Gadgets

Best Alternatives to the MacBook Pro

By: Dale Arasa - @inquirerdotnet

Inquirer Los Angeles / 10:29 AM August 05, 2022

Apple provides the optimal balance of form and function with its MacBook Pro. However, you might have second thoughts because of the hefty price tag or your Windows preference. Fortunately, you do not have to miss out on its fantastic features.

You can find many laptops that may serve as MacBook Pro alternatives. Other brands can offer similar features at more affordable prices thanks to technological advancements.

First, we will discuss seven laptops that could be your next MacBook Pro alternative. Also, we go through their pros and cons to see which ones match your needs. Later, you will learn how to find the most suitable MacBook Pro alternative outside these recommendations:

Dell XPS 13 OLED
Asus Zenbook 13 OLED
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Razer Book 13 (2021)
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
HP Envy 15
LG Gram 16

Expectations for MacBook Pro alternatives

The past versions contain the M1 chip, but the latest has the M2 processors. However, online rumors suggest that the next iteration of the MacBook Pro will have M2 Pro and Max chips.

They may come out as early as fall 2022, so your MacBook alternative may become outdated after a few months. The M1 has been around for longer, so I will base the recommendations on that chip model.

You may purchase these alternatives now if you have an urgent need. Otherwise, it is ideal to wait for the next versions of Apple’s MacBook Pro is ideal.

1. Dell XPS 13 OLED

This is a great MacBook Pro alternative.

Photo Credit: www.theverge.com

Price: $1,800.00

Pros:

Simple design
16:10 display may boost productivity
Keyboard and touchpad larger than the Macbook Pro’s
Dependable productivity performance

Cons:

Limited connectivity
Inferior battery life

Here is the best MacBook Pro alternative at the time of writing. The Dell XPS 13 OLED’s size and performance can boost your productivity.

The latest XPS 13 is 0.58” thick and weighs 2.64 lbs. Conversely, the MacBook Pro 13 is 0.61” thick and weighs roughly 3.1 lbs, making it slightly thicker than the Dell.

You probably will not notice the difference in size and weight. However, you should pay attention to what is under the hood. The Dell XPS 13 has 32GB of system memory and 2TB of storage.

The Apple Pro can have the same features, depending on your chosen version. On the other hand, the MacBook Air can have 16GB memory and 2TB storage.

However, Dell’s MacBook alternative allows more connections with the following ports:

Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
A microSD card slot
A 3.5mm audio jack

This professional laptop also comes with a USB-C to USB-A adapter so that you can link an external mouse or keyboard. Moreover, the XPS 13 offers various configurations.

For example, you can choose one with touch-based screens and UHD+ resolution. Also, there is an option with an OLED panel for the best colors from a Windows laptop.

2. Asus Zenbook 13 OLED

Photo Credit: jamonline.ph

Price: $1,299.00

Pros:

Vibrant OLED display
Superb keyboard and touchpad
Top-notch battery life
Thin and light design

Cons:

No headphone jack

This next entry is a well-built laptop with an OLED display and an appealing price tag. The Asus Zenbook 13 OLED is one of the best MacBook Pro alternatives for people on a tight budget.

It has a large keyboard and trackpad that may remind of Apple’s Pro laptop. The Zenbook has a lower resolution, but its OLED panel makes colors more brilliant.

You may choose a Ryzen 5 or 7 for its processors, but both can handle heavy tasks. As a result, it is the best MacBook alternative from Intel, closest to the Pro’s M1 chip.

You could choose the maximum amount of memory at 16GB and system storage of 512GB SSD. Also, the Asus Zenbook 13 OLED has the following ports:

A USB Type-A port
Two USB-C ports
One HDMI slot

It has more ports than the MacBook, except it does not support Thunderbolt. Still, the Asus Zenbook is one of the Windows laptops that can match the MacBook Pro.

