![]() A marvelous display Mark Coppock/Digital TrendsĪnyone who’s read my reviews knows that I love OLED displays. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but regardless, it’s a minor flaw, yet one that stands out given how well the laptop is built otherwise. It’s enough to make me wonder if dust might get inside the chassis, and it was present on both units I’ve used (hoping it was an anomaly, I returned the first one). I’ll note that the one flaw I’ve discovered with the MacBook’s design is that the touchpad is slightly loose, and using force click causes a gap at the top. And I like the ability to invoke extra actions with a firmer “force click.” The XPS 13 Plus also has a great haptic touchpad, but again, it can’t meet Apple’s standards. It’s large, and not only that, but the entire surface responds to clicks with a physicality that’s hard to distinguish from mechanical buttons - while being quieter and more confident on top of it. The Force Touch touchpad is also outstanding. And keyboard quality is one of my two most crucial factors when evaluating a laptop for my own use. I love the keyboards on the XPS and Spectre lineups, but the MacBook Pro 14’s is even better. The Magic Keyboard is a bit shallow, but it more than makes up for it with precise, snappy switches that are consistent throughout the expansive layout and large keycaps. ![]() The best keyboard and touchpad Mark Coppock/Digital TrendsĪpple’s Magic Keyboard is a triumphant recovery from the travesty that was its butterfly keyboard. So for me, the MacBook is overkill, and its silent, chilly operation is what matters most.Īnd don’t even get me started on the awesome battery life, which is perhaps the performance advantage of the M1 Pro I appreciate most. I rarely run tasks requiring a lot of CPU or GPU performance, like gaming and video editing, and my desktop is well-equipped for both. That’s remarkable given how much more powerful the MacBook is, and it’s a testament to Apple’s ARM architecture and macOS optimizations.ĭespite that efficiency, the MacBook Pro 14 has far more top-end speed than I need in a portable machine. I’ve yet to force its fans to spin up (or I haven’t noticed them), so it’s eerily quiet as well. The MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, runs remarkably cool. ![]() The simple fact is that Intel chips can run hot and that results in either higher fan noise or a warmer chassis. ![]() They’re smaller laptops, but I could say the same about several 14-inch Windows laptops I’ve reviewed. One thing I don’t like about the XPS 13 Plus and, to a lesser extent, the Spectre x360 13.5 is the heat they generate during normal use. Chilly performance Mark Coppock/Digital Trends This has been a strength of MacBooks for a long time but not having used a newer MacBook in recent years, I find it still a clear advantage Macs have over Windows laptops - even if it’s a gap that’s been narrowed over the years. Even the simple act of opening and closing the MacBook’s lid is a study in absolute refinement. I have a feeling it comes down to the quality of the materials used and the perfect balance achieved in the design and engineering of the MacBook Pro. ![]() They’re just as rigid, but they don’t feel quite as premium and sturdy as Apple’s unibody aluminum. It’s not that the XPS 13 Plus or Spectre x360 13.5 feel flimsy. It’s rare that a laptop stands out so strongly in this regard, especially lately when so many laptops are also well-built. As I’ve been using it, I’ve been struck by how solid it feels. The 14-inch model I have is a bit larger than the Dell and HP, but not so much so that it can’t serve as the same kind of highly portable laptop. In many ways, they’re among the best alternatives to the MacBook Pro you can find.ĭespite all the ways these Windows laptops have caught up, the MacBook Pro remains in a class by itself. They’re both excellent Windows 11 machines that have been listed among the best laptops, with quality builds, innovative features, strong performance, and gorgeous displays. Luxurious build Mark Coppock/Digital Trendsįor several weeks, I’d been bouncing between the Dell XPS 13 Plus and HP Spectre x360 13.5 - both review samples that I had the opportunity to hold on to for a longer look - as my daily drivers. I don’t want a touchscreen MacBook, but this feature could convince meĪpple’s next MacBooks and iPads could be in serious trouble WWDC 2023 rumors: Reality Pro headset, new Macs, and more ![]()
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