Apple’s most spec’d out notebooks are in the MacBook Pro lineup. MacBook Pros have high-end specifications and features compared to their MacBook Air counterparts. Price-wise, the MacBook Pro series also houses Apple’s costliest notebooks.
If you want a MacBook Pro but can’t afford one, we’ll put you on to some Windows laptops that perform just as well and retail cheaper.
1. Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED
Key Features: * 4K OLED display
- AMD Ryzen 9 processor
- 32 GB of RAM
- 60 Hz screen refresh rate
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU
The Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED is a good option if you want a MacBook Pro alternative with an excellent display. Its 16-inch OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen has a nice blend of colors that gives it a beautiful display.
Under the hood, the notebook packs an AMD Ryzen 9 processor with a powerful 3.3 GHz base processing speed. You also get 32 GB core memory (RAM), 1 TB storage, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU with 4 gigabytes of dedicated RAM. This CPU and GPU configuration guarantees a smooth gaming experience.
The Vivobook Pro also features an LED touchpad and a fingerprint sensor on the power button. Moreover, the laptop has a long battery life, lasting close to 15 hours of active usage.
Price: from $1,449.99 (Best Buy, Amazon)
5. HP Envy 16
Key Features:
- 16 GB of RAM
- 60 Hz screen refresh rate
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or Intel Arc Graphics A370M
The HP Envy 16’s hardware configuration will run video editing and gaming software without lag. The device has a 16-inch touchscreen OLED display and a sharp 5-megapixel webcam.
On the inside, there’s a powerful Core i7 processor, 6 GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of SSD storage capacity. The base model sports a 4GB Intel Arc Graphics A370M GPU.
A long-lasting 83Wh Li-ion polymer battery powers the HP Envy 16, and its 200W fast-charge power adapter supplies up to 50% charge in 30 minutes. You’ll get MacBook-level performance from this device for cheap.
If you’re in the market for a MacBook Pro alternative for everyday gaming, the HP Envy 16 is for you. Check out our compilation of the best budget gaming laptop if the price exceeds your budget.
Price: from $1,389 (Best Buy, Amazon)
6. Dell XPS 13 (2-in-1 9310)
Key Features:
- 2-in-1 convertible design
- Intel Iris Xe GPU
- 16 GB of RAM
- 60 Hz screen refresh rate
Dell makes one of the most underrated competitors to the MacBook Pro with its improved Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop. The upgraded Dell XPS 13 features a 13.4-inch touch display and an 11th-generation Core i7 processor with speeds ranging from 2.4 to 4.2 GHz. Furthermore, its seamless touch display makes it one of the best Windows touchscreen laptops.
It includes 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, and an Intel Iris Xe graphics card. The storage and RAM aren’t upgradable because they’re soldered to the motherboard.
The XPS 13 has stylus support—Dell recommends the Premium Active Pen (PN579X), which retails separately for about $100. Available physical connectivity ports include two USB-C Thunderbolt 4, a microphone jack, and a SD card slot.
With over 11 hours of battery life and a lightweight and sleek design, the Dell XPS 13 is an easy recommendation for the everyday user.
Price: from $1,500 (Best Buy, Amazon)
MacBook Pro Performance Without Breaking the Bank
MacBook Pros undoubtedly offer incredible features and performance. But if you’re on a shoelace budget, we recommend opting for these affordable Windows alternatives that are just as good. Some of these products have features you won’t find on any MacBook—touchscreen, 2-in-1 convertible design, stylus pen support, and more.