3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

Photo Credit: www.pcworld.com

Price: $1,299.99

Pros:

Reliable productivity
Significantly lightweight
Dependable touchpad and keyboard
Great battery life
Superb 16:10 display

Cons:

The bezels may seem too large.

This next entry might be the right MacBook Pro alternative if you want a small, light laptop. You can easily bring the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano wherever you go.

It weighs a measly 1.99 lbs, the MacBook Pro is 3.0 lbs, and the MacBook Air is 2.8 lbs. As a result, the ThinkPad X1 is one of the best MacBook alternatives for portability.

You can rely on this Windows laptop to provide stunning visuals. It has a 2160 x 1350 display with Dolby Vision. Of course, the ThinkPad is more than mere eye candy.

The X1 Nano contains the Tiger-Lake Intel Core i5/i7 processors. Also, it starts with 8G RAM and 256GB SSD, providing dependable performance for business users.

The Lenovo X1 series is well-known for its keyboard quality, but the X1 Nano’s is lighter and thinner. It is a deeper keyboard than Apple’s Magic Keyboard.

Many typists prefer the feel of X1 keys over the ones from Apple. They provide more haptic feedback while fitting in a thin portable device. Meanwhile, MacBook keys may feel too light.

Journalists and typists may choose the ThinkPad over MacBook Pros. If you are not a creative professional, perhaps you would like its light and thin design.

4. Razer Book 13 (2021)

Photo Credit: www.techspot.com

Price: $1,200.00

Pros:

Ideal port selection
Excellent design and build quality
Impressive performance
Crisp 16:10 display

Cons:

Limited configurations

You may think of a gaming laptop when you hear “Razer.” Yet, the Razer Book 13 can serve as a replacement for the MacBook because it has better ports and less weight.

You can choose one that has an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7. Regardless, it has great battery life that lasts up to 14 hours, rivaling the latest MacBooks. The Razer Book 13 also has the following ports:

Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
One USB-A port
An HDMI slot
One headphone jack
A microSD card reader

Should you buy a laptop aimed at gamers even though you do not play video games? The great thing about these portable PCs is that they tend to outpace office counterparts.

Modern games require high performance, so gaming equipment meets standards greater than regular laptops. For example, they usually have excellent battery life and dedicated graphics settings.

If you maintain your gaming laptop properly, it may outpace MacBook Pros and most Windows Laptops. Also, the Razer Book 13 could be a great choice if you love the Razer design.

You may also get the Razer Blade 14 for higher performance. Of course, you may need a bigger budget for this beefier laptop.

5. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

Photo Credit: www.xda-developers.com

Price: $1,999.99

Pros:

Ultra high-quality graphics
Discrete graphics card minimizes sound
Surprisingly lighter than most gamer laptops
More than enough RAM for video editing

Cons:

Slightly heftier than other laptops
Might be too much for non-gaming tasks

Speaking of gaming laptops, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 can outclass MacBook Pros. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is the ideal alternative if you are fond of PC gaming.

This laptop can run graphics-intensive games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider above 60 FPS. As a result, you can expect it to offer fantastic visuals and smooth performance.

It weighs 3.5 lbs, making it half a pound heavier than Apple’s MacBook. You will not notice that extra weight, but the Zephyrus’ form factor will.

The keyboard and the discrete GPU minimize noise, and you can flex the screen up to 180 degrees. As a result, the Asus ROG Zephyrus can provide the same premium feel as MacBooks.

It can run high-end video games for eight hours, but it might not beat the Apple Pro’s 18-hour battery life. Still, you may use this laptop for editing video clips.

A computer for that task needs to handle multiple frequent changes to graphics. It can achieve that performance with enough RAM. You need at least 8GB to operate video software smoothly.

Fortunately, the Zephyrus offers 16GB of RAM, providing the utmost quality for creative professionals. It is an excellent alternative for the Mac OS laptop if you play games or edit clips, as its discrete GPU is provides a smooth feel.

