The Macbook Pro is the ultimate gadget for the on-the-go professional and is considered as the ultimate laptop for a lot of people. For some people, the Macbook Pro is their choice of laptop because of their portability. For others, it’s their sheer power. For the handful, the brand speaks for itself.
But even if the Macbook Pro is expensive, some people just can’t live without it mostly because they’re more familiar with the macOS system than Microsoft Windows. Sometimes, the macOS just offers more for them than any Windows laptop. The latest run of Macbook Pro and Macbook Air are equipped with the M1 processor, known for its power and efficiency. Combined with the SSD storage, the Macbook is a lot more powerful than some Windows laptops (non-gaming laptop, at least).
But there are other laptops out there that we consider to be Macbook Pro alternatives. And by alternatives, we mean these Windows laptops are just as powerful or close to matching the Macbook Pro’s speed and capabilities. These alternatives for the former Macbook user who’s transitioning into Microsoft Windows, or those who want a Macbook-like experience but don’t want to shell out a lot of money.
The Best Macbook Pro Alternatives in the Market Right Now
Dell XPS 13 OLED
Dubbed as the Best Macbook Pro Alternative
If we’re talking about the best Macbook Pro alternative, then it’s got to be the Dell XPS 13. Hands down, its processor is just as powerful as the Macbook Pro’s M1 processor and its design is an absolute replica of a Macbook Pro (minus the Apple logo).
The Dell XPS 13 is a lot more portable than it looks. It weighs about 2.64 lbs. and is about 0.58 inches thick. The Macbook Pro weighs 3.1 lbs. and is 0.61 inches thick. These maybe just numbers, but it does put into perspective just how more compact the Dell XPS 13 is.
For the hardware, the Dell XPS 13 offers more power with system memory being upgradeable up to 32GB and storage up to 2TB. The 13-inch Macbook Pro on the other hand has about the same system memory capacity and the same storage capacity, while the Macbook Air gets up to 16GB system memory and 2TB of storage.
There’s also more connectivity with the Dell XPS 13 than both Macbook Air and Pro. The Dell XPS 13 contains 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD slot. There’s a USB-C to USB-A adapter included so you can hook in an external mouse or keyboard. There’s also the variant with touch-based screen capabilities along with UHD+ resolution. Needless to say, the Dell XPS 13 does a good job at giving the Macbook Pro a run for its money.
Now you know why it’s the best Macbook Pro alternative right now.
Asus ZenBook 13 OLED
Budget-Friendly Macbook Pro Alternative
Our second entry for the best Macbook Pro alternatives is the Asus Zenbook 13 OLED. It’s got all the aesthetic premium design and feel of a Macbook Pro, minus the hefty pricetag.
The display of the Asus Zenbook 13 OLED is at 1080p resolution, but the OLED Panel makes everything on the screen look as crisp and more beautiful. But the Asus Zenbook 13 OLED is more than just looks.
Under the hood, you’re getting either Ryzen 5 or 7 processor, neither of which are underpowered for carrying out multi-threaded tasks. In fact, the latest AMD processors come close to the Apple M1’s performance. You’re also getting up to 16GB system memory with expandable storage up to 512GB SSD. Granted the ports are limited compared to the Dell XPS 13, but no one’s complaining here.
The Asus Zenbook is here to say and is definitely one of the more affordable Macbook Pro alternative in the market.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Smaller and Lighter than the Macbook Air
If you think there’s no Windows laptop out there that’s lighter than the Macbook Air, then you’re wrong because here comes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano. It boasts of a 13-inch display, which is the same size as the Macbook Air. It also weighs 1.99lbs., making it lighter than the Macbook Air by almost a pound (the Macbook Air weighs 2.8lbs.).
For the hardware, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano comes with a Tiger-Lake Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and starts off at 8GB system memory (up to 16GB) with 256GB SSD (up to 512GB). It’s not exactly a powerhouse workstation but it does have enough power for office productivity tasks.
But the hardware is not the selling point for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano. The keyboard on this sleek laptop beats out Apple’s Magic Keyboard by a mile. The keyboard design of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is preferred by those who’re typing a lot, like journalists or someone who likes to write emails a lot.
All in all, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is the perfect office partner with a decent battery life that doesn’t force you to shell out thousands of dollars. Is it the best Macbook alternative? If you think going light and compact is your preference, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is a solid choice for Macbook alternatives.
Razer Book 13
If Macbook Air Had More Ports
You want to know what Macbook Pros and Macbook Airs would be like if they had more ports? Look up Razer Book 13. Razer needs no introduction because it’s known for making gaming paraphernalia. They’ve recently jumped into the gaming laptop scene and now they’re known for their Razer Blade series. However, these laptops weren’t focused so much on productivity like an Apple Macbook, but more geared towards gaming.
Razer Book 13 is their attempt to compete against the Macbook and other best Macbook Pro alternatives on this list. Unlike most of their products, the Razer Book 13 does not have a discrete graphics card so it’s thinner and more portable than its gaming counterparts. It does come with an 11th gen Intel Core i5 or i7 and boasts of a 14 hours battery life. But the Razer Book beats the Macbook Air because of the ports. It has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI slot, SD card slot, headphone jack, and a USB-A port.
