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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is designed for users who need top-tier performance and are willing to pay a higher price for robust processing capabilities, a high-quality Mini LED display, longer battery life, and professional features such as a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader. This makes it suitable for intensive tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and engineering software. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is more affordable and offers a more portable design with its lighter weight and smaller screen, making it ideal for students or professionals who prioritize portability and everyday tasks over cutting-edge performance. Its touchscreen and 3:2 aspect ratio are useful for browsing and productivity, but it has less storage and power, which means it's not as suited for demanding applications. 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 (2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- 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 Go 3
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.5
7.2
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a superior Mini LED screen which contribute to its excellent performance for general use, coupled with better battery life; however, it's heavier and thus less portable than the lighter Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which has a fair performance in general use due to a less powerful CPU, lesser RAM, and an IPS screen that doesn't match the MacBook's display quality.
Gaming and AI
7.0
6.1
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
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 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high-refresh-rate Mini LED screen and powerful 16-core GPU, is well-suited for 3D rendering and has the added benefit of color accuracy. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with a standard refresh rate IPS screen and an integrated Intel graphics chip, is better for less demanding games and 3D tasks and offers greater compatibility with popular gaming titles that are often not supported on MacOS.
Engineering and Design
8.4
6.8
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is better for engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU, more memory, and a higher-quality, larger Mini LED screen, which are very important for such tasks. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while more portable and equipped with a high-quality touchscreen, offers less power and screen quality, making it less suitable for intensive engineering and design work.
Content Creation
8.5
7.3
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
8.4
7.1
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
6.8
14.2in
SIZE
12.4in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a high-resolution display and exceptional brightness levels, making it an ideal choice for clarity and detail in everyday tasks and professional engineering and design work, where accurate color representation is key due to its wide color gamut coverage. However, its focus on color accuracy over refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D applications, which benefit from faster screen refreshes for smoother visuals. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a quality screen for everyday and professional tasks with good resolution and adequate brightness, but like the MacBook, it doesn't prioritize high refresh rates, limiting its effectiveness for gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.2in
SIZE
12.4in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.8
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$729
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $729.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $729 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 Pro (10C) | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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.
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