Apple has come up with new updates for the newer versions of the MacBook Pro. That’s good news for MacBook owners; now they don’t have to worry about the most complained about keyboard and the Touch Bar. Yet, the starting price of MacBooks is way too high compared to Windows and Chromebook laptops of the same specifications. If you want to invest in laptops for their performance and not buzz, let me give you the top 10 MacBook Pro Alternatives for 2023.
Apple, in 2021, overhauled the MacBook Pro and introduced the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips along with a bunch of other features and capabilities. Apple also brought a splendid design equipped with a Mini-LED display. The 2021 MacBook Pro has a 10-core CPU (8 high-performance cores and 2 high-efficiency cores) and a 16-core Neutral Engine. Even the ports that were missing in the previous models are added back in this new MacBook Pro. Lastly, they removed the Touch Bar. Overall, this is the best MacBook to date.
But, even the entry-level MacBook Pro can cost you a minimum of $1,299. Even if you have the budget, why not go for something customizable? Even with the emulations of offerings of a MacBook, Windows and Chromebook laptops are far less expensive. So, if you can spend an amount as high as $1299, imagine what you can get out of the MacBook Pro Alternatives.
In This Article
Top 10 MacBook Pro Alternatives of 2023
While saying MacBook Pro alternatives, I mean two types of alternatives. Some of these alternatives are cheaper than MacBook Pro having similar features, and the others are as expensive as the MacBook Pro but have way more to offer.
1. HP Envy x360 13
Price: $800
Display size/resolution: 13.3-inch, 1,920×1,080-pixel IPS touchscreen
Processor: 2.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5-4500U
Memory: 8GB DDR4 (soldered)
Graphics: 512MB Radeon
Storage: 256GB PCIe NVME SSD
Ports: 2x USB-A (3.1 Gen 1), 1x USB-C (3.1 Gen 2), MicroSD
Networking: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0
Operating system: Microsoft Windows Home
Weight: 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg)
The HP Envy x360 13 is an inexpensive two-in-one that is undoubtedly one of the potential MacBook Pro alternatives. It is a handy and stylish two-in-one that weighs less than 3 pounds(1.3KG). The HP Envy x360 13 lets you choose between Intel 11th-gen Core and AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processors.
The HP Envy x360 13 gives a long battery life which is quite impressive for its size. While talking about size, let me tell you that if you are a student or a public transport commuter, the two-in-one feature and the small size help. The body of the HP Envy x360 13 is made of aluminum and there is not much of a bezel around the display.
2. Dell XPS 17 9720
Price: $3300
Display size/resolution: 17-inch, 3,8400×2400 MP
Processor: 3.8 GHz, Intel core_i9
Memory: ‎32GB DDR4 SDRAM
Graphics: 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Storage: 1TB SSD
Networking: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 11 Home
If you are a gamer, you would want a 4K screen. The OLED isn’t good with shadows. The Dell XPS 17 9720 comes with its PremiereColor software that allows you to have control over display settings. Dell XPS 17 9720 also has Thunderbolt 3 controllers, which are your external driver’s best friends.
If you want a MacBook Pro alternative, you’d look for robust build quality, better display/screen, and top-notch specifications. In that case, go for Dell XPS 17 9720. It is expensive, but it is worth the money.
3. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 2-in-1 Chromebook
Price: $249
Display size/resolution: 13.3-inch 1,920×1,080-pixel touch display
Processor: 2.1GHz Intel Core i3-10110U
Memory: 4GB DDR4-2666 (soldered)
Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
Storage: 64GB eMMC
Ports: 2x USB-C (3.1 Gen 1), 1x USB-A, audio/mic jack, MicroSD card slot
Networking: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) , Bluetooth 5.0
Operating system: Chrome OS
Weight: 3 pounds (1.3 kg)
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 2-in-1 Chromebook is an inexpensive stylish two-in-one Chromebook that comes at a price lower even than the MacBook Air. If you are a cloud-based worker, this is the perfect MacBook Pro alternative for you.
From sleek design to a cheap Chrome OS price to an Intel Core i3 processor, Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 2-in-1 Chromebook is a cost-efficient buy.
4. Lenovo Yoga 9i
Price: $1,324
Display size/resolution: 14-inch 1,920×1,080 touchscreen
CPU: 3GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7
Memory: 16GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x (soldered)
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Networking: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5.1
Connections: 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 2), combo headset jack
Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Slightly bigger than the MacBook Pro, the Yoga 9i is a fast and feature-packed machine. It’s a 14-inch 2-in-1 MacBook Pro alternative that can work both as a laptop and a tab. It can easily be called the best 2-in-1 book pro alternative considering its processor’s speed and RAM which are 3GHz and 16GB respectively.
The Yoga 9i also has a full HD display. It does justice to visuals during editing. The Yoga 9i also includes a small active pen. Added to that, the soundbar position (it is right on the hinge) of this 2-in-1 makes the audio clear no matter in what position you keep your screen.
5. Razer Blade 14
Price: $2,800, £2,800, AU$4,999
Display: 14-inch, 2,540×1,440, 165Hz, 100% P3
PC CPU: 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5900HX
PC Memory: 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 (soldered)
Graphics: 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Ports: 2x USB-C (PD), 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, combo audio jack
Networking: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210, Bluetooth 5.2
Operating system: Windows 10 Home (21H1)
Weight: 3.9 pounds (1.8 kg)
Razer is no stranger to the gaming community. Let’s talk about the Razer Blade 14. Razer Blade 14 is a 14-inch laptop that comes with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (one of the fastest mobile CPUs). Razer Blade 14 also incorporates the top-notch mobile graphics Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080.
