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MacBook 12" VS Surface Go

Compare MacBook 12" VS Surface Go and see what are their differences

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Contents:
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  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

MacBook 12" logo MacBook 12"

The new 12" MacBook with a retina display

Surface Go logo Surface Go

See the most portable Surface touchscreen 2-in-1 in action, and discover the perfect way to tackle everyday tasks, run your favorite apps, jot down ideas, and enjoy a little down time.
  • MacBook 12" Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09
  • Surface Go Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-24

MacBook 12" features and specs

  • Portability
    The MacBook 12" is extremely lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around and ideal for those who travel frequently.
  • Retina Display
    The 12" Retina display provides sharp and vibrant visuals with excellent color accuracy, enhancing the viewing experience.
  • Design
    The sleek and modern design of the MacBook 12" gives it an aesthetic appeal, accompanied by a premium build quality.
  • Quiet Operation
    Due to its fanless design, the MacBook 12" operates silently, making it perfect for quiet environments.
  • Battery Life
    Offers decent battery life, allowing users to work for several hours without needing to recharge frequently.

Possible disadvantages of MacBook 12"

  • Limited Ports
    The MacBook 12" features a single USB-C port, which can be inconvenient for users who need to connect multiple devices simultaneously.
  • Performance
    The Intel Core M processor, while efficient, may not be sufficient for demanding tasks such as video editing or running heavy applications.
  • Price
    Despite its limitations, the MacBook 12" comes with a relatively high price tag compared to other laptops with similar specifications.
  • Keyboard
    The butterfly keyboard mechanism can be controversial, with some users finding it less comfortable and prone to issues compared to traditional keyboards.
  • Webcam Quality
    The built-in webcam is of lower quality compared to other laptops, which may be a drawback for users who frequently attend video calls.

Surface Go features and specs

  • Portability
    The Surface Go 3 is lightweight and compact, making it highly portable and easy to carry for traveling or commuting.
  • Versatile Design
    With its 2-in-1 design, the Surface Go 3 can be used as both a tablet and a laptop, allowing for flexibility in usage modes.
  • Touchscreen Display
    The PixelSense touchscreen display provides responsive multi-touch capabilities, supporting stylus and finger input.
  • Windows Operating System
    Running Windows 11, it offers a full desktop operating system experience, enabling productivity and compatibility with a wide range of software.
  • Affordable
    Compared to other Surface devices and premium tablets, the Surface Go 3 is relatively affordable, offering good value for its features.

Possible disadvantages of Surface Go

  • Performance Limitations
    The device is equipped with a lower-power processor, which may not be suitable for intensive multitasking or demanding applications.
  • Limited Storage
    The built-in storage options are relatively low, potentially requiring cloud solutions or external drives for additional space.
  • Keyboard and Accessories
    The keyboard and stylus are sold separately, which can add to the overall cost if these accessories are needed.
  • Battery Life
    While sufficient for basic tasks, the battery life may fall short for users needing all-day usage without access to charging.
  • Screen Size
    The smaller screen, while portable, might not be ideal for users who need more screen real estate for productivity tasks.

Analysis of MacBook 12"

Overall verdict

  • The MacBook 12-inch is a solid choice for users seeking a highly portable and stylish laptop for basic computing needs. However, it is less suitable for power users who require more processing power or advanced features, as it lacks high-end specifications and connectivity options. The single USB-C port can be limiting for users who need to connect multiple peripherals or require legacy ports without adapters. While it is no longer sold directly by Apple, it can still be a viable option on the second-hand market if portability and design aesthetics are priorities.

Why this product is good

  • The MacBook 12-inch, released by Apple, was designed to be a lightweight and portable laptop, ideal for users who prioritize mobility over high performance. It features a Retina display, a compact design, and a fanless architecture for silent operation. The MacBook 12" is equipped with a Butterfly Keyboard, which received mixed reviews due to durability issues in earlier models. It offers decent battery life and an all-day charge, catering to users who need a device for everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, and document editing.

Recommended for

  • Students or professionals who need a portable device for note-taking, writing, and presentations
  • Travelers who require a lightweight laptop with long battery life
  • Casual users whose primary activities include web browsing, light productivity tasks, and media consumption

MacBook 12" videos

No MacBook 12" videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Surface Go videos

+ Add

Microsoft Surface Go review: surprisingly good

More videos:

  • Review - Microsoft Surface Go in 2023 Review
  • Review - Surface Go 2 review: don't push it

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MacBook 12" and Surface Go)

MacBook 12"

Surface Go

Hardware
73 73%
Hardware
27% 27
Electronics
78 78%
Electronics
22% 22
Digital Whiteboard
70 70%
Digital Whiteboard
30% 30
Mac
100 100%
Mac
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MacBook 12" seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

MacBook 12" mentions (1)

  • Why can’t I buy Apple care monthly for my MacBook? It let me only yearly subscription….
    You can buy coverage on a fixed-term plan or on an annual plan that will automatically renew until cancelled. Pricing below is for the latest Mac systems. For more details on the latest Mac systems, see apple.com/mac. Source: over 2 years ago

Surface Go mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Surface Go yet. Tracking of Surface Go recommendations started around Sep 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing MacBook 12" and Surface Go, you can also consider the following products

MacBook Pro - The new MacBook Pro with TouchBar and more

Microsoft Surface Book 2 - The new, more powerful, Surface Book

Surface Pro - A new, more powerful Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch) - Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch) is a laptop and tablet that can handle the modern PC games.

Microsoft Surface Laptop - Microsoft's answer to the MacBook Air

HP Spectre x360 15t - The HP Spectre x360 is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop with long battery life and an amazing display. It's very slim and lightweight, which makes it perfect for people that use their laptop on-the-go.

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