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Apple’s top MacBooks aren’t exactly cheap, but you’re paying for a premium laptop brand experience. These are well-crafted and elegant devices. How do you transfer your data from macOS to Windows? What if your favorite software doesn’t work on Mac? We have a guide to help you out.
Dell’s XPS 13 is both a great alternative to the MacBook and the best laptop overall. Though it may not be as sleek as the MacBook, it delivers performance and speed while remaining relatively lightweight. You can also find alternatives from Microsoft, Asus, and Lenovo on our list.
The best MacBook alternatives
Dell XPS 13 9310
The new Dell XPS 13 comes with 11th-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. On the other hand, Apple’s MacBook Pro 13 uses its new in-house M1 processor on the lower price tiers and an Intel Core i7 processor on the higher price tiers. There are no Intel-based configurations on the MacBook Air with the addition of the M1 chip.
In terms of design, the XPS 13 weighs around 2.64 pounds and measures 0.58 inches thick. As for thickness and weight, the 13-inch MacBook Pro comes in at 0.61 inches thick and 3.1 pounds, while the MacBook Air weighs 2.8 pounds and measures 0.63 inches thick.
Asus ZenBook 13 OLED UM325
Asus’ ZenBook 13 OLED UM325 is an excellent choice if you’re trying to find a laptop that will give you an experience similar to a MacBook. The keyboard is newly designed and is ideal for typing on as well as the large trackpad reminiscent of the MacBook. Its display is technically lower resolution at 1080p, but since it is an OLED panel, colors look vibrant and it is a pleasure to look at.
UM325 is more than just a pretty face, though. There’s either a Ryzen 5 or 7 processor, neither of which can handle heavy tasks. AMD’s latest processors are comparable to Apple’s M1 processor, making the ZenBook a better competitor in terms of performance than Intel-based laptops.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
If you’re looking for a compact alternative to the MacBook that offers the same premium features, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Nano is the right choice. As a 13-inch display, its thinness is comparable to that of the MacBook Air. It also weighs less than the MacBook Air at just 1.99 pounds as opposed to 2.8 pounds. Moreover, photos and videos look great on the 2160 x 1350 display with Dolby Vision support.
Additionally, it has Tiger-Lake Intel Core i5/i7 processors, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Despite not being the best workstation, it should provide adequate performance for every day or even prosumer use.
Razer Book 13
Although Razer has been making gaming laptops for years, their Stealth notebooks weren’t really a viable replacement for MacBooks when it came to productivity. Razer has released its first laptop, the Razer Book 13, which is designed to rival premium offerings such as the MacBook.
Instead of having a discrete graphics card, the Razer Book is thin and portable instead of having a discrete graphics card. With an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and up to 14 hours of battery life, the Razer Book is a powerful laptop.
HP Spectre x360 14
The HP Spectre x360 13 was one of the best laptops around a few years ago, and the Spectre x360 14 follows that tradition. This model features a larger 13.5-inch display and a taller 3:2 aspect ratio designed for productivity – a big improvement over its predecessor’s 16:9 display. It comes standard with a 1920 x 1280 IPS display with an anti-reflection gloss, but an OLED display with a 4000 x 2000 resolution can be added to improve the picture quality. As with the Spectre x360 13, the 14-inch version also comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage with 16GB of Intel Optane memory.
In addition to its beautiful design, the Spectre x360 14 is available in a premium natural silver or a darker Nightfall Black. There are a few differences between the Macbook and its competitors, including the larger display and more room on the keyboard.
HP Envy 15
Envy is HP’s top-of-the-line product, but they’re usually more affordable than the top-of-the-line products from Dell or Apple. This is also the case with the HP Envy 15. A slick-looking device that packs a lot of power means users can save money without sacrificing performance or quality.
At a starting price of $1,600, you can also install a GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics card, which will boost creative power. The experience is better than relying on a single processor, and the price is still cheaper than the XPS 15.
LG Gram 16
You may need an alternative to the MacBook Pro 16 if you’re more accustomed to laptops with larger displays. LG Gram 16 is a good choice for that purpose. This laptop is large and powerful while maintaining a very thin profile.
A 16-inch LG Gram notebook computer weighs 2.62 pounds, making it the lightest in the world. It maintains that thinness while still providing great battery life and solid performance from its Intel 11th-generation Core i7.
HP Elite Dragonfly Max
Thanks in large part to its luxurious design and LTE connectivity, the original HP Elite Dragonfly was our favorite business computer in 2020. As part of the HP Dragonfly G2 and Dragonfly Max lines, HP has released two new models this year.