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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15", Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2021)
Apple MacBook Pro 13" 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (2020)
See Top Ranked Traditional LaptopsMicrosoft Surface Laptop 4 (2021) vs Apple MacBook Pro (mid-2020)
See our analysis
Analysis:
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15", Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2021) has impressed reviewers from two sources that are among the most highly trusted on the internet, namely Laptop Mag and Tom's Guide. It did great in their objective hands-on roundups - it earned the "Best sound system on a laptop for writers" and "Best 15-inch laptop for productivity" awards from Laptop Mag and Tom's Guide, respectively. That's high praise from such reputable sources.
As for the Apple MacBook Pro 13" 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (2020) - it impressed reviewers at Techradar, a trustworthy source that conducts solid hands-on testing. It did great in its "Best Thunderbolt laptops (2023): top notebooks with Thunderbolt 3 ports" roundup - in fact, it earned its "Another great Thunderbolt laptop from Apple" title, which, on its own, indicates a certain level of quality.
For a direct Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15", Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2021) vs. Apple MacBook Pro 13" 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (2020) comparison, we took a look at sources that tested both and found that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15", Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2021) got reviewed better by Techradar, whereas the reviewers at hardwarezone.com.sg and TrustedReviews preferred the Apple MacBook Pro 13" 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (2020). Reviewers at Tom's Hardware, PCmag, Tom's Guide, and Laptop Mag haven't shown a preference for either.
We also took a look at which sources liked these two products the most. We found that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15", Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2021) received its best, 10, rating from T3, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13" 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (2020) got its highest score of 8.5 from hardwarezone.com.sg.
Finally, we also compared their review scores to the rest of their competition - the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15", Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2021) earned an average review score of 8.2 out of 10 points and the Apple MacBook Pro 13" 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (2020) received an average of 8.1, compared to the 7.6 average of Traditional Laptops in general.
Comparison of expert ratings
Recommended
Mentioned
—Not Mentioned
Laptop Mag
Tom's Guide
Tom's Hardware
PCmag
creativebloq.com
Techradar
MakeUseOf
Windows Central
Popular Mechanics
techadvisor.com![]()
Tech. Specs Comparison
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15", Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2021)
$775
Apple MacBook Pro 13" 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (2020)
CPU Cores
8
4
CPU Speed
2 (GHz)
1.4 (GHz)
CPU Type
AMD Ryzen 7
Intel Core i5
Dedicated Graphics Card
No
No
Operating System
Windows
macOS
RAM
8 (GB)
8 (GB)
Resolution
2496 x 1664 (px)
2560 x 1600 (px)
Screen size
15 (inches)
13.3 (inches)
Storage Capacity
512 (GB)
256 (GB)
Storage Type
Solid State Drive
Solid State Drive
Touchscreen
Yes
No
Weight
3.4 (lb)
3.1 (lb)
Reddit Threads (0)
—
No Data
Reddit Threads (9)
in "Gaming laptops"
Last updated: 24 Dec 2020
in "Should I wait to get MBP 13”?"
Last updated: 16 Sep 2020
in "Worth getting a MacBook Pro now or wait for the newer ones?"
Last updated: 16 Sep 2020
in "Waited 15 Years to Get My First Mac Desktop (64gb RAM, i9 10-Core, Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16 GB)!"
Last updated: 11 Sep 2020
in "MBP 2020 worth it for a writer?"
Last updated: 9 Sep 2020
in "Got my M1 MacBook Pro but keep going back to the iPad Pro due to its simplicity and touch capability. Anyone else find themselves gravitating back to the iPad Pro next to another computer?"
Last updated: 27 Dec 2020
in "Did I make a bad purchase?"
Last updated: 12 Sep 2020
in "Laptop for Audio Production $1500-$2000 AUD"
Last updated: 12 Sep 2020
in "Waited 15 Years to Get My First Mac Desktop (64gb RAM, i9 10-Core, Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16 GB)!"
Last updated: 11 Sep 2020
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Higher than average expert review score
7.6
Overall Avg. for Traditional Laptops
8.2
Avg. Review Score
Score
Has average expert review score
7.6
Overall Avg. for Traditional Laptops
8.1
Avg. Review Score
Score
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Find the best product and price, effortlessly.
Discover deals on the best products
We do the research. You save the money.