Be it aesthetics or the price, the Razer Blade 14 is a great alternative to MacBook Pro 14. It is also one of the best laptops on the list. A laptop comparable to the MacBook; a laptop that shrouds the MacBook with its design and high-end features; one of the most trustworthy MacBook Pro alternatives.
6. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
Price as reviewed: $629
Display size/resolution: 13.4-inch 1,920×1,200-pixel touch display
CPU: 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-1165G7
PC memory: 16GB LPDDR4x SDRAM 4,267MHz
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe x4 SSD
Networking: Killer AX1650 802.11ax Wi-Fi Bluetooth 5.1
Ports: 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), audio/mic jack, microSD card slot
Operating system: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is a 13.3-inch laptop without any bezel around its screen. Dell XPS means that it is a top-quality Dell laptop already. The chassis and the components are top-grade. Battery life, performance, built quality, design, display, you name it, Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 doesn’t fail to impress in any area.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 has an end-to-end keyboard, making sure it does not take up any more space than it should. Another pride is the Precision glass touchpad that delivers a jitter-free touchpad; a laptop blue we all have encountered. It is also one of the cheapest MacBook Pro alternatives.
7. Asus ZenBook Duo
Price: $1,423
Display size/resolution: 14-inch 1,920×1,080 touch display; 12.6-inch
1,920×515 touch display
CPU: 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-1165G7
Memory: 8GB 4266MHz LPDDR4X (onboard)
Graphics: 128MB Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Storage: 512GB SSD
Networking: IEEE 802.11 a/g/n/ac/ax wireless, Bluetooth 5.0
Connections: Thunderbolt 4 USB-C (x2), USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD card slot
Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (20H2)
Unlike the other MacBook Pro alternatives, the coolest feature of the Asus ZenBook Duo is the dual display. I mean who wouldn’t like to own a machine like that? Asus ZenBook Duo, in addition to the 14-inch 1920×1080 touch display, comes with a 12.6-inch secondary touchscreen display. It rises from above the keyboard and meets the bottom of the main screen.
The secondary display is of great use (more useful than the Touch Bar of the MacBook Pro) and not just a spice. Windows recognizes the secondary screen (ScreenPad) the way you’d expect it to. Whatever you use a second screen for, you can use the ScreenPad. The secondary screen of the Asus ZenBook Duo can also be used as a touchpad with a three-finger tap.
Asus’ ScreenXpert 2.0 is another USP of the Asus ZenBook Duo. It can resize three windows to fit on the touchpad evenly. There isn’t a factor that would make this laptop anything short of the best alternative to the MacBook Pro.
8. HP Spectre x360 13.5-inch 2-in-1
Price: $2499
Display size/resolution: 13.5 Inches ‎3000×2000-pixels touch display
CPU: 4.7 GHz Intel Core i7-1255U
Memory: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Storage: 512 GB
Operating system: Windows 11 Home
Weight: 1.37 kg
The HP Spectre x360 comes with a 13.5-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) OLED touch screen. It is an elegantly sleek 2-in-1 laptop that isn’t cheap but being a MacBook Pro alternative is not about being cheap, is it? The processor is fast (up to 4.7 GHz Intel Core i7), and the display the 12th Generation Intel silicon refreshes is of 3000 by 2000 pixel resolution.
The HP Spectre x360 has a smart camera that lets you choose from three high-res aspect ratios – 16:9 (2,560 by 1,440 pixels), 4:3 (2,560 by 1,920), or 3:2 (2,560 by 1,706). It can also capture 1080p videos at 30fps. The camera also offers a backlighting feature, a blemish filter, and an auto-frame facility so that you can move around if you want to during a video call.
9. Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED (M7600QE-XB99)
Price: $1649
Display size/resolution: 16-inch 3840×2400 OLED display
CPU: 3.3 GHz AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
Memory: 32GB
Graphics: 4GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU
Storage: 1TB
Operating system: Windows 10
The Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED is an attractive package. It has a 4K OLED display and a 3.3 GHz AMD Ryzen 9 which is quite speedy. The Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED is a trendy little machine that is not quite a workstation but is a content creator’s laptop. Nevertheless, the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED is a MacBook Pro alternative in the fields of built quality, memory, and display.
The display of Asus Vivobook Pro 16X is a super vibrant one. The screen offers a color burst experience and the truest blacks that you can imagine. It is marvelous.Â
10. Razer Book 13
Price: $1849
Display size/resolution: 13.4 inches 1920×1080 pixels touch screen
CPU: 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7-1165G7
Memory: 16 GB
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
Storage: 256 GB SSD
Networking: Bluetooth, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Operating system: Windows 10
Weight: 3.09 lbs
Razer Book 13 is among the most appropriate MacBook Pro alternatives when it comes to video editing. It is a top-tier ultraportable computer as well. The performance of this machine is bang-on. Thanks to the Inter Tiger Lake CPU. The super attractive 16:10 edge-to-edge display gives a very satisfying gaming experience and video editing experience.
The Blade Stealth 13 technology has exponentially augmented Razer Book 13’s productivity in comparison to Razor’s flagship gaming laptops. Basically, Razer Book 13 is a non-gaming focusses laptop. The sheer performance of this laptop outshines MacBook Pro and landed it a daunting position in the list of the highest-rated MacBook Pro alternatives.
Wrapping Up
With all said and done, MacBook will always remain the hot favorite of many professionals and day-to-day users. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t better laptops and that doesn’t rule out the fact that a lot of other laptops allow customizability and inclusion in a variety of ecosystems.
There are so many factors to consider before buying a laptop. Its performance, its durability, what it is built for, and its built quality, to name a few. But this list of MacBook Pro alternatives will spare you of the tedious task of vigorous research. This article is not just about MacBook alternatives but some of the best laptops out there. Until next time, Ciao!
