MacBook Pro M1 vs Surface Book 3
The MacBook Pro M1 and the Surface Book 3 land in the same pro laptop category, so the comparison is fair, and the differences are telling. The MacBook Pro M1 has the edge in 3 of the 5 areas we looked at, most visibly in the performance category. On top of that, the Surface Book 3 asked $301 more at launch.
At a glance
- Display Surface Book 3 wins
- Performance MacBook Pro M1 wins
- Memory & Storage Trade-off
- Battery Life & Charging MacBook Pro M1 wins
- Ports & Connectivity MacBook Pro M1 wins
- Price MacBook Pro M1 wins
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.5
- Display3.3
- Memory & Storage0.7
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The MacBook Pro M1 has 4 more CPU cores
Among all the differences on this page, 8 against 4 is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the MacBook Pro M1. Core types and clock speeds differ between chips, so core count is one indicator among several.
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The MacBook Pro M1 has 5 h more rated battery life
The Surface Book 3 gives up a lot on rated battery life: 16 h, compared with 20 h on the MacBook Pro M1. Real-world results depend heavily on brightness and workload, but the ranking between two laptops tends to hold up.
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The MacBook Pro M1 has 1 more USB-C ports
Few buyers will miss this one. The MacBook Pro M1 brings 2 to the table; the Surface Book 3 brings 1. If you connect monitors, drives and a charger at once, the MacBook Pro M1’s extra ports make life easier.
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The MacBook Pro M1 has a 0.30 lb lighter build
If everything else were equal, this small edge would favor the MacBook Pro M1: 3.09 lb against 3.38 lb. Weight is the spec you feel every day if you carry your laptop between home, office and classes.
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The Surface Book 3 has up to 32 GB of memory
When it comes to max memory, the Surface Book 3 wins comfortably with 32 GB against 16 GB. Most people never configure the maximum, so this matters mainly to power users.
Design & Size
Both come in at nearly the same overall dimensions, so pick on other grounds. There’s 0.30 lb between them, and the MacBook Pro M1 is on the lighter side.
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 11.97 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Depth | 8.36 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.61 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight | 3.09 lb (winner) Lightest in class | 3.38 lb |
Display
Surface Book 3 leads
The Surface Book 3 does a little better in the display section, though nothing here is a deal-breaker for the MacBook Pro M1. Choose the Surface Book 3 and you get 18% higher pixel density. Resolution also affects battery life and scaling, so a denser panel is a comfort upgrade rather than a necessity. Weighing only display, the Surface Book 3 comes out ahead.
Pixel density
MacBook Pro M1: 227 ppi Surface Book 3: 267 ppi Higher pixel density makes text sharper, which you’ll appreciate during long reading and writing sessions.
Performance
MacBook Pro M1 leads
The performance comparison is one-sided. The MacBook Pro M1 leads where it counts. The MacBook Pro M1 comes with 4 more CPU cores. For email and browsing, you won’t notice the gap; for demanding workloads, the MacBook Pro M1 has more muscle. For anyone who cares most about performance, the MacBook Pro M1 is the safer choice.
CPU cores
MacBook Pro M1: 8 Surface Book 3: 4 More CPU cores help with heavy multitasking and work that splits well across cores, like code compiling, video export and rendering.
Memory & Storage
Trade-off
What you gain in one place you lose in another: a bigger top storage option with the MacBook Pro M1, up to 32 GB of memory with the Surface Book 3. On memory & storage, the better choice comes down to your own priorities.
Max memory
MacBook Pro M1: 16 GB Surface Book 3: 32 GB For large datasets, virtual machines or heavy creative projects, the Surface Book 3’s higher maximum is valuable.
Max storage
MacBook Pro M1: 2 TB Surface Book 3: 1 TB For most buyers, the maximum is academic, but it can decide things for heavy users.
Battery Life & Charging
MacBook Pro M1 leads
Few areas are as clear-cut as this one: the MacBook Pro M1 leads the battery life & charging section with room to spare. The MacBook Pro M1 scores with 5 h more rated battery life. Rated battery life reflects the whole system (chip, screen and battery) under the manufacturer’s own conditions. On battery life & charging alone, the MacBook Pro M1 gets the nod.
Rated battery life
MacBook Pro M1: 20 h Surface Book 3: 16 h More rated hours suggest the MacBook Pro M1 is the safer bet for a full workday without a charger.
