Top MacBook Alternatives for 2025: What to Buy

As we usher in the new year, Apple enthusiasts are buzzing about the latest MacBook releases, such as the stunning new MacBook Air. However, for those of us deeply rooted in the Windows ecosystem, switching to a MacBook might not be feasible. Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives that can match or even surpass the MacBook's features, with the Asus Zenbook S 16 leading the pack as my top choice.

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

To qualify as a true MacBook alternative, a laptop must meet stringent criteria. It should be lightweight and highly portable, pack considerable power, boast an exceptional screen, and offer battery life that lasts through a full workday. Drawing from my extensive reviews over the past year, I've selected laptops that meet these standards and can serve as worthy replacements for various MacBook models, including the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and even versatile 2-in-1 devices for creative professionals.

1. Asus Zenbook S 16

The Best MacBook Alternative

Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16

2The Asus Zenbook S 16 emerges as the top Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly portable and a delight to use every day.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 maintaining excellent battery lifeStunning 3K OLED touchscreenImpressive gaming performanceCONSCan get hotThe Asus Zenbook S 16 stands out as the best MacBook Pro alternative, particularly for those needing a larger screen. It's sleek, lightweight, and a powerhouse, perfectly suited for productivity and demanding creative tasks like 4K video editing. Its design is one of the most beautiful I've reviewed.

The Asus Zenbook S 16 is powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 CPU, featuring 12 cores and 24 threads, reaching a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz. This processor excels in a wide range of tasks, including gaming, thanks to its use in top-tier Windows gaming handhelds.

While it doesn't match the efficiency of Apple's M3 or M4 chips, it offers impressive battery life. With the screen at 50-60% brightness, I achieved around 15 hours of battery life, ensuring it lasts through a full workday and beyond.

The laptop's design is stunning, featuring a new Ceraluminum lid that combines ceramic and aluminum for durability and a fingerprint-resistant finish. Premium touches, like the ventilation area above the keyboard composed of over a thousand tiny milled holes, add to its appeal.

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. Its 500-nit OLED display with a 2.8K resolution (2880x1880) supports multi-touch and dynamically adjusts between 60Hz and 120Hz for smooth visuals and great battery life.

The only drawback is its surface temperature can get hot, but placing it on a desk resolves this issue. Overall, the Asus Zenbook S 16 is an outstanding choice.

2. Acer Swift Go 16 OLED

Best Budget MacBook Alternative

### Acer Swift Go 16

0A beautiful OLED 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 highly portableExcellent battery lifeCONSLimited memory and storageAt under $1,000, the Acer Swift Go 16 OLED is a budget-friendly MacBook Air alternative that delivers a fantastic screen and all-day battery life in a portable package.

Weighing just 3.53 pounds, it's easy to carry throughout the day. Its 16-inch screen boasts an impressive 3200x2000 resolution, offering a level of quality that's surprising for the price.

Despite its budget pricing, it's powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, providing ample performance for everyday productivity and light creative work. It includes a neural processing unit (NPU) for enhanced AI functionality and Microsoft Copilot support.

The budget price reflects its 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. While the storage is adequate for most users, the limited RAM can affect multitasking and performance with demanding tasks like video editing. However, for users focusing on one or two programs at a time, it's an excellent choice for accessing its superb screen and portability.

Asus Zenbook S 14 – Photos

13 Images3. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best MacBook Air Alternative

### Asus Zenbook S 14

1Outshining the MacBook Air, the ZenBook S14 offers incredible performance, a stunning screen, multi-day battery life, and a sleek chassis.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 powerfulExcellent battery lifeEnhanced gaming performanceGorgeous OLED touchscreenCONSNo microSD card readerThe Asus Zenbook S 14, while similar to the Zenbook S 16, stands out as a stellar MacBook Air alternative. It uses the latest Intel Core Ultra CPU, offering high performance and surprising gaming capabilities.

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

The battery life is exceptional, lasting over 15 hours, making it perfect for multiple days of use. The 2.8K OLED display (2880x1800) reaches up to 500 nits, delivering stunning visuals, especially for HDR gaming. While you may need to adjust settings for optimal gaming performance, it's a reasonable trade-off for a productivity and creative laptop.

This model is an excellent MacBook Air alternative, offering all this at a competitive 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 MacBook Pro 14 replacement. 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 even lighter than the MacBook Pro 14.

Available in three versions, you can choose between AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS or AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPUs and 16GB or 32GB of fast RAM. The entry-level model with the Ryzen 7 8845HS outperforms Apple's M3 in multicore performance, ideal for creatives and power users. While I couldn't test the HX 370 version, it's expected to be even faster.

The A14's cooling system is quieter than most powerful laptops, and it stays cooler, minimizing thermal throttling. Its dedicated graphics card impacts battery life, but Advanced Optimus helps manage this, extending battery life to around 10 hours on the processor alone.

The main drawback is its pricing, with the top model costing $1,699. However, for those who can't part with Windows and need performance, portability, and size, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 is an excellent MacBook Pro 14 alternative.

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Best 2-in-1 MacBook Alternative

### Microsoft Surface Pro 11

0This versatile 2-in-1 is perfect for artists and offers enough power and efficiency to serve as a daily driverSee it at AmazonSee 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 offers excellent visualsHighly portable and easy to carry throughout the dayResponsive performanceGreat accessories, including the Surface PenCONSSingle-day battery lifeApp compatibility still expanding (though extensive)For creative professionals, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is an ideal MacBook alternative in a 2-in-1 form factor. Its versatility also makes it perfect for productivity and entertainment. I fell in love with it during my review and continue to use it for its portability and versatility.

Powered by Snapdragon X processors, similar to Apple's M-series chips, the Surface Pro 11 offers excellent performance in creative apps like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Its efficiency provides around 10 hours of battery life, enough for a full day's work, and supports fast charging.

This model boasts powerful hardware, with storage options from 256GB to 1TB and RAM from 16GB to 64GB. The expandable storage and choice of LCD or OLED displays with a 2880x1920 resolution make it versatile for various tasks.

The primary challenge is its ARM processor, which may not be compatible with all applications. However, the app library has expanded significantly, covering most major applications used by creatives and professionals.

How to Choose the Best MacBook Alternative

Navigating the vast array of MacBook alternatives requires careful consideration of several key factors to ensure you find a laptop that truly meets your needs.

Processor: The number of cores is more important than the brand. Aim for at least six cores, preferably eight, for optimal performance. For a true MacBook alternative, go for the highest clock speed possible, at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, and avoid processors more than a generation old unless your needs are minimal.

Memory: Opt for a minimum of 16GB of RAM. While 8GB may suffice initially, it's the bare minimum and may become outdated quickly. 16GB ensures smooth multitasking and future-proofing.

Storage: Your storage needs depend on your usage. If you rely on cloud storage, 256GB might be enough, but 512GB is a safer minimum, with 1TB preferred, especially for large files or gaming.

Display: Aim for at least a 1080p resolution. Higher resolutions offer sharper images but can strain system resources. OLED panels provide superior picture quality but are susceptible to burn-in, so take care with static images.

Form Factor: Consider the laptop's weight, screen size, touch capabilities, and whether a 2-in-1 design suits 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's Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs and AMD's HX AI series offer high performance, they still lag behind Apple in efficiency and battery life.

Are MacBooks good for gaming?

MacBooks can run many games, but they lack the extensive library and optimization available on Windows gaming laptops.

Is a MacBook better than PC?

The choice between MacBook and PC depends on your needs and preferences. MacBooks excel in creative applications due to their processing power and efficiency, but PCs offer a more open ecosystem with broader software and gaming options.