Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Microsoft Surface Book 3
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and Microsoft Surface Book 3 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is the cheaper of the two at $1,599 versus $2,499, a difference of about $900. The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro stands out for largest macbook display at 16.2 inches, while Microsoft Surface Book 3 is praised for detachable 13.5-inch display works as a standalone tablet. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro if…
- →Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- →M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- →100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
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
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro
Pros
- Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- 100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
- Thunderbolt 5
- Up to 96GB RAM with M5 Max
Cons
- 2.14 kg is heavy
- $2499 starting price
- Non-upgradable components
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- 10th-gen Intel processor is severely outdated by 2024 standards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 16" M5 Pro | Microsoft Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 10 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 3.38 lbs (1.53 kg) |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Magnesium |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 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 24 hours | Up to 15.5 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 65.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | PixelSense IPS touch |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 3000 x 2000 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB | 256 GB PCIe Gen 3 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 GB | 16 GB LPDDR4X |
| Cores | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) | 4 cores / 8 threads |
| Chipset | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | 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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