Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Microsoft Surface Pro 11
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro 11 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 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 Pro 11 is praised for stunning oled display with hdr and 120hz. 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 Pro 11 if…
- →Stunning OLED display with HDR and 120Hz
- →Incredibly thin and light for a Windows tablet
- →Excellent battery life thanks to Snapdragon X Elite
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 Pro 11
Pros
- Stunning OLED display with HDR and 120Hz
- Incredibly thin and light for a Windows tablet
- Excellent battery life thanks to Snapdragon X Elite
- Versatile 2-in-1 form factor with optional Flex Keyboard
Cons
- Keyboard and pen sold separately, raising true cost
- Only two USB-C ports and no Thunderbolt
- ARM app compatibility gaps remain in some software
- Lap usability limited by kickstand design
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro | Microsoft Surface Pro 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 0.895 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 287 x 208 x 9.3 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 0 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 0 |
| USB-A ports | — | 0 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 14 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 53 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 13 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | PixelSense Flow touchscreen, OLED |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2880 x 1920 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 900 |
| 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.
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