HP Spectre x360 14
A Flexible Alternative
The HP Spectre x360 line of laptops was one of HP’s best productivity lines yet. Previously, the HP Spectre x360 13 made the headlines but now we have the Spectre x360 14, considered as an upgrade from the x360 13.
The HP Spectre x360 14 boasts 13.5 inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, making it the perfect productivity partner. The base model of the HP Spectre x360 14 comes with a 1920×1280 IPS display with anti reflection features. You can upgrade up to a 3000×2000 OLED display if you want more vivid images. The HP Spectre x360 14 comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, but both are upgradeable.
The color scheme of the HP Spectre x360 14 is just beautiful. You can choose between Natural Silver or Nightfall Black. Granted, the HP Spectre x360 14 is a tad bigger than its competitors on this list but the large display makes it all worth it.
HP Envy 15
More Powerful Than The Macbook But Also Cheaper
HP Envy line of laptops was created to compete against the likes of Dell and Apple’s productivity laptops. But the former is a lot more affordable but comes equipped with a lot more powerful hardware.
The HP Envy 15 makes it to the list because of its $1,600 price range and for the inclusion of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. It’s relatively cheaper than Dell XPS 15 too. The only downside here is that it’s a lot clunkier than the other Macbook Pro alternatives on this list because of the graphics card.
LG Gram 16
All the size of the MacBook Pro 16 without the weight
Looking for a laptop with large displays but still considered as one of the best Macbook alternatives? The LG Gram 16 has everything you need. It’s large, it’s powerful, and yet it bears this ultra-thin profile for portability.
It’s the lightest notebook on this list, coming in at a weight of 2.62lbs. On top of that, it has excellent battery life despite its thinness and guarantees productivity and performance with its Intel Core i7 processor. It also has a great battery life and is a lot more rigid than the Macbook itself.
The LG Gram does not have a discrete graphics card, but you don’t really need this laptop for gaming. The LG Gram 16 falls just below the $1,500 price range, which makes it a lot more affordable than the Macbook Pro.
All in all you’re getting a competent office partner for a significantly reduced cost compared to the Apple Macbook. The LG Gram 16 is definitely a solid Macbook alternative for anyone looking for portability and power but with a cheaper price tag.
HP Elite Dragonfly Max
The Businessperson’s BestMacbook Alternative
The HP Elite Dragonfly made quite a scene in 2020 and became a fan favorite for businesspersons due to its LTE-ready connectivity and luxurious aesthetics. Now, HP has gone and released the HP Elite Dragonfly Max.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Max is one of two Dragonfly models released at the same time. The other model is the Dragonfly G2. But we’re listing down HP Elite Dragonfly Max because it has a lot more to offer.
It comes with 10th or 11th generation Intel Core processors with Thunderbolt support, specifically a Thunderbolt 4 port. You also get up to 32GB of RAM and of course, 5G support. The HP Elite Dragonfly Max’s mic and webcam setup is also as impressive as the specs of the laptop itself.
What Can Compete with the Apple M1 Chip?
Apple users are enjoying the new Macbook Pro and Air for the aesthetics and the macOS itself. Both laptops are powerhouses for the creative individual and gives you enough power for video editing and audio editing on top of your usual office productivity tasks.
What is the Apple M1 Chip Anyway?
Back in 2020, Apple made the bold move of switching from the Intel processors to its own M1 chips for their Macbooks. This paid off as the Macbook’s performance received a huge boost in terms of graphics and processing. The M1 chip architecture now became the standard for use on all Apple laptops and desktops.
This move gave Apple more flexibility and allowed more room for hardware and software optimization. If you want something that can compete against the M1 chip, you’re going to want to look for a laptop with an AMD or Intel processor.
What Are The AMD and Intel Alternatives?
Intel Core processors ruled the market for quite a while but now we’re seeing AMD rise up and go head to head against Intel once more. AMD’s Ryzen processors have earned the respect of content creators for its multi-threading capabilities.
From any of the best Macbook alternative on this list, you want to look for a laptop that’s at least in the 13-inch sizing. Laptops that are 13-inch or 14-inch in size usually come with Core i7 and Ryzen 7 CPUs, with some base models having at least a Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5. Both Ryzen 5 and Core i5 are all fine for office productivity and day-to-day tasks, but with diminished power levels.
If you really want to land a Core i7 or Ryzen 7 processor, you’re going to want to bump up in size. Some would even have the Core i9 and Ryzen 9 processors, which obviously beat out the M1 processors from Apple. Both line of processors from Intel and AMD are considered workstation-grade CPUs, so performance is anything but subpar and truly competes against the Apple M1. When these processors are combined with a discrete GPU, SSD, and high capacity RAM, the Apple M1 is surely beat.
James Stephenson
James is a gaming and tech enthusiast. He has been playing computer games since the Commodore 64 days in the 80s. He has worked as a Broadcast Engineer with BBC News and knows a thing or two about building, fixing, and playing with PCs.