It's a new year, and that means the release of new MacBooks like the gorgeous new MacBook Air. If you're like me and appreciate the concept of the MacBook but are too entrenched in the Windows ecosystem to switch, it's time to explore alternatives. There are several excellent laptops on the market, and my top pick is the Asus Zenbook S 16.

TL;DR - The Best MacBook Alternatives:

Our Top Pick: Asus Zenbook S 16

4See it at Best BuyAcer Swift Go 16

2See it at AcerAsus Zenbook S 14

1See it at AsusSee it at Best BuyAsus TUF Gaming A14

0See it at AmazonSee it at Best BuySee it at AsusMicrosoft Surface Pro 11

0See it at AmazonSee it at Microsoft

A laptop aiming to be an alternative to the MacBook must meet high standards. Key qualities include lightweight design, excellent portability, robust performance, a high-quality screen, and a battery life that lasts a full workday at minimum.

In compiling this list, I drew on numerous reviews conducted over the past year, selecting laptops that best meet the criteria to serve as true MacBook replacements. Whether you need a substitute for the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or a 2-in-1 device for creative work, I have suggestions for you.

1. Asus Zenbook S 16

The Best MacBook Alternative

Our Top Pick: Asus Zenbook S 16

2The Asus Zenbook S 16 stands out as a premier Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly portable and a pleasure to use.

See it at Best BuySee it at Asus

Product Specifications:

• Display: 16" (2880 x 1800)
• CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
• GPU: AMD Radeon 890M
• RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
• Weight: 3.31 pounds
• Size: 13.92" x 9.57" x 0.47" - 0.51"
• Battery life: Around 15 hours

PROS:

• Thin, light, and highly portable
• High performance with impressive battery life
• Stunning 3K OLED touchscreen
• Surprising gaming performance

CONS:

• Can get hot

The Asus Zenbook S 16 is the best alternative to the MacBook Pro today, especially if you need a larger screen. It's remarkably thin and light yet packs a powerful punch, ideal for everything from productivity to demanding creative tasks like 4K video editing. It's one of the most visually appealing laptops I've reviewed.

The core of the system is the AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 CPU, featuring 12 cores and 24 threads with a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz, ensuring top performance across various tasks. This processor also supports gaming, similar to those used in high-end Windows gaming handhelds.

While it doesn't match the efficiency of Apple's M3 or M4 chips, it still offers excellent battery life. At 50-60% screen brightness, I measured around 15 hours of battery life, sufficient for a full day's work.

The laptop's design is stunning, featuring a new Ceraluminum lid that combines ceramic and aluminum for durability and fingerprint resistance. Small details, like the ventilation area above the keyboard with over a thousand individually milled holes, emphasize its premium nature.

Connectivity surpasses the MacBook with dual USB Type-C ports, a full-size USB Type-A, an SD card reader, a headphone jack, and an HDMI-out port.

The screen is a highlight, boasting a bright 500-nit OLED display with a 2.8K resolution (2880x1880) and multi-touch support. It dynamically adjusts between 60Hz and 120Hz for smooth motion while maintaining great battery life.

The only downside is that the laptop can get hot, but this is mitigated by using it on a desk. Overall, the Asus Zenbook S 16 is a fantastic choice.

2. Acer Swift Go 16 OLED

Best Budget MacBook Alternative

Acer Swift Go 16

0The Acer Swift Go 16 OLED offers a beautiful screen, great battery life, and a slim, lightweight design at a budget-friendly price.

See it at Acer

Product Specifications:

• Display: 16" (3200 x 2000), OLED multitouch
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
• GPU: Intel Arc
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 512GB
• Weight: 3.53 pounds
• Dimensions: 14.02" x 0.59" x 9.55"

PROS:

• High-resolution OLED display
• Thin, light, and portable
• Great battery life

CONS:

• Limited memory and storage

Priced well under $1,000, the Acer Swift Go 16 OLED is an affordable alternative to the MacBook Air, offering a high-quality screen and all-day battery life in a highly portable package.

Weighing just 3.53 pounds, it's easy to carry. The 16-inch screen boasts an impressive 3200x2000 resolution, which is surprising at this price point.

It's powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, a generation old but still capable of handling daily productivity and light creative work. It includes a neural processing unit (NPU) for enhanced AI functionality and support for Microsoft Copilot.

The budget pricing reflects its 8GB of memory and 512GB of storage. While the storage is adequate for most users, the 8GB of memory may limit multitasking and performance with more demanding tasks like video editing.

If you're not planning on heavy multitasking, this laptop's excellent screen and portability make it a great choice.

Asus Zenbook S 14 – Photos

13 Images

3. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best MacBook Air Alternative

Asus Zenbook S 14

1The Asus Zenbook S 14 offers incredible performance, a great screen, multi-day battery life, and a beautiful chassis, making it a top MacBook Air alternative.

See it at AsusSee it at Best Buy

Product Specifications:

• Display: 14" (2880 x 1800)
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
• GPU: Intel Arc
• RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
• Weight: 2.65 pounds
• Size: 12.22" x 8.45" x 0.51"
• Battery life: 15+ hours

PROS:

• Thinner, lighter, and more powerful
• Great battery life
• Improved gaming performance
• Gorgeous OLED touchscreen

CONS:

• No microSD card reader

The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a smaller version of the Zenbook S 16 but stands out as a fantastic MacBook Air replacement. It uses the latest Intel Core Ultra CPU, offering high performance and surprisingly good gaming capabilities.

