Two of the biggest tech manufacturers — namely Apple and Microsoft — have recently unveiled their latest products that are both vying for the top spot in the portable 13.5-inch laptop market.
The release of the new 2016 Apple MacBook Pro and the 2016 Microsoft Surface Book are a big step for both companies, and now buyers are having a hard time choosing between both products as they both offer the same relative specs for the same relative prices.
As for the hardware specs, both device come with options for either an Intel Core i5 processor or a higher-end Core i7 processor. Both devices features a redesigned cooling system that boosts the processor's performance and cooling abilities.
The main difference is that the Surface Book does offer a wider choice of graphics option with an Intel HD graphics card for the low-end and an NVIDIA GeForece GTX 965M for the i7 model. Apple, on the other hand, comes with an Intel Iris graphics card 540 or 550 and an AMD Radeon GPU for the 15-inch model.
In terms of features, both devices offer some very different functionalities. The MacBook Pro features its very unique OLED Touch Bar which completely replaces the standard function keys on the keyboard. The Touch Bar is able to adapt its screen to different uses depending on what the user is doing.
Meanwhile, the Surface Book Pro hand features a detachable display which essentially transforms it into a tablet that can be brought anywhere. Another big difference is that the Surface Book does sport a larger battery that translates into 16 hours of usability while unplugged.
When it comes to pricing, both devices are in the same relative range with the Surface Book's 256 GB model sold at $1,699 and the MacBook Pro's 256 GB model at $1,799.
However, the figures do change when it comes to the highest end variants as the top-of-the-line i7 Surface Book will cost $3,299 while the top MacBook Pro model is priced at $2,899.
