The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers superior performance with its advanced processor and graphics, more RAM and storage, and a longer battery life, making it ideal for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, and software development. It also has a larger, high-resolution Mini LED screen suited for professional creative work. However, it's significantly heavier and bulkier, which impacts portability. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while more affordable and lighter, making it easy to carry, has a smaller screen, less power, and reduced battery life, and is better suited for general use like web browsing, office applications, and casual media consumption. 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 3
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 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 3 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) boasts a more powerful CPU and GPU, significantly more RAM, a higher resolution and brighter mini LED screen, and longer battery life compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which factors greatly into its suitability for general use. However, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is lighter and more portable than the MacBook Pro, and it offers a touchscreen option, which could make it more suitable for users who prioritize portability and touch capabilities.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.1/10
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 3 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a stronger GPU and a higher screen refresh rate than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, making the MacBook more suitable for 3D work and detail-oriented tasks. However, the MacBook runs MacOS which has limited compatibility with many popular games, while the Surface Laptop Go 3, though less powerful, runs Windows 11 and can play a broader range of games despite its fair capabilities for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.8/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
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 3 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in engineering and design due to its powerful CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen that supports a wide color gamut and high brightness, which are crucial for demanding tasks and detailed designs.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.3/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
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 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
8.9/10
7.1/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
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 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
9.4/10
6.8/10
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
337.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 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 16 (2021) excels in screen quality for general use and engineering tasks due to its high-resolution display, excellent brightness, and wide color gamuts, which ensure vibrant and accurate colors critical for design work. However, for 3D applications, it falls short because it lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth motion rendering. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a decent screen that's suitable for everyday tasks and engineering with good resolution and brightness, but its limitations in color gamut and refresh rate don't make it ideal for gaming and 3D applications where color fidelity and fluidity are key.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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
Good
Excellent
16.2in
SIZE
12.4in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$729
$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 3 costs $729.
"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."
"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 16 (2021) 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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,795
Recommendations made
22,273
Consumer hours saved
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.