Apple‘s MacBook Pro laptops are incredibly popular, known for their sleek, premium design, strong performance and long battery life. But MacBooks do come at a high price, cannot run Windows programs natively, and lack touchscreen or gaming-focused options.
For those seeking an alternative, there are many Windows laptops that can compete with or even surpass the MacBook Pro in certain areas. This guide will highlight some of the top options across different categories and price points.
What to Look for in a MacBook Pro Alternative
Here are some of the key strengths of the MacBook Pro line that you would want potential alternative options to match or improve upon:
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Design and Build Quality – MacBooks feature an all-aluminum chassis, ultra slim bezels and a premium, minimalist aesthetic. Alternatives should have a robust, durable chassis even if made of plastic or other materials.
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Display – Apple uses high-resolution Retina displays with sharp image quality, accurate color reproduction and thin bezels. Alternative screens should be vivid and immersive.
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Performance – MacBook Pros offer excellent processing power thanks to Apple‘s new M2 chips. Alternatives should have the latest Intel/AMD chips to handle demanding tasks.
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Battery Life – MacBooks are known for all-day battery life – 10+ hours of mixed usage. The best alternatives will offer similar longevity off the charger.
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Connectivity – Modern standards like Wi-Fi 6, Thunderbolt 4 and plenty of USB-C ports are ideal.
With those key considerations in mind, here are some of the top MacBook Pro alternatives available right now:
Overall Best Alternative: Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 has been a top Windows ultrabook pick for years, combining slick design, vivid displays and excellent performance. For an overall balance rivaling the MacBook Pro, it‘s hard to beat.
Some key specs and benefits:
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Sleek, slim aluminum/carbon fiber body with virtually no display bezels
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13.4" 3K touch or 4K+ non-touch display options
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12th Gen Intel Core i7 processors deliver fantastic performance
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Long battery life up to 12 hours with productivity use
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More ports than MacBook Pro – 2 Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2, microSD
For an alternative that matches the MacBook Pro in design, display quality and premium build, the latest Dell XPS 13 models are a top choice. They deliver incredible power in a super portable chassis.
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Best Budget Alternative: HP Envy x360 13
The HP Envy x360 13 offers buyers way more bang for their buck compared to the premium prices of MacBook Pros. Starting under $800, it doesn‘t cut many corners, with excellent features and performance.
Key details:
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Slim, sleek convertible 2-in-1 design in aluminum or fabric covers
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13.3"1080p touch display with 400 nits brightness
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AMD Ryzen 5/7 processors, up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage
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Around 11 hours of mixed usage battery life
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Port options include USB-A, USB-C, microSD and headset jack
If you want MacBook Pro-like design and quality at a fraction of the price, the Envy x360 13 delivers. With its convertible form factor allowing tablet, tent or laptop use and sharp touchscreen, it brings nice versatility too.
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Best Battery Life: Asus Zenbook 14X OLED
While Apple touts all-day battery in its new MacBook Pros, some Windows alternatives can run even longer on a charge. The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is a standout, with superb endurance.
Details:
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Slim aluminum chassis with unique "jade black" colorway
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Vivid 14-inch 2.8K OLED HDR touchscreen display
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12th Gen Core i7 performance, 16GB RAM, 1TB storage
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Up to 17 hours battery life with video playback
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Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Type-A, HDMI, microSD card reader
With nearly unmatched longevity and fast charging support, the Zenbook 14X OLED can work and play longer without a charger than most any notebook. Combined with its gorgeous screen and strong specs, it competes handily with the MacBook Pro.
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Best for Gaming: Razer Blade 14
While no MacBook Pro can handle modern AAA games well, the Razer Blade 14 is a portable powerhouse. It packs an AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU for elite performance.
Specs:
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Clean black aluminum chassis with Chroma RGB keyboard
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14-inch QHD 165Hz display with 100% DCI-P3 color
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AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and RTX 3080 Ti GPU
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1TB SSD storage, 16GB DDR5 RAM
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Around 6 hours typical battery life
For those who want their alternative machine to excel at gaming over work, the Blade 14 brings immense power in a slim, premium package. It breezes through high fidelity games that no MacBook could dream of running smoothly.
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Most Versatile 2-in-1: Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 7
For maximum flexibility in usage modes, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 7 convertible stands out. Its "Yoga" hinge rotates a full 360 degrees, converting from laptop to tablet to tent configurations.