6. HP Envy 15

Photo Credit: www.cnet.com

Price: $1,400.00

Pros:

Incredibly high performance
Stunning color-accurate AMOLED display
Great keyboard and touchpad
Display with touch and pen support

Cons:

No SD card slot
Slightly chunkier than other laptops

Here is another MacBook alternative at a lower price. HP’s Envy series has been a long-time competitor to Apple and Dell. Now, the HP Envy 15 maintains the streak.

As mentioned, it is slightly bulkier than other laptops. However, the Envy 15 sets itself apart from the competition by providing many ports:

One HDMI port
Two USB-C port
One microSD card reader
Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
Two USB-A ports

You can include an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card starting at $1,600. As a result, the Envy 15 could provide higher performance and more features than the Mac OS computer.

7. LG Gram 16

Photo Credit: www.cnet.com

Price: $1,497.00

Pros:

Thin bezels and slim chassis
Fantastic battery power
16:10 display
Offers multiple ports

Cons:

Screen has inferior contrast
Bendy keyboard deck and lid
Does not have performance upgrades

MacBooks Pros come in three sizes: 13”, 14”, and 16”. If you want the broader variants, you will need to spend more. Fortunately, you do not have to do that if you get the LG Gram 16.

Nowadays, so many manufacturers produce notebook computers. For example, Microsoft offers the Microsoft Surface laptop, while HP has the HP Spectre x360.

Other brands have a tablet mode for their computers. The LG Gram sets itself apart by being the lightest 16-inch notebook computer in the world. It only weighs 2.62”, while Apple’s notebook weighs 4.7”.

Also, its Intel Core i7 delivers solid performance and more-than-average battery life. It does not have a discrete GPU option but may outlast the MacBook in the long run.

Choosing the best Macbook Pro alternatives

Photo Credit: www.macworld.com

You can find many computers that can match the MacBook nowadays. Search the internet yourself, and you can find alternatives not mentioned in the previous list.

You will need to compare the available options with MacBook specifications. I listed the ones for the latest 13-inch MacBook below:

Starting price: $1,299
Display: 13.3” 2,560×1,600-pixel Retina
Number of CPU Cores: Eight
Starting & Max RAM: 8GB & 24GB
Wireless connectivity: 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: Thunderbolt/USB 4 USB-C (x2)
Webcam: 720p FaceTime HD camera
Number of speakers: Four
Number of microphones: Three with studio quality
Battery life: Up to 20 hours
Weight: 3.0” or 1.4 kg

Your MacBook alternative depends on your needs. For example, you might want one with multiple USB ports. Most people focus on three factors:

Screen – It is difficult to find a laptop that matches the MacBook’s Liquid Retina display. Still, you should look for one that can make your projects look incredible. Choose laptops that have a LED or OLED display.
Performance – As mentioned, the latest MacBook contains the M2, Apple’s most powerful chipset yet. Intel’s 11-gen i5 and i7 processors are the closest alternatives at the time of writing this article. Note that we may see an enhanced M2 chip by fall 2022;
Battery life – The latest Pro can run for 21 hours straight. The LG Gram is the closest alternative for battery life as it can last 19 hours. However, a laptop with an average running time of 12 hours should be fine.

Conclusion

You can find several laptops that can match MacBook Pros. They use the Windows operating system, but they provide exciting features.

Keep in mind that technology advances faster nowadays. Manufacturers release new versions of their smartphones and computers roughly every six months.

Following the tech trends means spending so much money on new laptops even though your current one works fine. Instead, select the computer that fits your daily needs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best MacBook Pro alternative?

At the time of writing, the Dell XPS 13 OLED is the best alternative to MacBook Pros. It offers comparable display quality and a superior keyboard and touchpad.

Is it worth having a MacBook Pro?

You might want to get a MacBook if you are a long-time Apple user. Also, you may purchase one if it will serve a purpose that Windows PCs cannot perform. Otherwise, other laptops will do.