Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max vs Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 3
Between the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max and Surface Laptop Studio 3, the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max comes out ahead in cpu cores and battery, while the Surface Laptop Studio 3 wins on weight. Overall, the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max scores 77.3 and the Surface Laptop Studio 3 scores 60.7 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 16.6 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. The biggest gaps in its favor are cpu cores, battery, claimed battery life, among others.
Pick the Surface Laptop Studio 3 if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight.
Both ship with comparable storage, refresh rate, backlit keyboard, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max wins
- ▲CPU cores — 100.00% more. 16 vs 8.
- ▲Battery — 72.41% more. 100 Wh vs 58 Wh.
- ▲Claimed battery life — 33.33% more. 24 h vs 18 h.
- ▲RAM — 12.50% more. 36 GB vs 32 GB.
- ▲Screen size — 12.50% more. 16.2 " vs 14.4 ".
- ▲Thunderbolt ports — 1.00 more. 3 vs 2.
- ▲Panel type: OLED (vs IPS).
Why Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 3 wins
- ▲Weight — 0.16 kg less. 1.98 vs 2.14.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 1.98 kglead |
| Thickness | 16.8 mmlead | 22 mm |
| Build material | aluminum | aluminum |
| Backlit keyboard | true | true |
| Fingerprint reader | true | true |
Display
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizeⓘ | 16.2 "lead | 14.4 " |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Panel typeⓘ | OLEDlead | IPS |
Performance
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 3 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M4 Max | Intel Core Ultra 7 268V |
| CPU cores | 16lead | 8 |
| GPUⓘ | Apple M4 Max 40-core GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop |
| RAMⓘ | 36 GBlead | 32 GB |
| Storageⓘ | 1024 GB | 1024 GB |
| Storage typeⓘ | SSD | SSD |
Battery & Ports
| Spec | Apple - MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max | Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Batteryⓘ | 100 Whlead | 58 Wh |
| Claimed battery life | 24 hlead | 18 h |
| USB-C ports | 3lead | 2 |
| Thunderbolt portsⓘ | 3lead | 2 |
| HDMI | truelead | false |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery life, MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max or Surface Laptop Studio 3?+
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max claims up to 24 hours — 24h vs 18h.
Which is lighter, MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max or Surface Laptop Studio 3?+
Surface Laptop Studio 3 is lighter at 1.98 kg vs 2.14 kg.
Which has more RAM, MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max or Surface Laptop Studio 3?+
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max offers 36GB of RAM.
Which has an OLED display, MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max or Surface Laptop Studio 3?+
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max has an OLED display; Surface Laptop Studio 3 uses IPS.
Spec-level deep dives
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