Top MacBook Alternatives for 2025: What to Buy

It's a new year, and with it comes the release of stunning new MacBooks, like the latest MacBook Air. If you're a fan of the MacBook's design and functionality but are deeply rooted in the Windows ecosystem, it's time to explore some top-notch alternatives. My top overall pick is the Asus Zenbook S 16, which offers an exceptional blend of performance and portability.

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 Microsoft

A laptop that aims to be a MacBook alternative must meet stringent standards. Key qualities I considered include being lightweight and highly portable, offering robust performance, featuring an excellent screen, and having a battery life that lasts at least a full workday. Drawing on my extensive reviews over the past year, I've curated a list of laptops that genuinely rival the MacBook's capabilities, whether you're looking to replace a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or seeking a versatile 2-in-1 for creative work.

1. Asus Zenbook S 16

The Best MacBook Alternative

Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16

2The Asus Zenbook S 16 stands out as an excellent Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly lightweight, making it easy to carry, 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 exceptionally portable
• High performance with great battery life
• Stunning 3K OLED touchscreen
• Surprising gaming performance

Cons:

• Can get hot

The Asus Zenbook S 16 is undoubtedly the best MacBook Pro alternative available today, particularly if you need a larger screen. Its slim and lightweight design doesn't compromise on processing power, making it ideal for productivity and demanding creative tasks like 4K video editing. It's also one of the most visually appealing laptops I've ever reviewed.

The laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 CPU, which is AMD's highest performance AI processor at the time of writing. With 12 cores, 24 threads, and a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz, it delivers peak performance across various tasks, including gaming.

While it may not match the efficiency of Apple's M3 or M4 chips, it still offers impressive battery life. At 50-60% screen brightness, I measured around 15 hours of battery life, which is more than sufficient for a full workday.

The design is stunning, featuring a new Ceraluminum lid that combines ceramic and aluminum for durability and a fingerprint-resistant finish. Small details, like the ventilation area with over a thousand tiny individually milled holes above the keyboard, underscore its premium quality.

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 for connecting to external monitors.

The 500-nit OLED display with a 2.8K resolution (2880x1880) is breathtaking. It supports multi-touch and dynamically adjusts between 60Hz and 120Hz for smooth motion while maintaining excellent battery life.

The only potential drawback is that the laptop can get hot, though this is mitigated by using it on a desk. Overall, it's an outstanding choice.

2. Acer Swift Go 16 OLED

Best Budget MacBook Alternative

### Acer Swift Go 16

0A beautiful OLED screen, great battery life, and a sleek 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 stunning screen and all-day battery life in a highly portable form.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, though a generation old, still provides ample performance for everyday productivity and light creative work. It includes a neural processing unit (NPU) for enhanced AI functionality and Microsoft Copilot support.

However, its budget-friendly price comes with compromises in memory and storage, featuring only 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. While the storage is adequate for most users, the 8GB of RAM may limit multitasking and performance with more demanding tasks.

For those not requiring intensive multitasking, this laptop offers an excellent screen and portability at a great value.

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 is an exceptional MacBook Air alternative, offering incredible performance, a great screen, multi-day battery life, and a beautiful chassis. 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 sibling to the Zenbook S 16 but stands out as a stellar MacBook Air replacement. While the S 16 uses an AMD CPU, the S 14 features the latest Intel Core Ultra, which offers high performance and surprisingly good gaming capabilities.

At just 2.5lbs and less than half an inch thick at its thickest point, it's incredibly portable. Its 14-inch screen might initially seem small, but its portability is a major advantage.

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

The 2.8K OLED display (2880x1800) is stunning, reaching up to 500 nits and excelling in HDR gaming. Though you may need to adjust settings for optimal gaming performance, it's a reasonable trade-off for a laptop primarily designed for productivity and creativity.

Overall, the Asus Zenbook S 14 is a fantastic MacBook Air alternative at a competitive 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 an ideal replacement for the MacBook Pro 14. It's compact, powerful, and quiet, with excellent battery life. The Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU makes it a strong choice for gaming, and at 3.2lbs, it's even lighter than the MacBook Pro 14.

Available in three configurations, you can choose between AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS or AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPUs and 16GB or 32GB of RAM. The RAM's speed gives it an edge over competitors like the MSI Stealth 14. The entry-level version with the Ryzen 7 8845HS performed exceptionally well, often surpassing Apple's M3 in multicore performance, which is crucial for creative and power users.

While it may have more fan noise than the MacBook Pro, it's still quieter than most gaming laptops and maintains cooler temperatures, minimizing thermal throttling.

The dedicated graphics card impacts battery life, but using Advanced Optimus can extend it to around 10 hours, sufficient for a full workday.

The main challenge is its pricing, with the top-end model costing $1,699. Nonetheless, for Windows users unwilling to compromise on performance, weight, or size, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 is an excellent choice.

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Best 2-in-1 MacBook Alternative

### Microsoft Surface Pro 11

0The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is a fantastic 2-in-1 alternative to the MacBook, perfect for artists and versatile enough for daily productivity and entertainment. 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
• Snappy performance
• Great accessories (including the Surface Pen)

Cons:

• Single-day battery
• App compatibility is still expanding

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 offers the versatility of a 2-in-1, making it an excellent choice for digital artists and those needing a portable, multi-functional device. The latest Snapdragon X processors provide efficient performance, suitable for creative applications like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

Battery life lasts around 10 hours, enough for a full day's work, with fast charging capabilities to replenish 80% in about an hour.

With configurations up to 64GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, it's a powerhouse. The display options include LCD or OLED variants with a sharp 2880x1920 resolution, perfect for productivity and entertainment.

The main drawback is its app compatibility. While it runs an emulation layer to support more applications, it's not yet at 100% compatibility, which is important to consider before purchasing.

How to Choose the Best MacBook Alternative

Choosing the right MacBook alternative involves considering several key factors:

Processor: Opt for at least six cores, preferably eight, and the highest clock speed available. Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processors are good starting points, and avoid anything more than a generation old unless your needs are less demanding.

Memory: Aim for at least 16GB of RAM to ensure smooth multitasking and future-proofing. While 8GB might suffice for basic tasks, it's the minimum you should consider.

Storage: Depending on your use, 256GB might be enough if you rely on cloud storage, but 512GB is a safer minimum, with 1TB being ideal for larger files and applications.

Display: Go for at least a 1080p resolution. Higher resolutions offer better clarity, but be mindful of system resource demands for video editing or gaming. OLED panels provide superior picture quality but require care to prevent burn-in.

Form Factor: Consider the weight and size of the laptop, whether it features a touch screen, and if a 2-in-1 design might be beneficial for 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 performance. While Intel's Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs and AMD's HX AI series offer high performance, they still lag behind in efficiency and battery life compared to Apple's silicon.

Are MacBooks good for gaming?

MacBooks can run many games, but the selection and optimization are limited compared to Windows gaming laptops. If gaming is a priority, a Windows laptop might be a better choice.

Is a MacBook better than PC?

The choice between a MacBook and a PC depends on your specific needs and preferences. MacBooks excel in creative applications and offer unique software like Logic Pro. PCs, however, provide a more open ecosystem with better software availability, especially for gaming and certain professional applications.