The Best Alternatives to Apple's New MacBook

Apple's new MacBook isn't for everyone. If you're shopping for a super-skinny laptop, there are several choices on the market.
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Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

Apple's newest MacBook is a beautiful, polarizing machine. As soon as it was revealed last month, you immediately knew whether you'd buy one. You were either totally enamored with its sleek design and tiny case, or you LOLed at its mid-level specs, weird one-port connectivity solution, and $1,300 price tag.

If you're looking elsewhere for a slim, fancy wedge of a laptop, you'll find many choices. Ever since the arrival in 2008 of so-called Ultrabooks, exemplified by the first MacBook Air, we've been living in a golden age of laptops. These uber-portable PCs offer solid performance in impossibly slender frames weighing less than 3 pounds. Depending on the machine, prices are low, too---a consumer-friendly side effect of the struggling PC business.

Of course, there are plenty of reasons you may want a new MacBook beyond its fetching design: You want OS X, it has a tack-sharp screen, and its keyboard and trackpad are unique. But there are more capable and affordable ultraportables out there.

Here's the bird's eye view. We've compared the core components, weight, price, and connectivity options of the best choices within the lean-and-light crowd. And for the hell of it, we added the heavy but high octane 14-inch Razer Blade, as well as the base versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro With Retina Display.

We've also rounded up all the specs into this chart. We used the base configurations for each laptop in the list. For things like touchscreen options and different screen resolution, we made a note when those options were available in a higher-priced configuration.

Apple MacBook ($1,300)
You're paying for the design, the screen resolution, the effortless portability, and the ability to use Mac OS X. Compared to the rest of the pack, it also has above-average battery life and double the base-configuration storage. The 1.1 GHz Core M processor is decent, but you can get much more for the price (or less). And of course, the single USB-C port is a major consideration.

Lenovo

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon ($1,088)
This ThinkPad is a bit thicker and 0.84 pounds heavier than the MacBook, but it's a nicely priced competitor that brings more horsepower, screen real estate, and a great keyboard. Also, Lenovo still believes in multiple ports! The base configuration has a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5 CPU and 4GB RAM, and there's a pair of USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-out, and a Mini DisplayPort. All this for 200 bucks less than the MacBook. The 1080p screen is lower-res (157ppi vs. 226ppi), but you can move up to higher-resolution and touchscreen configurations.

Asus

ASUS Zenbook UX305 ($700)
Your tradeoffs here include a lower-end Core M processor (0.8GHz vs. 1.1GHz), a lower-resolution 1080p display, and a heavier load by just 0.62 lbs. Otherwise, this 13.3-inch Zenbook is a solid competitive bargain. It matches the MacBook's 8GB RAM and 256GB storage in its $700 version, and it comes equipped with three USB 3.0 ports, MicroHDMI out, and an SD card reader. Touchscreen and higher-resolution configurations are also available.

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

Dell XPS 13 ($800)
Here's another bargain if you're looking for power. If you can deal with lower resolution (165ppi vs 226ppi), storage (128GB), and RAM (4GB), the XPS 13 has a 2.1GHz Core i3 CPU and a nice array of ports: Two USB 3.0 plugs, a Mini DisplayPort, and an SD card reader. It's only 2.6 pounds. If you need a touchscreen or a higher-resolution panel, the price climbs.

Ariel Zambelich/WIRED

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 ($800 + $130 for TypeCover)
Finally, something lighter and thinner than the MacBook, and with similar screen resolution. At 1.76 lbs. and 0.36 inches thick, the Surface Pro 3 is feathery, and it has a touchscreen, a USB 3.0 port, MicroSD, Mini DisplayPort, and a 1.5GHz Intel Core i3 processor. But the base configuration comes with just 64GB storage, and don't forget the TypeCover keyboard. As polarizing as the MacBook's keyboard is, it beats typing on a $130 accessory.

Samsung

Samsung Ativ Book 9 ($1,200)
If you think a 1.1GHz Core M processor is underpowered, you'll want to steer away from the 0.8GHz Core M-based Ativ Book 9. Samsung's base slim-and-light laptop also comes with less storage (128GB) and RAM (4GB), too. Otherwise, they're practically twins: 12-inch screens with similar resolutions (247ppi vs. 226 ppi) and weights within 0.07 pounds of one another. Samsung wins in terms of ports, with a pair of USB 3.0s, MicroSD, and MicroHDMI.

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

Google Chromebook Pixel ($1,000)
The major caveat with the Pixel is that it's a Chromebook---it only runs web apps. If you use your browser for everything, it may be worth a look. It certainly has muscle, with a 2.2GHz Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, a gorgeous 239ppi touchscreen display that's just under 13 inches. It not only rocks a pair of USB-C ports, but also a pair of USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader. Battery life is great. But at 3.3 pounds it's more than a pound heavier than the MacBook, and you only get 32GB storage for the hefty price.

Lenovo

Lenovo LaVie Z ($1,300 in May)
The hottest MacBook competitor isn't even out yet. Somehow, the 13.3-inch Lenovo LaVie Z weighs a scant 1.72 pounds, and it'll have an Intel Core i5 processor under the hood. It'll also have two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader built into it. The base price matches that of the MacBook, as does the screen resolution (221 ppi versus 226 ppi). Tradeoffs include less RAM (4GB) and storage (128GB), and battery life is still a mystery.

Razer

Razer Blade ($2,000)
This isn't really a MacBook competitor; it's more of a control subject. This is what a powerhouse 14-inch portable costs---for its lower-end configuration, at least. Two grand gets you a 2.6GHz Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, three USB 3.0 ports, and HDMI-out. Still, caveats exist! Battery life isn't great---expect half as much as a MacBook---and it weighs in at 4.1 pounds. A higher-resolution, touchscreen equipped version is available for $2,200.

Apple

MacBook Air 11-Inch ($900)
If you're looking for an ultraportable Mac, the 11-inch Air still deserves your attention. It may not be available in gold or space gray, and you're giving up quite a bit in screen resolution---142 ppi for the Air, 226 ppi for the MacBook. But there's plenty to like. Its 1.6GHz Core i5 CPU is better equipped for Photoshop, and it has a pair of USB 3.0 ports in addition to a Thunderbolt 2 jack. You can step up to the $1,000 13-incher for better battery life (12 hours verus 9 hours) with a bit more weight (2.96 pounds versus 2.28 pounds).

Apple

MacBook Pro With Retina Display ($1,300)
Here it is, the ultimate Apple-to-Apple comparison. For the same price as the new MacBook, the base-config Pro has roughly the same resolution, a bigger screen, a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and all the ports you need: Two USB 3.0, HDMI, a pair of Thunderbolt 2s, and an SD card slot. But bro, do you even lift? At 3.48 pounds, it's almost twice as heavy as the MacBook---and with half as much storage (128GB).