2016 MacBook Pro vs. Microsoft Surface Book i7: Which 13-inch laptop should consumers choose?
Late last month, Apple and Microsoft have unleashed their latest laptops, the upgraded MacBook Pro and the Surface Book i7, respectively. However, this comparison is primarily based on the screen size, and since the Microsoft hybrid laptop is only offered with a 13-inch display screen, it is to be compared with only the smaller MacBook Pro.
Microsoft did not bother changing anything on the outside with their Surface Book i7 model. It still shows the same thing for the second in a row. Its body is still magnesium alloy and the same curling-hinge design. The company added a little weight to its newest offering. It now tips the scale at 1647 grams including the keyboard. The added weight (previously at 1,576 grams) comes from the battery as it can now run up to 16 hours on a single charge during video playback.
Apple, on the other hand, decided to slice off more from the weight of its previous mode. The 13-inch model of the latest MacBook Pro now weighs in at 1,360 grams from the previous 1,580 grams. It is also thinner compared to its previous model, as well as with the new Surface Book. But, the Apple device does not contain the processor, it does not have a touchscreen display, and it cannot be detached from its keyboard.
The Surface Book offers a 3000 x 2000 screen resolution with 267 ppi pixel density. The MacBook Pro can only go as high as 2560 x 1600 resolution with 227 ppi value.
All the models for the hybrid device have a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM, located on the keyboard area, and with the sixth-gen Intel Core i7 in a quad-core configuration. The premium Apple laptop can only have an Intel Iris Graphics 550 and a dual-core Intel Core i7. System memory for both machines is similarly pegged, in either 8 GB or 16 GB. Both machines also offer up to 1 TB SSD storage.
In terms of pricing, the Microsoft Surface Book i7 costs $2,399 for the base model and includes a Core i7 chip, 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB storage. Its price can go as high as $3,299.
Meanwhile, the 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro price starts at $1,499 and comes with a 2.0 GHz dual-core Core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage. Its highest pre-configured model cost $1,999.
