When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, consider that the MacBook Pro offers higher performance for demanding tasks such as 3D rendering or engineering software, thanks to its more powerful processor and higher RAM, but it is considerably heavier and pricier. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is more affordable and much lighter, enhancing its portability, but its lower RAM and processing power make it less suitable for intensive tasks and more aligned with general usage. The MacBook Pro also has a larger, higher-resolution display that's not a touchscreen, unlike the Surface's smaller touchscreen. Battery life is significantly longer on the MacBook Pro, which may be a crucial factor if you're often away from power outlets. Overall, if budget and portability are key concerns and your computing needs are moderate, the Surface Laptop Go 2 could suit you well. But if you require a high-performing machine for complex tasks and can manage a heavier device and higher cost, the MacBook Pro is the superior choice. 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 (2021)
Excellent 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
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) provides a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality Mini LED screen, factors critical for smooth and responsive general use, but it is less portable and has a higher weight compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. While the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers excellent portability and very good heat management, its lower-tier CPU, smaller RAM, and less impressive IPS screen may not deliver the same level of performance and viewing experience as the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.0/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3456 x 2234
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 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in engineering and design primarily due to its robust CPU, ample RAM, and powerful GPU, alongside a high-quality Mini LED screen, ensuring smooth and detailed visual performance for demanding tasks. In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a fair performance for engineering and design, as it offers a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and an integrated GPU, along with an IPS screen that provides decent but not outstanding display quality, making it more suitable for lighter workloads and enhancing its portability due to its lower weight.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.1/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
8.9/10
7.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
9.4/10
6.9/10
16.2in
SIZE
12.4in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high-resolution display and bright, color-accurate panel that covers wide color gamuts, providing clear, crisp images and precise color rendition for design work. In contrast, for 3D applications, the MacBook Pro's screen may not be ideal as it likely has a standard refresh rate, which is less smooth for fast-paced 3D rendering compared to higher refresh rate screens. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a good balance for both general use and engineering with decent resolution and brightness, but for gaming and 3D tasks, its moderate refresh rate and potentially smaller color gamut coverage could make it less suitable than options designed with high refresh displays.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
Good
Excellent
16.2in
SIZE
12.4in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$565
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
"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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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.
Craig Russell
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.