On October 26, Microsoft launched the Surface Book hybrid which it officially named as Surface Book i7. It is definitely not the long-awaited Microsoft Surface Book 2 but it somehow quenched the thirst of fans for the latest laptop line from the Redmondian company.
The following day, it was the turn of Apple to launch its long-awaited 2016 MacBook Pro which prompted tech analysts to deduce that the Surface Book i7 is meant to go head-to-head with the 2016 MacBook Pro or vice versa, notes Neurogadget.
The Surface Book i7 offers up to 16 hours of battery life, which is 30% more than the original Surface Book, but it runs on the same processors as the 2016 Macbook Pro range, which is why it is named as i7.
Microsoft no longer waited until next year, when the seventh generation Kaby Lake series from Intel will hit the market, so it opened pre-orders for the new Surface Book i7 on the Microsoft Store. Those who pre-ordered the device can get their units as early as November 10.
Comparing the two new devices
The Surface Book i7 and the 2016 MacBook Pro both look great, have a powerful software, and also come with a high price tag.
One thing that seems to go in favor of the Surface Book i7 is the fact that its display is detachable and is also touch screen. The 2016 MacBook Pro is just touch screen.
The new Surface Book i7 keeps the same design as the original Surface Book, including the slightly divisive hinge that means the laptop does not fully close. The screen can detach from the body and be used as a tablet. The laptop has a magnesium alloy body.
On the other hand, the 2016 MacBook Pro is lighter and thinner than its previous models. It has an all-metal body and keeps the same simple, but stylish look, albeit with a few tweaks, such as a much larger touchpad.
The 2016 MacBook Pro is available in two screen sizes – 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch while the Surface Book i7 only comes in one size – 13.5-inch, details Betanews.
The 2016 MacBook Pro features Touch ID, so users can log into the laptop using a fingerprint. Surface Book i7 does not have a fingerprint scanner but does have Windows Hello, which uses facial recognition to log the user in.
The Surface Book i7 and the 2016 MacBook Pro can both be had in a choice of configurations, so users can opt for a sixth-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor.
More important among the considerations and comparisons are the prices of the variants. The price for the entry-level 2016 MacBook Pro starts at $1,499, but it would not have the Touch Bar for that. For models with a Touch Bar, the cost is $1,799, particularly for the 13.3-inch display and the Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The price for the 15-inch 2016 MacBook Pro, with Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and Radeon Pro 450 graphics, starts at $2,399.
The price of the Surface Book i7 starts at $1,349, for which the user gets the Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. There is also the i7 version, with 256GB SSD, and 8GB of RAM, and it costs $2,399. The 1TB version with 16GB RAM of i7 version is pegged at $3,299.
The better deal
Critics believe that the Surface Book i7 is the better all around deal, and the screen can be used as a tablet, which is a welcome bonus. The 2016 MacBook Pro, on the other hand, is a svelte beast, with good looks, and future-proof ports which might require the user to use a dongle or two, but which will be standard in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 has been previously rumored to come out last month along with the Surface Pro 5. But that did not happen.