Macbook Air M2 Vs Surface Laptop 5 Which Is The Best Laptop? (2023)

FAQs

Which laptops are better than MacBook Air M2? ›

After comparing our test results between the 2022 Swift 5 and the M2 MacBook Air, the verdict is in: the Acer laptop outpaced Apple's darling device in key performance benchmarks.

If you're seeking the better display, the Surface Pro 9 is the one to go for. Similarly, you can grab the Microsoft computer if you prefer the lighter and more portable design. Otherwise, the MacBook Air M2 offers the better performance and has a longer battery life.

There's no question here: if you want raw performance, the MacBook Pro models are the way to go, or at least the 14-inch and 16-inch models. The Surface Pro 8 is available with quad-core Intel 11th Gen processors, all with HyperThreading so that they can act as eight virtual cores.

Verdict. If you fancy a 13-inch laptop, it's clear that the MacBook Air is the superior option. It has a faster performance, nicer design and matches the Surface Laptop in every other major area including battery life, screen specs and ports.

Dell XPS 17 9720

In our view, the Dell XPS 17 is one of the best alternatives for the MacBook Pro. It's got power, thanks to its Tiger Lake chips and NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics, and it's got the looks too, with a a thin and light design that will make even the biggest Apple fan take notice.

However, you can generally expect a PC laptop, a MacBook Air, or a MacBook Pro to last 3 to 5 years. Similarly, a PC user and an Apple user can both anticipate their desktops will last 5 to 8 years.

Both offer excellent brightness and support for HDR content, but only the Surface Laptop 5 includes touch-screen functionality. Apple's Mac lineup is famously missing touch-screen controls, making the Microsoft Surface a better choice if you want more hands-on interaction.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop 5 is a thin and powerful Windows notebook in the same market segment as Apple's MacBook Air. Here's how the two compare. Microsoft's refresh of its hardware lineup included quite a few staples, including the Surface Pro 9 and the Surface Studio 2 Plus.

Ultimately, the MacBook Pro is the go-to product for students who want to use their computers for computer science classes, mainly because MacBook Pro is more powerful. There are two sizes: a 13-inch and a 16-inch model.

In general, Macs are known for their user-friendliness and approachability. They are considered to be more intuitive than Windows. While the way your iPad/iPhone and MacBook work may differ slightly, they are very similar, so it would be easy to adjust to the computer.

What computers are better than a Mac? ›

Mac is easier to use and learn as it offers a simple layout for users. It is also considered more intuitive than Windows, which enhances friendliness and approachability.

Keeping the technology apart, the Microsoft has diverse revenue lines and comparatively the company with higher net profit is Microsoft. All these factors say that Microsoft is more successful than Apple, owing to its market presence.

1. Apple – Top 10 Laptop Brands. Apple is definitely one of the luxury brands when it comes to Laptops, Smartphones, Computers and Tablets. Apple tops the segments like customer support, build quality, user friendly, design, power and display.

The US Military has a long history of using Panasonic Toughbook laptops. Some of the laptops that the US military uses are the Panasonic Toughbook CF-54, and the Panasonic Toughbook CF-31.

They don't. Premium Windows devices last as long as Mac devices. They are also cheaper than Mac devices and because of Microsofts upgrade cycle, they are often faster at the end of their lives than they were at the start.

Are Macs safer than Windows? ›

Macs are frequently seen as more secure than PCs, but no internet-connected device is completely immune to threats. Macs have historically faced fewer attacks in part because they were less popular than Windows-based PCs, so cybercriminals simply didn't target them.

Mac computers are easy to use, privacy-forward, and secure. These superlative qualities are also enjoyed by IT teams that support Apple devices, especially for those working in a blended environment, where Mac computers and Windows PCs are welcome and supported.

Each component in a Mac computer is optimised to perform well and use less power (hence the longer battery life). Although Apple computers use many of the same hardware components as PCs, Apple does a significantly better job at designing their operating system to take full advantage of these components.

