Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is the cheaper of the two at $1,000 versus $2,499, a difference of about $1,499. 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 Laptop 7 is praised for outstanding battery life on snapdragon x elite. 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 Laptop 7 if…
- →Outstanding battery life on Snapdragon X Elite
- →Bright 600-nit 120Hz touch display
- →Cool, near-silent operation under typical load
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 Laptop 7
Pros
- Outstanding battery life on Snapdragon X Elite
- Bright 600-nit 120Hz touch display
- Cool, near-silent operation under typical load
- Premium aluminum build with great trackpad
Cons
- ARM architecture causes some app compatibility issues
- No Thunderbolt support on USB-C ports
- Limited gaming due to GPU and emulation overhead
- Replaceable SSD but no other internal upgrades
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 1.34 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 301 x 220 x 17.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 0 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 0 |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 54 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 13.8 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | PixelSense touchscreen, IPS |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2304 x 1536 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 600 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB | 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 GB | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) | 12 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 |
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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.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all Microsoft products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.