Top MacBook Alternatives for 2025: What to Buy

As we welcome the new year, the excitement around the release of the new MacBook Air is palpable. However, if you're deeply rooted in the Windows ecosystem, transitioning to a MacBook might not be the best move for you. Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives that can match or even surpass the MacBook's features. My top pick among these alternatives is the Asus Zenbook S 16.

TL;DR - The Best MacBook Alternatives:

Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16

4See it at Best Buy### Acer Swift Go 16

2See it at Acer### Asus Zenbook S 14

1See it at AsusSee it at Best Buy### Asus TUF Gaming A14

0See it at AmazonSee it at Best BuySee it at Asus### Microsoft Surface Pro 11

0See it at AmazonSee it at MicrosoftA laptop vying to be an alternative to the MacBook must meet stringent standards. Essential qualities include being lightweight and highly portable, powerful, featuring a top-notch screen, and boasting a battery life that lasts a full workday at the very least.

In curating this list, I've drawn upon my extensive reviews over the past year to identify laptops that genuinely stand as viable MacBook replacements. Whether you're seeking an alternative to the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air, or a 2-in-1 device that offers flexibility for artistic and creative tasks, I have you covered.

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 stellar Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's effortlessly portable and a pleasure to use.See it at Best BuySee it at AsusProduct SpecificationsDisplay16" (2880 x 1800)CPUAMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370GPUAMD Radeon 890MRAM32GB LPDDR5XStorage1TB PCIe SSDWeight3.31 poundsSize13.92" x 9.57" x 0.47" - 0.51"Battery lifeAround 15 hoursPROSThin, light, and exceptionally portableHigh performance while still offering great battery lifeStunning 3K OLED touchscreenSurprising gaming performance CONSCan get hotThe Asus Zenbook S 16 is the premier alternative to the Apple MacBook Pro, especially for those needing a larger screen. It's incredibly thin and light, yet a powerhouse capable of handling everything from productivity to demanding creative tasks like 4K video editing. It's one of the most visually stunning laptops I've ever reviewed.

The core of this system is the AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 CPU, a top-tier AI processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, reaching a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz. This processor excels in a range of tasks, including gaming, as it's also used in high-end Windows gaming handhelds.

While it doesn't match the efficiency of Apple's M3 or M4 chips, it still delivers impressive battery life. At 50-60% screen brightness, I achieved around 15 hours of usage, which should comfortably last you through a full day and beyond.

The design is breathtaking, featuring Asus's new Ceraluminum lid—a blend of ceramic and aluminum for durability and a fingerprint-resistant finish. The laptop's premium feel is enhanced by details like the ventilation area above the keyboard, which consists of over a thousand individually milled holes.

Connectivity surpasses that of 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 for external monitor connectivity.

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

The Zenbook S 16's only notable downside is its tendency to get hot. However, this issue is mitigated when used on a desk, and the overall benefits of this laptop far outweigh this minor drawback.

2. Acer Swift Go 16 OLED

Best Budget MacBook Alternative

### Acer Swift Go 16

0The Acer Swift Go 16 OLED offers a beautiful screen, excellent battery life, and a slim, lightweight design at a budget-friendly priceSee it at AcerProduct SpecificationsDisplay16" (3200 x 2000), OLED multitouchCPUIntel Core Ultra 5 125HGPUIntel ArcRAM8GBStorage512GBWeight3.53 poundsDimensions14.02" x 0.59" x 9.55" PROSHigh resolution OLED displayThin, light, and portable Great battery lifeCONSLimited memory and storagePriced well under $1,000, the Acer Swift Go 16 OLED is a cost-effective alternative to the MacBook Air, delivering a superior screen and all-day battery life in a highly portable package.

Weighing just 3.53 pounds, it's easy to carry throughout the day. The 16-inch screen boasts an impressive 3200x2000 resolution, which is remarkable for its price point.

Performance-wise, it's equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, which, despite being a generation behind, provides ample power for daily productivity and light creative work. It also includes a neural processing unit (NPU) for enhanced AI functionality and Microsoft Copilot support.

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

If your workflow involves working with one or two applications at a time, this laptop offers an excellent balance of screen quality and portability.

Asus Zenbook S 14 – Photos

13 Images3. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best MacBook Air Alternative

### Asus Zenbook S 14

1The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a formidable competitor to the MacBook Air, offering superior performance, a stunning screen, multi-day battery life, and a sleek design. See it at AsusSee it at Best BuyProduct SpecificationsDisplay14" (2880 x 1800)CPUIntel Core Ultra 7 258VGPUIntel ArcRAM32GB LPDDR5XStorage1TB PCIe SSDWeight2.65 poundsSize12.22" x 8.45" x 0.51"Battery life15+ hoursPROSThinner, lighter, and more powerfulGreat battery lifeImproved gaming performanceGorgeous OLED touchscreenCONSNo microSD card readerThe Asus Zenbook S 14 is a compelling alternative to the MacBook Air. While sharing similarities with the Zenbook S 16, the S 14 distinguishes itself with unique features, making it an excellent MacBook Air replacement.

It features the latest Intel Core Ultra processor, which provides high performance and surprising gaming capabilities. During my review, it handled Adobe Premiere Pro, Microsoft Excel, and web browsing seamlessly, never faltering. It runs cooler than the S 16 and is even more portable.

Weighing only around 2.5 pounds and less than half an inch thick, it's incredibly easy to carry. Its portability is so good that I often forgot it was in my bag. Despite initial concerns about the smaller 14-inch screen, its convenience won me over.

