Microsoft
Surface Laptop 13-inch
The Surface Laptop 13-inch might have more going for it in terms of features and battery life, but at $1,149 to start, it's a tough sell next to the MacBook Neo. It remains the right choice for those who live and die by Windows, but for everyone else, it's much harder to recommend.
Pros
- Superior battery life
- Superior multi-core performance
- More generous selection of ports
- Comes with 16GB of RAM
- Has a backlit keyboard
Cons
- Way more expensive than the Neo
- Weaker single-core CPU and overall GPU performance
- Thicker than the Neo
Apple
MacBook Neo
Coming in at nearly half the price of the Surface Laptop 13-inch, the Neo's drawbacks are much easier to ignore. If you don't have any OS allegiance, it's the go-to choice for students and casual users who want a lightweight laptop with solid performance.
Pros
- Nearly half the price of the Surface Laptop 13-inch
- Thinner than the Surface Laptop 13-inch
- Superior single-core CPU performance and overall GPU power
- Higher-res display with higher brightness
Cons
- No keyboard backlight
- No TouchID on $599 models
- Weaker port selection
- Weaker battery life
- 8GB of RAM only
