Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" EP2-34093 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" EP2-34093 2024, Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Sapphire
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
Grab the Surface Laptop if you want a lightweight Windows machine for web browsing, Office work, and streaming, and you're fine with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM.
Buy the MacBook Pro M4 Max if you're editing 8K video, training local AI models, or compiling massive codebases and need a machine that won't flinch.
Key Differences
- The MacBook Pro M4 Max has 64GB of RAM and 4TB of NVMe storage. The Surface Laptop has 16GB and 256GB. That's a 4x memory gap and a 16x storage gap.
- Apple's M4 Max crushes the Snapdragon X Elite in every performance category: 88 vs 15 for AI/LLM workloads, 79 vs 17 for creator tasks, and 98 vs 45 for development.
- The MacBook Pro scores 99 for students and business users, while the Surface lands at 49 and 48. Even for basic productivity, the Apple machine just does more.
- Customer sentiment backs this up: MacBook Pro owners give it 5.0/5 across 33 reviews with zero significant complaints, while Surface owners rate it 3.8/5 across 17 reviews.
- The Surface's only real wins are price and portability. It's a fine budget ultrabook, but the MacBook Pro is a desktop replacement that happens to have a screen attached.
What Buyers Say
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" EP2-34093 2024, Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Sapphire
No customer feedback yet
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
The MacBook Pro M4 Max is widely praised as a powerful workhorse, handling heavy photo and video editing tasks with ease. Users highlight its smooth performance, fast file processing, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. Verified buyers consistently note excellent value, especially when opting for the Pro over the Max model, and commend B&H's customer service and shipping process.
Pros
- Powerful performance for heavy tasks
- Smooth handling of photo and video editing
- Fast file import and export
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- No significant drawbacks mentioned
Scores
Specifications
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" EP2-34093 | Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | Apple M4 Max★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 12 | 16★ |
| Frequency | 3.4 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | — | Apple (40-Core)★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | integrated | integrated |
| VRAM Type | — | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | — | LPDDR5★ |
| Storage 1 | 256 GB | 4 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | SSD | NVMe SSD★ |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.8" | 14.2" |
| Resolution | — | 3024 px★ |
| Panel | — | Mini-LED★ |
| Refresh Rate | — | 120 Hz★ |
| Brightness | — | 1600 nits★ |
| Color Gamut | — | 100% sRGB, 95% DCI-P3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | — | 3★ |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 5 |
| HDMI | — | 1x HDMI Output |
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E★ |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3★ |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | — | 1.60 kg★ |
| Battery | — | 72 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" EP2-34093 2024, Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Sapphire
- Strong reliability (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong cpu (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Strong portability (72nd percentile)
- Below average port selection (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average storage (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average screen (20th percentile)20th %ile
- Below average social proof (25th percentile)
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
- Strong screen (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong storage (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong reliability (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Below average affordability (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 8 of 8 usage categories and 18 of 27 specs.