Last Updated on 11/02/2016 by Anthony Thurston
Ok, so Apple pissed a lot of people off with their announcement of the 2016 Macbook Pro, be it the lack of a touch screen, the new keyboard, no SD card slot, or any non-thunderbolt3 ports. So it stands to reason that many of you are possibly taking another look at Windows based machines. Windows 10 has been getting raves reviews and Microsoft has really been stepping up their game overall, so today we have a listing for you of some killer 2016 Macbook Pro alternatives over in PC land.
Just a note about these units, clearly we are not a computer review website (though we do review them from time to time), as such we have not reviewed any of these units first-hand. We have, however, made our picks based on specs, and review sources from colleagues that we trust, as well as used our own extensive PC/Computer tech knowledge to make these recommendations. So let’s get into it…
Razor Blade Stealth
One brand that you may not be aware of if you have been in Mac/Apple land for a long time is Razor. The company for a long while was known primarily for their gaming peripherals, but in recent years has started to develop and produce their own PCs as well, with this model, the Razor Blade Stealth being a killer value and possible the best option for people who don’t want the 2016 Macbook Pro. For slightly more than the baseline Macbook Pro, you get a 4K touch screen, RGB keyboard back-lighting, stealthy black finish as well as 16 GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The screen is slightly smaller at 12.5 inches, but that is hardly noticeable. There is also a smaller 2.5K resolution version that is as cheap as $1250.
Those interested in this one can learn more and find it over on Amazon, here.
Dell XPS 13
Yes Dude, you could get a Dell. (This reference probably shows my age, haha) But in all seriousness, this is one of the top options for anyone who had been thinking about the 2016 Macbook Pro, but are now thinking of going elsewhere. The Dell XPS 13 features that ‘just right’ size of a 13″ screen which is large enough to get work done on without feeling like a glorified tablet. For $50 less than the base Macbook Pro you can get yourself a high resolution 3200 x 1800 touchscreen display, an SD card slot, two regular USB connections, AND you still get one thunderbolt-3 connection. If you are serious about going to Windows, this is no doubt one of your best options.
For those interested, you can pick one up over on Amazon, here.
HP Spectre X360 13″
The HP Spectre X360 13″ is a killer option for those of you looking for a touchscreen laptop with all of the bells and whistles, as well as a tablet mode that makes this a very versatile machine. In terms of specs, you can get several variants, but the one we are talking about here comes with an i7, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and 1440p touchscreen display.
If you are interested in this model you can find it over on Amazon, here.
Microsoft SurfaceBook
Funny enough the latest SurfaceBook refresh, announced just the day before the new Macbook’s, is also a great Windows 10 based alternative to the 2016 Macbook Pro. It is more expensive, however, you do have the ability to use multiple slots, it has a better GPU, as well as the option to use the screen as simple content consumption tablet – not to mention the additional benefits of the new Surface Dial and such. In terms of specs you can get it with an i7 and freaking 16 hours of claimed battery life. This is a great option if you have been eyeing one of those new Surface tablets, but really wanted a ‘real’ laptop – here you essentially get both.
You can find them over on Amazon, here.
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As you can see here, there are some great options in the PC world for you to consider if you are looking to jump ship away from Apple’s closed ecosystem in favor of a machine that better fits your needs. There are many more out there as well, these were just some of the ones that set themselves away from the pack.