At just 2.65 pounds and less than half an inch thick, it's incredibly portable. Its 14-inch screen initially seemed small, but its portability won me over.

The battery life is outstanding, easily lasting multiple days with intermittent use. In testing, it achieved over 15 hours of battery life.

The 2.8K OLED display (2880x1800) is exceptional, reaching up to 500 nits and ideal for HDR gaming. While you may need to adjust settings for optimal performance, it's impressive for a laptop without a dedicated graphics card.

Overall, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is an excellent MacBook Air alternative at a reasonable price.

Asus TUF Gaming A14 – Photos

10 Images

4. Asus TUF Gaming A14

Best MacBook Pro 14 Alternative

Product Specifications:

• Display: 14” (2560 x 1600) IPS
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 4060
• RAM: 16GB to 32GB (7500MHz)
• Storage: 1TB
• Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 12.24" x 8.94" x 0.67" – 0.78"

PROS:

• Impressive battery life
• Quiet, efficient cooling

CONS:

• Expensive

The Asus TUF Gaming A14 is the ideal choice for replacing the MacBook Pro 14. It's compact, powerful, and quiet, with impressive battery life. Its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU excels at gaming, and at 3.2 pounds, it's lighter than the MacBook Pro 14.

Available in three versions, you can choose between the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS or AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPUs and 16GB or 32GB of RAM. The RAM is faster than many competitors, enhancing performance. The entry-level model with the Ryzen 7 8845HS is fast, often outpacing Apple's M3 in multicore performance, ideal for creatives and power users.

While it has more fan noise than the MacBook Pro, it's quieter than most gaming laptops and stays cooler, reducing thermal throttling concerns.

The dedicated graphics card impacts battery life, but Advanced Optimus helps mitigate this by only activating the GPU when needed. On the processor alone, it lasts around 10 hours, sufficient for a full workday.

The main challenge is its pricing, with the top model costing $1,699. However, if you need Windows without sacrificing performance, weight, or size, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 is an excellent alternative.

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Best 2-in-1 MacBook Alternative

Microsoft Surface Pro 11

0The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is perfect for artists and offers enough power and efficiency to serve as a great daily driver.

See it at AmazonSee it at Microsoft

Product Specifications:

• Display: 13-inch OLED or LCD touchscreen (2,880 x 1,920)
• CPU: Snapdragon X Plus or Snapdragon X Elite
• GPU: Integrated
• RAM: Up to 64GB
• Storage: Up to 1TB (expandable)
• Weight: 1.97 pounds
• Dimensions: 11.3” x 8.2” x 0.37”

PROS:

• Excellent OLED display
• Very portable and easy to carry
• Snappy performance
• Great accessories (including the Surface Pen)

CONS:

• Single-day battery life
• App compatibility still expanding

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is ideal for creative professionals, offering the benefits of a MacBook in a versatile 2-in-1 form factor. It's also suitable for productivity and entertainment, making it a stellar alternative.

Powered by the latest Snapdragon X processors, it's one of the first systems to use an ARM processor similar to Apple's M-series chips. You can choose between the Snapdragon X Plus or X Elite, offering 10 or 12 CPU cores for efficient performance in creative apps like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Battery life lasts around 10 hours, enough for a full day's work, with fast charging capabilities.

The hardware is robust, with storage options from 256GB to 1TB and RAM from 16GB to 64GB. The display is available in LCD or OLED variants with a 2880x1920 resolution, providing crisp visuals for various tasks.

The main challenge is app compatibility due to the Snapdragon processors' different technology. While an emulation layer helps, not all applications are fully compatible yet, so it's worth considering before purchasing.

How to Choose the Best MacBook Alternative

Choosing the right MacBook alternative involves considering several key factors to ensure the laptop meets your needs.

Processor: Focus on the number of cores rather than the brand. Aim for at least six cores, preferably eight, for modern tasks. For high-performance needs like video editing, opt for the highest clock speed available, such as an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, and avoid processors more than a generation old.

Memory: Choose a laptop with at least 16GB of memory. While 8GB might suffice for basic tasks, 16GB ensures smooth multitasking and future-proofing.

Storage: Depending on your usage, 256GB may be enough if you use cloud storage, but 512GB is a better minimum, with 1TB preferred for larger files and applications.

Display: Opt for at least a 1080p resolution. Higher resolutions offer better clarity but may impact performance in demanding tasks. OLED displays provide superior picture quality but require care to prevent burn-in.

Form Factor: Consider the laptop's weight and screen size. A touch screen or 2-in-1 functionality may be beneficial depending on your needs.

MacBook Alternatives FAQ

What is the best M3 and M4 competitor?

Apple's M3 and M4 chips are renowned for their efficiency and power. While Intel and AMD offer competitive options, such as Intel's Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs and AMD's HX AI series, Apple still leads in efficiency and battery life.

Are MacBooks good for gaming?

MacBooks can run many games, but the selection and optimization are limited compared to Windows gaming laptops. They are not the best choice for avid gamers.

Is a MacBook better than PC?

It depends on your needs and preferences. MacBooks excel in creative applications and offer unique software like Logic Pro. PCs, however, provide a more open ecosystem with broader software availability and better gaming support.