As we usher in a new year, the tech world welcomes the latest MacBooks, including the stunning new MacBook Air. For those of us deeply rooted in the Windows ecosystem, switching to a Mac might feel like a daunting leap. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent alternatives to consider, with the Asus Zenbook S 16 standing out as my top choice overall.
Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16
4See it at Best Buy
### Acer Swift Go 16
2See it at Acer
### Asus Zenbook S 14
1See it at AsusSee it at Best Buy
### Asus TUF Gaming A14
0See it at AmazonSee it at Best BuySee it at Asus
### Microsoft Surface Pro 11
0See it at AmazonSee it at Microsoft
When seeking a laptop to rival the venerable MacBook, it must meet a high standard. Key qualities to consider include being lightweight and highly portable, offering substantial power, featuring a superior screen, and having a battery life that lasts at least a full workday. In curating this list, I've drawn upon my extensive reviews from the past year and beyond to identify laptops that genuinely stand up as MacBook alternatives. Whether you're replacing the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air, or seeking a versatile 2-in-1 for creative applications, here are my top picks.
Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16
2The Asus Zenbook S 16 stands out as an exceptional Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly lightweight and a pleasure to use, making it an ideal choice for those needing a larger screen without compromising on portability.
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The Asus Zenbook S 16 is the best alternative to the Apple MacBook Pro today, especially if you need a larger screen. It's incredibly thin and light yet boasts powerful performance, perfect for productivity and demanding creative tasks like 4K video editing. Its sleek design is one of the most visually appealing I've reviewed.
The laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 CPU, Asus's top AI processor at the time of writing, featuring 12 cores and 24 threads with a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz. This powerhouse processor excels in various tasks, including gaming, as it's also used in high-end Windows gaming handhelds.
While it doesn't match the efficiency of Apple's M3 or M4 chips, it still delivers fantastic battery life. With the screen at 50-60% brightness, I measured around 15 hours of battery life, enough to last a full day and more, depending on your usage.
The design is stunning, featuring Asus's new Ceraluminum lid, a durable and fingerprint-resistant blend of ceramic and aluminum. Small details, like the ventilation area composed of over a thousand tiny milled holes, emphasize its premium quality.
Connectivity is superior to the MacBook, with dual USB Type-C ports, a full-size USB Type-A, an SD card reader, a headphone jack, and an HDMI-out port. The 500-nit OLED display with a 2.8K resolution supports multi-touch and dynamically adjusts between 60Hz and 120Hz for smooth motion while maintaining great battery life.
The only potential downside is its tendency to get hot, but using it on a desk mitigates this issue. Overall, it's a fantastic laptop that offers a compelling alternative to the MacBook.
### Acer Swift Go 16
0The Acer Swift Go 16 OLED offers a budget-friendly alternative to the MacBook Air with a beautiful OLED screen, great battery life, and a thin, light design.
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Priced well under $1,000, the Acer Swift Go 16 OLED is an excellent budget-friendly option. Weighing just 3.53lbs, it's highly portable and features a 16-inch screen with an impressive 3200x2000 resolution, a rarity at this price point.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, though a generation old, offers sufficient performance for daily productivity and light creative work. It includes a built-in neural processing unit (NPU) for enhanced AI functionality and support for Microsoft Copilot.
The budget pricing reflects its 8GB memory and 512GB storage configuration. While the storage is adequate for most users, the 8GB memory might limit multitasking and performance in more demanding tasks like video editing. However, if your use is focused on a few programs at a time, it's a worthwhile trade-off for the excellent screen and portability.
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### Asus Zenbook S 14
1The Asus Zenbook S 14 offers incredible performance, a great screen, multi-day battery life, and a beautiful chassis, making it a top contender for replacing the MacBook Air.
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While similar to the Zenbook S 16, the S 14 stands out with its Intel Core Ultra processor, which delivers high performance and surprisingly good gaming capabilities. It excelled in my tests, whether editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, working in Microsoft Excel, or browsing social media.
Weighing just about 2.5lbs and less than half an inch thick, it's incredibly portable. Its 14-inch screen might seem small, but its portability more than makes up for it. The battery life is exceptional, lasting over 15 hours, which is perfect for multiple days of intermittent use.
The 2.8K OLED display reaches up to 500 nits, offering stunning visuals, especially for HDR gaming. Despite lacking a dedicated graphics card, it can handle AAA games like Baldur's Gate 3 at adjusted settings, making it a versatile choice for both productivity and entertainment.
Overall, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is a fantastic MacBook Air alternative, offering great value and performance.
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The Asus TUF Gaming A14 is an excellent choice for those looking to replace the MacBook Pro 14. It's compact, powerful, and quiet, with impressive battery life and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU for gaming. At 3.2lbs, it's even lighter than the MacBook Pro 14.
Available in three configurations, you can choose between the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS or the more powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with either 16GB or 32GB of RAM. The faster RAM gives it a performance edge over competitors like the MSI Stealth 14. The entry-level version with the Ryzen 7 8845HS outpaces Apple's M3 in multicore performance, making it ideal for creatives and power users.
While the cooling system produces some fan noise, it's significantly quieter than most gaming laptops and maintains cooler temperatures, reducing the risk of thermal throttling. The battery life, while impacted by the dedicated GPU, can last around 10 hours on the processor alone, ensuring a full workday of productivity.
The main challenge is its price, with the top model reaching $1,699 for 32GB of memory. However, if you can't live without Windows and need performance, portability, and size, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 is an excellent alternative.
### Microsoft Surface Pro 11
0The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is an excellent 2-in-1 alternative to the MacBook, perfect for artists and offering enough power for daily productivity.
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For creative professionals, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 offers a versatile 2-in-1 alternative to the MacBook. Its design is perfect for digital artists, and its performance is suitable for productivity and entertainment. I've been using it regularly since reviewing it earlier this year and appreciate its portability and versatility.
Powered by the latest Snapdragon X processors, the Surface Pro 11 uses ARM technology similar to Apple's M-series chips. You can choose between the Snapdragon X Plus and the Snapdragon X Elite, offering up to 12 CPU cores for efficient performance in creative apps like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Battery life lasts around 10 hours, enough for a full day of work, with fast charging capabilities.
The hardware is robust, with options for up to 64GB of RAM and 1TB of expandable storage. The display comes in LCD or OLED variants with a 2880x1920 resolution, offering crisp visuals for various tasks.
The main challenge is app compatibility due to the ARM processors. While an emulation layer helps, not all applications are fully compatible yet. However, the library has expanded to include most major applications used by creatives and professionals.
Choosing the right MacBook alternative involves considering several key factors to ensure the laptop meets your needs:
Processor: Opt for at least six cores, with eight being preferable. Aim for the highest clock speed possible, such as an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, and avoid processors more than a generation old unless your needs are basic.
Memory: Choose a laptop with at least 16GB of memory to ensure smooth multitasking and prevent obsolescence.
Storage: Depending on your usage, 256GB might be enough if you rely on cloud storage, but 512GB or 1TB is recommended for those working with large files.
Display: Aim for a minimum of 1080p resolution. Consider OLED panels for superior picture quality, but be mindful of potential burn-in.
Form Factor: Consider weight, screen size, touch capabilities, and whether a 2-in-1 design suits your needs.
Apple's M3 and M4 chips are highly efficient and powerful. Intel's Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs and AMD's HX AI series offer high performance but don't match Apple's efficiency and battery life.
While possible, MacBooks have fewer compatible gaming titles and less optimization compared to Windows gaming laptops.
It depends on your needs and preferences. MacBooks excel in creative applications and efficiency, but PCs offer a more open ecosystem with broader software and gaming options.
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