The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is considerably more expensive but offers high-end performance for tasks like 3D rendering, engineering, and machine learning, due in part to its more powerful processor and GPU. It also has a larger screen with high resolution and Mini LED technology, superior build quality, and a long battery life, making it suitable for intensive tasks and creative work. However, it's heavier, which impacts its portability. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is more affordable and significantly lighter, making it more portable. Its touchscreen feature and good battery life make it suitable for general use and productivity tasks on the go, though its smaller screen and less powerful hardware mean it won't handle demanding tasks as effectively. For users needing a device for extensive engineering work or creative tasks and can afford the premium, the MacBook is a strong choice, while the Surface Laptop Go 3 is more suitable for everyday use and those prioritizing portability and budget. 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 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
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
8.8/10
7.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 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 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is superior in general use primarily due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, greater RAM, and higher-quality screen, which deliver better performance and visual experience, though it's less portable and has a heftier design compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which offers greater portability due to its smaller size and weight but has a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen, diminishing its suitability for more demanding tasks despite its longer battery life. Additionally, the MacBook Pro has a high portability score and exceptional battery life that stands out for longer usage, while the Surface Laptop Go 3, although highly portable, falls short on battery endurance and screen quality, impacting the overall user experience for general tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.1/10
6.2/10
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 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its advanced GPU, is well-suited for 3D applications and tasks that demand high graphic performance, although it might have limitations for gaming due to the reduced availability of popular games for MacOS. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while offering fair performance for gaming and 3D experiences due to its adequate GPU, might not deliver the same level of fluidity and detail as the MacBook Pro due to a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
6.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
18.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its more powerful CPU, higher RAM, and advanced GPU, provides strong performance for engineering and design tasks, complemented by a high-resolution Mini LED screen that excels in color accuracy and brightness. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while more portable and having a good-quality IPS touchscreen, has less computational power and a lower quality display, making it suitable for less demanding engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
8.9/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
18.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 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
8.9/10
7.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
18.0 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 (Late 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
9.3/10
6.8/10
16.2in
SIZE
12.4in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 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's display excels in general use and engineering due to its high resolution, brightness, and wide color gamut, providing sharp imagery, excellent visibility, and accurate color representation critical for detailed work. However, its standard refresh rate limits its performance for 3D applications, where smoother motion is needed. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go's display offers good quality for general tasks and engineering with decent resolution and brightness, but it falls short for gaming and 3D uses, where its lower refresh rate doesn't provide the fluid visuals preferred in those areas.
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 (Late 2023) 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 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
$2,499
$729
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has a price of $2,499 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 (Late 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.
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 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
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