If you prioritize a larger screen and better graphics power for intensive tasks like video editing, the MacBook Pro may suit you, despite its heavier build and larger size. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop offers a lighter and more portable option with a high-resolution touchscreen, which could be ideal for daily use and note-taking. The MacBook generally offers a better battery life, which is important if you often work on the go without access to power. Keep in mind, the Surface Laptop has a newer processor, which might provide an edge in certain tasks, but in real-world usage, this may not always translate to noticeable performance differences. Consider the operating system as well, as the MacBook runs MacOS and the Surface Laptop runs Windows 11, which could be a deciding factor based on the software you need for your work. 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 16 (Late 2019)
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Excellent portability
Key differences
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
7.9/10
7.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
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
7.8/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 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 16 has a high-resolution display and excellent color reproduction covering a wide range of color gamuts, which are crucial for detail-oriented tasks in engineering and design, but its lower refresh rate is a disadvantage for 3D applications. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers adequate resolution and brightness, making it suitable for general tasks and engineering design, but it similarly falls short for gaming and 3D due to its lower refresh rate. For both laptops, the limitations in refresh rate can lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios, which is especially noticeable in 3D environments and games.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 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.
Portability
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
$540
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) delivers a high-quality screen, ample RAM and CPU power for smooth multitasking, and impressive battery life, making it well-suited for general use, alongside robust build quality and sound. Comparatively, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers the convenience of a touchscreen with a good display, portability due to its lighter weight combined with decent processing performance, and an excellent keyboard, which are important factors for everyday activities. Both laptops have adequate storage and quality speakers, contributing to their suitability for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.1/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
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 16 (Late 2019) and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a dedicated AMD Radeon Pro GPU which is suitable for 3D tasks, but its Mac operating system limits game compatibility compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" with its Intel integrated graphics that runs Windows and supports a broader range of games. Despite both having similar screen refresh rates, the MacBook's larger screen and higher resolution offer a more immersive experience for creative work, while the Surface Laptop's Windows advantage and fair GPU capability make it a choice for gaming as well as 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.1/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) with its Intel i7-9750H processor and AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU, combined with a high-resolution screen delivers robust performance and visual precision for complex engineering and design tasks, while being less portable at a higher weight compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13". On the other hand, the Surface Laptop 5's newer Intel i7-1255U and Iris Xe integrated graphics provide competitive performance for engineering use and its touchscreen feature, lighter weight, and more contemporary design offer greater portability and ease of use in mobile scenarios at the cost of lower graphics capability.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"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 16 (Late 2019) 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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About the laptop team
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.
Jason Lew
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.