Don’t like Apple? Here are the best MacBook alternatives

Apple has always been a popular brand when it comes to laptops. But what if you don’t like macOS? Here are the best MacBook alternatives that money can buy.

Don’t like Apple? Here are the best MacBook alternatives
  • Why is the MacBook so popular? Apple makes beautiful yet powerful laptops, with exclusive rights to macOS. It’s a popular combination.
  • Do you need a MacBook for creative purposes? Absolutely not. While many creatives use Apple products, this is more about custom than any practical concerns.
  • Are Windows laptops cheaper than a MacBook? Windows laptops with comparable specs are usually a little more affordable than their Apple equivalents.

The Apple MacBook range is iconic. The combination of brushed aluminum, powerful components and intuitive software has claimed many of our hearts.

But that doesn’t mean other brands are inferior. If you prefer the Windows OS or just hate Apple, these MacBook alternatives should meet your needs.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2

Having avoided hardware for so many years, Microsoft now has its own iconic laptop. The Surface 2 is lightweight and powerful, with an 8th-gen processor under the hood. It also comes with up to 1TB of solid-state storage and a 13.5-inch touchscreen display.

Dell XPS 13 Compact 13-Inch Laptop

Some say that this slimline beast from Dell is actually better than the current MacBook Pro. It offers a higher resolution (4K) display with touchscreen controls, and considerably better battery life. Impressive stuff from a laptop that weighs only 2.65 pounds.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptop

What the ThinkPad X1 lacks in style, it makes up for with features. This laptop has a carbon-fiber chassis and a 14-inch QHD display with support for Dolby Vision. You also get an 8th-gen Kaby Lake processor, Amazon Alexa, Thunderbolt 2, and 15.5 hours of battery life.

[tweet_box]Don’t like Apple? Here are the best MacBook alternatives that money can buy[/tweet_box]

HP Spectre x360 15 Convertible Laptop

If you need a little more screen real estate, HP’s 15-inch Spectre x360 might suit. This model offers an Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce MX 150 graphics, and 12.5 hours of battery life. In addition, you can fold the screen backwards to use the x360 as a giant tablet.

All-New Razer Blade Gaming Laptop

Pretty much all Razer products are aimed at gamers. But the new Blade laptop doubles as a great everyday workhorse. The 15.6-inch touch display offers 4K resolution with 100% Adobe RGB support. Under the hood, you get a six-core Intel processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 graphics. Furthermore, the Blade is only 0.66 inches thin.

Lenovo Yoga S730 Laptop

If you need something small yet powerful, the Yoga S730 should be on your wish list. It’s less than half an inch thick and weighs only 2.6 pounds, but you get an Intel i7 processor and 10.5 hours of battery life. With prices starting at $750, it’s also considerably cheaper than any current Mac.

ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 Laptop

The ZenBook Pro 15 costs nearly $4,000, but you still get bang for your buck. You can fit this monster with an Intel Core i9 hexacore processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics. The screen provides 4K UHD through 178 degrees, while the 1TB SSD offers read/write speeds of up to 3000MB/s. The ZenBook Pro even has a dual-fan cooling system.

Best MacBook alternatives

This selection of MacBook alternatives is only the tip of the iceberg. Look around for the best deal, and you could save yourself some serious cash.

Have you switched from Apple to Windows or vice versa? Share your insights in the comments!

Mark is best known for writing about apps, but he also loves the tactile, hardware side of technology. Being a professional photographer, he's pretty handy with a camera, and he's a self-confessed tweetaholic.
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