Battery life is exceptional, easily lasting multiple days with intermittent use. In testing, it exceeded 15 hours, which is outstanding.

The 2.8K OLED display (2880x1800) is another highlight, reaching up to 500 nits and delivering stunning visuals, especially for HDR gaming. While you may need to adjust settings for AAA gaming, it's impressive for a laptop without a dedicated graphics card.

Overall, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is an outstanding MacBook Air alternative, offering remarkable value for its price.

Asus TUF Gaming A14 – Photos

10 Images4. Asus TUF Gaming A14

Best MacBook Pro 14 Alternative

Product SpecificationsDisplay14” (2560 x 1600) IPSCPUAMD Ryzen 7 8845HS to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370GPUNvidia RTX 4060RAM16GB to 32GB (7500MHz)Storage1TBWeight3.2 poundsDimensions12.24" x 8.94" x 0.67" – 0.78"PROSImpressive battery lifeQuiet, efficient coolingCONSExpensiveThe Asus TUF Gaming A14 is the ideal replacement for the MacBook Pro 14, combining compactness, power, and quiet operation with impressive battery life. It's equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4060 for gaming and weighs less than the MacBook Pro 14 at 3.2 pounds.

Available in three configurations, you can choose between the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS or the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with RAM options of 16GB or 32GB. The RAM's higher speed gives it a performance edge over competitors like the MSI Stealth 14. The entry-level model with the Ryzen 7 8845HS performed exceptionally well, often surpassing Apple's M3 in multicore tasks, making it suitable for creatives and power users.

While it has more fan noise than the MacBook Pro, it's quieter than most gaming laptops and maintains cooler temperatures, reducing the risk of thermal throttling.

Battery life is affected by the dedicated graphics card, but using Advanced Optimus helps manage this, allowing the laptop to last around 10 hours on the processor alone, which is sufficient for a full workday.

The primary drawback is its cost, with the top-spec model with 32GB of RAM priced at $1,699. However, for those who need Windows, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 is a worthy MacBook Pro 14 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 an excellent daily driverSee it at Amazon See it at MicrosoftProduct SpecificationsDisplay13-inch OLED or LCD touchscreen (2,880 x 1,920)CPUSnapdragon X Plus or Snapdragon X EliteGPUIntegratedRAMUp to 64GBStorageUp to 1TB (expandable)Weight1.97 poundsDimensions11.3” x 8.2” x 0.37”PROSOLED display is excellentVery portable and easy to carry through the daySnappy performance Great accessories (including the Surface Pen)CONSSingle-day batteryApp compatibility is still expanding (though is fairly extensive already)For creative professionals, a traditional laptop might not suffice. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 offers MacBook-like benefits in a versatile 2-in-1 form factor, ideal for digital artists. Even if you're not in a creative field, its design is perfect for productivity and entertainment. I was thoroughly impressed when I reviewed it earlier this year and continue to use it for its portability and versatility.

Powered by the latest Snapdragon X processors, the Surface Pro 11 is among the first to use ARM technology similar to Apple's M-series chips. You can choose between the Snapdragon X Plus and the Snapdragon X Elite, offering 10 or 12 CPU cores for efficient performance in creative applications like Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator. Battery life reaches around 10 hours, suitable for a full day's work, with fast charging capabilities.

Unlike earlier generations, the Surface Pro 11 is a powerhouse. You can configure it with up to 1TB of storage and 64GB of RAM, with expandable storage options. The 13-inch display comes in either LCD or OLED variants, both with a 2880x1920 resolution, providing crisp visuals for various tasks.

The main challenge is app compatibility due to its ARM-based processors. While an emulation layer helps, not all applications are fully compatible yet, though the library is expanding to include most major apps used by creatives and professionals.

How to Choose the Best MacBook Alternative

Navigating the vast array of MacBook alternatives can be daunting. To find a laptop that truly meets your needs, consider the following key factors:

Processor: Whether you opt for Intel or AMD, focus on the number of cores. Aim for at least six cores, with eight being ideal. For tasks like video editing, higher clock speeds and newer generations are crucial. Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processors are good starting points.

Memory: At least 16GB of RAM is recommended for smooth multitasking and to future-proof your device. While 8GB might suffice for basic tasks, it's the minimum for modern standards.

Storage: Depending on your usage, 256GB might be enough if you rely on cloud storage. However, for working with large files or storing extensive media, 512GB or 1TB is preferable.

Display: Opt for at least a 1080p resolution. Higher resolutions enhance visual quality but can strain system resources during intensive tasks. OLED panels offer superior picture quality but require careful use to prevent burn-in.

Form Factor: Consider the laptop's weight and size, as even a small difference can impact portability. Evaluate whether you need touch screen capabilities or a 2-in-1 design for future flexibility.

Macbook Alternatives FAQ

What is the best M3 and M4 competitor?

Apple's M3 and M4 chips are renowned for their efficiency and performance. While Intel's Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs and AMD's HX AI series offer competitive performance, they don't yet match Apple's efficiency and battery life.

Are MacBooks good for gaming?

MacBooks can run many games, but the selection is limited compared to Windows gaming laptops. Games on Mac often aren't optimized as well as their PC counterparts, making Windows a better choice for avid gamers.

Is a MacBook better than PC?

The answer depends on your needs and preferences. MacBooks excel in creative applications due to their efficiency and portability, and some software is exclusive to macOS. However, PCs offer a more open ecosystem, a broader range of software, and superior gaming capabilities, making them a versatile choice for many users.