Quick summary
- The Surface Laptop Go boasts an impressive battery life of up to 13 hours, while the MacBook Air offers a slightly longer battery life of up to 18 hours.
- The Surface Laptop Go offers a more affordable option for budget-conscious users, while the MacBook Air provides a premium experience at a higher price point.
- If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop with a touchscreen display, long battery life, and a comfortable keyboard, the Surface Laptop Go is a great choice.
The battle between the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go and the MacBook Air continues to heat up in the budget-friendly laptop market. Both devices offer a compelling combination of portability, performance, and style, but which one is the right choice for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll dive into the key differences between these two laptops, helping you make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality
The Surface Laptop Go and MacBook Air share a sleek and minimalist design aesthetic. The Surface Laptop Go features a magnesium alloy chassis with a luxurious Alcantara fabric keyboard deck, while the MacBook Air boasts a unibody aluminum construction. Both laptops are incredibly lightweight, with the Surface Laptop Go weighing 2.4 pounds and the MacBook Air weighing just 2.8 pounds.
Display
The Surface Laptop Go sports a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with a resolution of 1536 x 1024 pixels. The MacBook Air, on the other hand, offers a larger 13.3-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. While the MacBook Air’s display is sharper and more vibrant, the Surface Laptop Go’s touchscreen functionality provides added versatility.
Performance
The Surface Laptop Go is powered by an Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, while the MacBook Air features an Apple M1 chip. The M1 chip outperforms the Core i5-1035G1 in most benchmarks, providing significantly faster performance for tasks like video editing and multitasking. However, the Surface Laptop Go offers a more balanced performance-to-price ratio.
Battery Life
Battery life is a crucial factor for portable laptops. The Surface Laptop Go boasts an impressive battery life of up to 13 hours, while the MacBook Air offers a slightly longer battery life of up to 18 hours. Both laptops can easily power you through a full day of work or study without needing to be plugged in.
Operating System
The Surface Laptop Go runs on Windows 10 Home, while the MacBook Air runs on macOS Big Sur. Windows 10 is a familiar operating system for many users, while macOS is known for its user-friendliness and seamless integration with Apple devices. The choice between these two operating systems ultimately depends on your personal preferences and the software you use.
Price
The Surface Laptop Go starts at $549, while the MacBook Air starts at $999. The Surface Laptop Go offers a more affordable option for budget-conscious users, while the MacBook Air provides a premium experience at a higher price point.
Which Laptop is Right for You?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go and the MacBook Air are both excellent laptops, but they cater to different needs and budgets.
- If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop with a touchscreen display, long battery life, and a comfortable keyboard, the Surface Laptop Go is a great choice.
- If you prioritize performance, a premium build quality, and a longer battery life, the MacBook Air is a better investment.
Frequently Discussed Topics
Q: Which laptop has a better display?
A: The MacBook Air has a larger and sharper display than the Surface Laptop Go.
Q: Which laptop is more portable?
A: The Surface Laptop Go is slightly lighter and more compact than the MacBook Air.
Q: Which laptop offers better battery life?
A: The MacBook Air offers a slightly longer battery life than the Surface Laptop Go.
Q: Which laptop is better for multitasking?
A: The MacBook Air‘s M1 chip provides significantly faster performance for multitasking tasks.
Q: Which laptop is more affordable?
A: The Surface Laptop Go is more affordable than the MacBook Air, starting at $549.