Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
We compare the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 head-to-head on performance, features, value, and more. Here's which one wins.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro
Scored 9.2/10 in our testing
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro
Designers who need a portable color-accurate display with all-day battery
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Designers who want a built-in drawing surface with pen support
Score Breakdown
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro | Category | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 9.4/10 ✓ | Performance | 9/10 |
| 9/10 | Features | ✓ 9.5/10 |
| 9.5/10 ✓ | Ease of Use | 9.2/10 |
| 8.4/10 ✓ | Value | 7.8/10 |
| 9.2/10 ✓ | Overall | 9/10 |
Specs Comparison
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro | Spec | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, P3 wide color | Display | 14.4-inch 120Hz PixelSense touchscreen |
| M3 Pro 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU | CPU/GPU | Intel Core i7-13700H, RTX 4060 |
| 18 GB unified | RAM | 32 GB DDR5 |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro
Pros
- + Factory-calibrated P3 display — Delta E < 1
- + Native Adobe CC optimization on Apple Silicon
- + 17-hour battery
- + Compact and light at 3.4 lbs
Cons
- − No touchscreen or stylus input
- − 18 GB base RAM limits very large Photoshop files
- − Pricey starting point
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Pros
- + Converts to drawing tablet with pen support
- + 120Hz display with excellent color accuracy
- + 32 GB RAM and dedicated GPU
- + Haptic pen feedback for natural drawing feel
Cons
- − Heavy at 4.4 lbs
- − Surface Slim Pen sold separately
- − Shorter battery life than MacBook — about 10 hours
Our Verdict
Based on our scoring, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro comes out on top with an overall score of 9.2/10. The Liquid Retina XDR display covers 100% of P3 and is factory-calibrated to Delta E < 1. Photoshop and Illustrator fly on M3 Pro with native Apple Silicon optimization. 17-hour battery means you design all day without a charger.
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro on AmazonRead the full Best Laptops for Graphic Design 2026 guide for complete reviews of all 4 products.