If you prioritize high performance for demanding tasks like video editing or 3D modeling and want superior display quality, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 could justify its higher price. However, it's heavier and has a larger footprint, making it less portable. It also uses MacOS, which you'll need to be comfortable with. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is more affordable and lighter, making it easier to carry around, but it doesn't match the MacBook Pro's performance and has a shorter battery life. It runs Windows 11, which may be more familiar to many users and can be an important consideration for compatibility with specific software. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 possesses a more powerful CPU and advanced graphics unit, ensuring smoother performance, alongside a superior mini LED screen with a higher brightness and more colors, which together with a larger battery offers an enhanced experience for general use, yet it is slightly less portable and heavier than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which still provides adequate performance for general use with a good enough IPS touchscreen and a lighter build, but with a smaller battery, all factors making it a good choice if portability and touchscreen are prioritized.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.1/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers better performance for 3D tasks and gaming compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" due to its more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, with the MacBook's GPU being well-suited for intensive graphics work and its 120Hz display providing smoother visuals. However, despite these advantages, many popular games do not run on the MacBook's MacOS, while the Surface Laptop's Windows 11 operating system is compatible with a wider range of games, although its integrated GPU is less powerful and its standard 60Hz refresh rate is less ideal for gaming.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) stands out for engineering and design use with its powerful Apple M1 Pro processor, a superior 14-core GPU for demanding graphical tasks, and an exceptional mini LED screen displaying vibrant colors and high brightness levels.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
7.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.5in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display boasts higher resolution and exceptional brightness, which, combined with its outstanding color gamut coverage, makes it ideal for both general purposes and color-critical work in engineering and design. However, its refresh rate isn't suited for 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a good screen for general use and engineering tasks, but like the MacBook, its lower refresh rate hinders gaming and 3D performance.
Battery
13.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to have excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.