Details:
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Sleek, all-aluminum convertible design in multiple colors
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14" up to 4K OLED touch display with 16:10 aspect ratio
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12th Gen Core i7 performance, Iris Xe graphics
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Rotating soundbar built into the folding hinge
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Supports Lenovo Precision Pen 2 (sold separately)
With more versatility in interaction than clamshell competitors, the Yoga 9i is a great choice for artists, media creators and anyone who wants a 2-in-1 form factor. It retains premium build and power for work while offering tablet and pen benefits.
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Closest Replica in Design: LG Gram 16
The LG Gram 16 brings a slim-bezel 16-inch screen into a magnesium alloy chassis incredibly lightweight for its size. Visually, its minimalist, aluminum aesthetic looks like a near copy of the MacBook Pro form factor.
Specs:
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Less than 1 kg (2.2 lb) weight despite large 16-inch screen
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WQXGA 2560 x 1600 resolution IPS display
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Intel 12th Gen Core i7, 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD
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80Wh battery for over 19 hours video runtime
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Full-size ports include USB-A, HDMI, microSD, Thunderbolt 4
While not a perfect replica, the LG Gram 16 comes surprisingly close to mimicking Apple‘s industrial design ethos and form. More importantly, it retains lightweight portability while still packing the display size and performance to rival a MacBook.
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How to Decide on the Best MacBook Pro Alternative
With so many compelling Windows laptops that can compete with Apple‘s popular MacBook Pro lineup, choosing the right one ultimately comes down to understanding your needs and priorities:
Daily Use Case
What will you primarily use the laptop for? Standard productivity and web browsing? Video and photo editing? Gaming? The use case should inform priorities around performance requirements.
If focusing on office work and streaming, something like the HP Envy offers tremendous value. For creative work, the brighter screens and graphics capabilities of options like the LG Gram 16 or Lenovo Yoga 9i may better suit your needs.
Budget
MacBook Pros retail for $1200 and up. If you have a more limited budget, know you can find quality alternatives offering solid performance and nice features in the $700-900 range too. The HP Envy x360 13 or Asus Zenbook 14 OLED provide good examples that are much more affordable than a similarly specced MacBook.
Display & Design Preferences
Consider whether you want a touchscreen, higher resolution display, OLED contrast or 2-in-1 convertible design. MacBook Pros lack touch support or folding convertible functionality – alternatives like the Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo Yoga 9i offer more versatile interaction through touch and styli.
Connectivity Requirements
Do you need a certain port that MacBooks omit, like HDMI or a memory card reader? Many alternatives highlighted here provide fuller I/O options compared to Apple‘s minimal port selection of USB-C/Thunderbolt only.
Brand Preference
Some alternative brands like Dell, HP and Lenovo have strong followings alongside Apple – their machines may provide a similar level of customer support and reliability compared to MacBooks.Meanwhile, boutique brands can also deliver superb quality through innovative design.
By carefully weighing your priorities around features, design preferences, performance needs and budget, you can find a Windows notebook that not only matches the MacBook Pro but potentially exceeds it. Any of the options highlighted in this guide represent excellent candidates that can satisfy even discerning Mac loyalists.
The Takeaway
The MacBook Pro undeniably sets high standards with its seamless integration of hardware and software, premium construction and vivid Retina displays. But there are certainly compelling Windows alternatives available that can compete across the board while providing greater versatility, more connectivity or a better value.
Machines like the Dell XPS 13, HP Envy x360 13 and Asus Zenbook 14X OLED rival Apple‘s notebooks in design and everyday performance. Meanwhile, convertibles like the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 bring flexibility in usage modes through their rotating hinges and touchscreen support. And the LG Gram 16 manages to closely mimic the MacBook Pro aesthetic while greatly improving portability.
For an ideal blend across all metrics – visuals, build, speed, battery life, I/O and support – the Dell XPS 13 stands tall as the best holistic MacBook Pro alternative. But buyers that prioritize price, longevity off-charger or gaming capabilities may prefer the stronger value in the HP Envy, endurance of the Asus Zenbook or raw power of the Razer Blade 14 respectively.
With more brand choice than ever producing impressively designed, premium notebooks that can now eclipse Apple silicon, Mac converts can feel comfortable finding a Windows machine that will likely exceed expectations. For creative pros, students, business users and casual buyers alike seeking fresh alternatives to the standard MacBook, there are compelling new options that cater to virtually every preference and budget.
