Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Products

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Surface Pro 3 vs. 13-inch MacBook Air: Battle of the featherweights

By
surface pro 3 vs macbook air microsoft hands on 31
Image used with permission by copyright holder

By now, the 13-inch MacBook Air is a known quantity. While it doesn’t have a best-in-class display and a chunky amount of storage, it sets out to be the best all-around computer. In that regards, it performs admirably. However, when Microsoft announced its Surface Pro 3 on Tuesday, it clearly took aim at Apple’s entry-level 13-inch Air. Let’s take a look at how both of these products stack up in this detailed spec comparison.

 

Surface Pro 3

Surface-Pro-3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

MacBook Air

macbook-air-11-step1-hero-2013
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 7.93″ x 11.5″ x 0.36″ 12.8″ x 8.94″ x 0.68″
Weight 1.76 pounds 2.96 pounds
Screen 12 inches 13.3 inches
Resolution 2,160 x 1,440 1,440 x 900
Keyboard Type Cover (optional – $130) Full-size backlit keyboard with multi-Touch trackpad
Operating System Windows 8.1 Pro OS X Mavericks
Storage 128GB SSD 128GB SSD
Ports 1x USB 3.0, Micro SD card reader, headset jack, Mini DisplayPort, Cover port, charging port Thunderbolt, 2x USB 3.0, SDXC card reader
Processor 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
RAM 4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4400 Intel HD Graphics 5000
Cameras 5MP 1080p front- and rear-facing 720p FaceTime HD webcam
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0
Battery Up to 9 hours Up to 12 hours
Charger Proprietary Microsoft charger Proprietary MagSafe 2 charger
Marketplace Windows Marketplace Mac App Store
Price $999+ $999+
Availability Pre-orders begin May 21 Currently available
Recommended Videos

Microsoft designed the Surface Pro 3 with weight and thinness in mind, and it shows. The Surface Pro 3 manages to pack about as much power as the 13-inch MacBook Air, but in a thinner and lighter package. The screen resolution on the Surface Pro obliterates the resolution that’s offered on the MacBook Air’s display. In addition, thanks to the 3:2 aspect ratio found on the Surface Pro 3, it displays slightly more content than the MacBook Air’s display does. However, the high resolution and smaller footprint might have made a significant impact on battery life.

The GPU in the Surface Pro 3 is a modest step down from the MacBook Air’s, though it’s hard to imagine anyone doing any serious gaming on either of these computers. While both of these products hit the same price point at these configurations, there are two things you should keep in mind. First, there is a $799 Surface Pro 3 variant that includes 64GB of storage, a Core i3 processor, and 4GB of RAM. For the purposes of this comparison, we used the $999 model. Second, the Surface Pro 3 does not include a keyboard, which Microsoft sells as an optional accessory that costs $130. If you were to grab one, this model’s price shoots up north of $1,100.

What do you think? Which one would you go for? Let us know in the comments below.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Williams Pelegrin
Williams Pelegrin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
Why you should buy a Mac mini instead of a MacBook Air
Apple Mac Mini side view showing edges.

Apple’s MacBook Air is an incredibly popular device, and it’s our pick for the best MacBook you can buy. But there’s a strong case to be made for passing over it and buying a Mac mini instead. Apple’s desktop computer is cheaper, supports more displays and ports, and is better for your posture. Those reasons could be enough to sway the balance in its favor.

If you’re on the fence, give this guide a read to see if it helps you make up your mind. Here, we’ll show you four of the most compelling reasons to buy a Mac mini instead of a MacBook Air.
It’s much cheaper

Read more
Best MacBook Memorial Day deals: MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
An Apple iPad and a MacBook together on a desk alongside a pair of headphones.

Memorial Day often means we see some great laptop deals, and right now we’re already seeing some excellent early Memorial Day discounts on MacBooks. If you’re keen to snap up one of the best MacBooks for less, this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Apple is one of the best laptop brands around, so MacBooks are a great investment made even better when you can buy one for a discount. If you’re keen to check out the deals, keep reading while we take you through our highlights.
Best MacBook Air Memorial Day deals

There are a few different MacBook Airs around these days with the latest MacBook Air (M3), followed by the MacBook Air (M2), and older but still competent MacBook Air (M1). Whichever one you go for, you’re getting a lightweight yet speedy device which can keep up with your busy days. Here are the best MacBook Air Memorial Day deals we’ve spotted so far.

Read more
The MacBook monopoly just got overturned
The Surface Laptop shown in front of a Copilot+ sign.

MacBooks have had a good ride.

It's been four years of running circles around Intel, AMD, Microsoft, and every laptop manufacturer with their Apple Silicon ARM chips. Until very recently, PC sales had been tanking too, all while Macs were holding steady.

Read more