Fun fact: There's a version of Microsoft Office written just for Mac. So you can use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on a Mac just like on a PC. macOS also provides built-in support for the latest version of Microsoft Exchange Server.

The Office apps available from the Mac App Store provide the very latest version of Office on the Mac. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook require a Microsoft 365 subscription to activate.

In our testing, the M2 has an 18 percent faster CPU than the M1. The new chip doesn't just mean that the new Macs can accomplish more though, they use less power doing so: Apple promises an increased CPU performance of 18 percent with the same energy consumption thanks to various optimizations.

Yes, if you get 16 GB Ram, and at least a 512 SSD, or more. DO NOT get the 256 GB drive, it's slow.

If you will mostly be writing papers, completing online homework and doing research then the MacBook Air will fit those needs. And if you're film editing, Photoshopping or designing then the MacBook Pro will help you accomplish that. They're both fantastic laptops, so there is no wrong choice.

However, you can find Windows laptops that are comparable to MacBooks in many respects, but cheaper. Just look for the various “prestige” consumer ranges such as Dell's XPS, HP's Spectre and Asus's ZenBook.

Are MacBook Air worth it? ›

The new MacBook Air is a success on virtually every level. It's got a better screen, thinner and lighter design, better speakers, a much-improved webcam, an excellent keyboard and trackpad, more convenient charging, and excellent build quality.

In short, yes, you do need antivirus for your Mac. Mac computers are not immune to viruses, and other malware and Mac-targeted attacks are increasingly prevalent. Following best practices for securing your device and using built-in security features can help, but antivirus software can protect your device even further.

The ‌M2‌ MacBook Pro is better suited to buyers who are upgrading from an older machine, rather than 2020's ‌M1‌ model. Spearheaded by the ‌M2‌ chip, the device's series of minor improvements offer a good overall package for these buyers, ensuring that they get a slightly more modern and capable machine.

In our testing, the M2 has an 18 percent faster CPU than the M1. The new chip doesn't just mean that the new Macs can accomplish more though, they use less power doing so: Apple promises an increased CPU performance of 18 percent with the same energy consumption thanks to various optimizations.

The M2 is better, but the M1 offers amazing value

However, those still holding on to an Intel-based MacBook Air may want to consider upgrading, as Apple touts a 15x increase in power over the older Intel models. The M2 MacBook Air is the better choice as long as you have the budget to spring for the 512GB version.

The new MacBook Air is thinner than its predecessors, and while it has received positive reception, there have been reports of users complaining that their MacBook Air is suffering from overheating and throttled performance.

8GB is for: Most M2 MacBook owners

I've never seen an out of memory error message, nor do I worry about swap file usage eventually destroying my SSD. If you're concerned about either of those things, or have received the mysterious 'out of memory' message on an M1 Mac, the 8GB version isn't for you.

What are the disadvantages of MacBook Air M1? ›

Most people will be absolutely fine with 8GB of unified memory on their M2 MacBook. Those who know they need more – or who plan on undertaking increasingly intensive, creative workflows or complex software development – will do well to upgrade. It's that simple.

Like the new MacBook Pro M2, this new notebook features the Apple M2 chip — making it one of the most performant and overall best laptops you can buy. Despite its steep $1,199 starting price, it's arguably worth every penny due to the value it provides.

Verdict. If you are a die-hard fan of Apple products, there is no reason not to buy the new model. However, if you are looking to make a smart purchase, the M1 MacBook Air will do a great job and will last a few more years before becoming outdated. It will also save you a couple of hundred dollars.

M2 MacBook Air: Disk speeds

We were particularly keen to see how the base Air got on in this test, following reports that its SSD is up to 50 percent slower on read speeds and 30 percent on write speeds.

If you don't want to spend too much on a MacBook, the MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) with the M1 chip from 2020 is one of the most powerful laptops you can get for the price.