Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs Microsoft Surface Book 3
The Verdict
Apple's M4 Pro MacBook dominates on raw performance and display quality, featuring a 120Hz Liquid Retina XDR panel with 1600 nits brightness versus the Surface Book 3's 400-nit 60Hz IPS screen. The M4 Pro's 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU significantly outpace the 10th-gen Intel Core i7, delivering superior multitasking and creative workload handling. Battery life heavily favors MacBook Pro at 22 hours versus 15.5 hours, while the aluminum chassis feels more premium than magnesium. Storage comes in at 512GB standard on the MacBook versus 256GB on the Surface Book, though Microsoft's drive is upgradeable and Apple's isn't. The Surface Book 3 offers genuine advantages: touchscreen capability, traditional USB-A ports (two of them), HDMI output without adapters, and expandable storage. Windows 10 provides broader software compatibility for enterprise users. At $1999 versus $1599, the MacBook Pro commands a $400 premium but justifies it through substantially better performance, battery endurance, and display calibration. The Surface Book 3 suits users prioritizing touchscreen versatility and Windows ecosystem integration, but Apple's newer technology delivers meaningfully better value for demanding creative professionals.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro if…
- →Powerful M4 Pro performance in a portable chassis
- →Bright mini-LED ProMotion display
- →Long battery life around 22 hours
Buy the Microsoft Surface Book 3 if…
- →Detachable 13.5-inch display works as a standalone tablet
- →Discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the keyboard base
- →3:2 3000x2000 PixelSense display is gorgeous for productivity
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro
Pros
- Powerful M4 Pro performance in a portable chassis
- Bright mini-LED ProMotion display
- Long battery life around 22 hours
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports for high-speed I/O
- Excellent build quality and speakers
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Base RAM bumped to 24 GB raises entry cost
- Notch in display divides opinion
- No cellular or touchscreen option
Microsoft Surface Book 3
Pros
- Detachable 13.5-inch display works as a standalone tablet
- Discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the keyboard base
- 3:2 3000x2000 PixelSense display is gorgeous for productivity
- 15.5-hour battery life for clipboard + base combined
- Premium magnesium build with excellent Surface Pen support
Cons
- 10th-gen Intel processor is severely outdated by 2024 standards
- Detach mechanism adds wobble and weight to the display hinge
- No Thunderbolt — only USB-C 3.1 and USB-A ports
- GTX 1650 Max-Q is underpowered for modern gaming or creative tasks
- Microsoft has discontinued the Surface Book line
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro | Microsoft Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 10 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.60 kg | 3.38 lbs (1.53 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Magnesium |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.59-0.9 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | — |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 22 hours wireless web | Up to 15.5 hours |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 65.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | PixelSense IPS touch |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 3000 x 2000 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB | 256 GB PCIe Gen 3 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR4X |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU | 4 cores / 8 threads |
| Chipset | Apple M4 Pro | Intel Core i7-1065G7 (10th Gen) |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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