Ports & Connectivity
MacBook Pro M1 leads
On ports & connectivity, the gap between these two is wide, and it favors the MacBook Pro M1. The MacBook Pro M1 answers with 1 more USB-C ports. More USB-C ports mean fewer dongles and the freedom to charge on either side. Prioritize ports & connectivity, and the MacBook Pro M1 is where you should land.
USB-C / Thunderbolt ports
MacBook Pro M1: 2 Surface Book 3: 1 A hub can make up for missing ports, but it’s one more thing to carry and lose.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.3 in | 13.5 in |
| Panel type | Retina IPS LCD | PixelSense LCD touchscreen (detachable) |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 3000 x 2000 |
| Pixel density | 227 ppi Lowest pixel density | 267 ppi (winner) Sharpest screen in class |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness (SDR) | 500 nits Dimmest screen in class | N/A (not specified) |
Performance
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M1 | Intel Core i5-1035G7 |
| CPU cores | 8 (winner) | 4 Fewest CPU cores |
| Graphics | Apple M1 GPU (8-core) | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
| GPU cores | 8 Fewest GPU cores | N/A (not specified) |
| Cooling | Active (single fan) | N/A (not specified) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Base memory | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Max memory | 16 GB Lowest memory ceiling | 32 GB (winner) |
| Base storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Max storage | 2 TB (winner) | 1 TB Smallest top storage |
Battery Life & Charging
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 58.2 Wh Smallest battery in class | N/A (not specified) |
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating | 20 h (winner) | 16 h Shortest rated battery life |
| Included charger | 61 W | 65 W |
Ports & Connectivity
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C / Thunderbolt ports | 2 (winner) | 1 Fewest USB-C ports |
| Other ports | 3.5 mm headphone jack; Touch Bar | 2x USB-A, full-size SD card reader, 2x Surface Connect, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Webcam | 720p FaceTime HD | 5MP front (1080p) with Windows Hello |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Operating system | macOS Big Sur | Windows 10 Home |
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 11.97 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Depth | 8.36 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.61 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight | 3.09 lb (winner) Lightest in class | 3.38 lb |
Price
| Spec | MacBook Pro M1 | Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,299 (winner) Lowest price in class | $1,600 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The price gap is wide: $301 at launch, which is 23% of difference between the MacBook Pro M1 and the Surface Book 3. Paying $301 more for the Surface Book 3 doesn’t buy you the better overall package.
Launch prices (US) as of November 2020. Discounts and bundles come and go, so compare current prices before buying.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the MacBook Pro M1 if…
- you want more processing muscle (8 vs 4 cores)
- you want the longer rated battery life (20 h vs 16 h)
- you want more USB-C ports (2 vs 1)
- you carry your laptop around all day (3.09 lb vs 3.38 lb)
- you want the lower price and can live with the trade-offs ($301 less)
Choose the Surface Book 3 if…
- you might configure it with lots of memory (32 GB vs 16 GB maximum)
- you want the sharper screen (267 ppi vs 227 ppi)
- you’re comfortable with how Microsoft does things
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the MacBook Pro M1 or the Surface Book 3?
The MacBook Pro M1 wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless your top priority is up to 32 GB of memory.
Which has better battery life, the MacBook Pro M1 or the Surface Book 3?
The MacBook Pro M1 does better here. It lists 20 h for rated battery life, while the Surface Book 3 lists 16 h.
Which is larger, the MacBook Pro M1 or the Surface Book 3?
Neither by much. The MacBook Pro M1 and the Surface Book 3 have nearly identical dimensions.
Does the MacBook Pro M1 perform better than the Surface Book 3?
Going by the specs, the MacBook Pro M1 comes out ahead: it offers 4 more CPU cores.
Is the MacBook Pro M1’s display better than the Surface Book 3’s?
The Surface Book 3 has the edge here, offering 18% higher pixel density.
Is the MacBook Pro M1 cheaper than the Surface Book 3?
Going by launch prices, the MacBook Pro M1 costs $301 less than the Surface Book 3. Prices as of November 2020; current offers may differ.
Executive Summary
Apple makes the MacBook Pro M1, Microsoft makes the Surface Book 3, and both want the same spot on your shortlist. Here’s where I land. Practically speaking, the MacBook Pro M1’s biggest advantage is 4 more CPU cores. Beyond that, 5 h more rated battery life gives the MacBook Pro M1 another edge. The Surface Book 3’s strongest argument is up to 32 GB of memory.
For performance, the MacBook Pro M1 fits better. For display, the Surface Book 3 is the better match.
My pick: the MacBook Pro M1, and I’d only look at the Surface Book 3 if you’d rather have up to 32 GB of memory on the Surface Book 3.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.