted just over 10 hours in our 1080p video loop test and has a smaller battery capacity than previous versions, while the Surface Pro 7 also took a step back, lasting almost an hour and a half less than its predecessor on light web browsing. Both devices can get you through the workday, but you may find yourself reaching for the power cord sooner than you’d like.
The best 2-in-1 is a better laptop
Riley Young / Digital Trends
Users often prefer laptops over 2-in-1s because laptops are a tried and true portable work option over tablets. We have to say that this 2-in-1 shocked us when we found that it outperformed similar class notebooks on the market. Admittedly, the Surface Pro 7 has its drawbacks, such as bulky bezels and a smaller screen. But its many advantages, such as a comfortable keyboard, portability, ease of use, and longer battery life, outweigh its disadvantages, making it a better laptop than the MacBook Pro. Its lightweight tablet setup is the icing on the cake.
If you’re sold on sleek looks, a little more power, and an intuitive selection of ports, the MacBook Pro is worth checking out. The 16-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are worthy alternatives if this is the type of device you’re looking for. On the other hand, the Surface Pro 7 is the better of the two when it comes to excellence in all aspects. The tablet comes with a charger, but you’ll need to purchase a separate Type cover and Bluetooth mouse if you want to take your game to the next level. Even with those extra costs, the Surface Pro 7 is still cheaper than an Apple laptop. This is especially true if you are in the market for additional storage space.
The MacBook Pro is a solid standard laptop, but if you want to step out of your comfort zone and try a quality 2-in-1, we recommend the Surface Pro 7.
MacBook Pro
Surface Pro 7
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn