The 7 Best MacBook Pro Alternatives (Buying Guide)

The 7 Best MacBook Pro Alternatives (Buying Guide)

The best MacBook Pro alternatives in 2025 offer competitive performance, greater hardware flexibility, and specialised features often not found in Apple's ecosystem.

Leading Windows 11 Pro laptops like the Dell XPS 15, HP Spectre x360, and Lenovo ThinkPad P1 provide vibrant OLED displays, 2-in-1 versatility, and user-upgradable RAM and storage.

Powered by Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen processors and dedicated NVIDIA RTX GPUs, these machines deliver workstation-grade power for creative professionals and engineers seeking maximum control over their hardware.

Why Even Look for a MacBook Pro Alternative?

Before getting to the list, we must address the elephant in the room. The MacBook Pro is excellent. But its excellence comes with compromises that aren't always aligned with the practical needs of a small business.

The ‘Apple Tax' is a Real Business Expense

The price premium for Apple products is undeniable. For the cost of a mid-range MacBook Pro 16, you can often get a top-tier Windows laptop with a more powerful dedicated GPU, more RAM, and a higher-resolution OLED screen. That price difference isn't just a number; cash could be reinvested into marketing, software, or other business-critical areas.

The Prison of Polish: A Lack of Upgradability and Repair

Apple’s obsession with sealed, monolithic designs means your MacBook Pro is a disposable appliance. When you buy it, the RAM and storage you choose are what you're stuck with forever. If a single component fails out of warranty, you often look at a repair bill that costs as much as a new machine.

A good business asset should be maintainable. The ability to add more RAM or swap out an SSD in two years extends the life of your investment. Windows laptops, particularly from brands like Lenovo and Dell, often prioritise this accessibility.

Windows Isn't the Buggy Mess You Remember

If your last experience with Windows was Vista or Windows 8, you're holding onto an outdated grudge. Windows 11 Pro is a stable, fast, and modern operating system. The hardware innovation in the Windows ecosystem—from unique 2-in-1 form factors to groundbreaking display technology—is happening at a pace Apple simply isn't matching.

The Criteria: What Makes a True MacBook Pro Competitor?

A laptop can't just be powerful to qualify as a genuine alternative. It has to deliver a complete, premium experience. Here’s what we’re looking for.

Non-Negotiable Build Quality

The machine must be built from premium materials like aluminium or magnesium alloy. There can be no creaky plastic, no excessive flex. It has to feel like a durable, professional tool.

A Display That Doesn't Lie to You

As a business owner, especially in a creative field, your screen is your window to your work. A true competitor needs a high-resolution, bright, and colour-accurate display. We're looking for 100% DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB coverage—the standards for digital cinema and print, respectively.

Performance That Actually Drives Your Business

This means a modern CPU from Intel or AMD and, for most creative entrepreneurs, a powerful dedicated NVIDIA RTX GPU. This isn't for gaming; it's for accelerating video exports in DaVinci Resolve, rendering in Blender, and handling complex files in Photoshop.

The ‘Feel' Factor: Keyboard and Trackpad

You'll be interacting with these components for thousands of hours. The keyboard must be comfortable and accurate for long typing sessions, and the trackpad needs to be large, smooth, and responsive.

Sanity-Saving Connectivity (Aka: Ports)

A professional needs ports. Relying on a bag full of dongles to connect a monitor, a mouse, or an SD card is inefficient. A genuine alternative offers a practical selection of modern and legacy ports on the chassis.

The 7 Best MacBook Pro Alternatives in 2025

Here they are: seven machines that meet our criteria and offer a compelling reason for an entrepreneur to choose them over the default.

1. Dell XPS 15: The Unapologetic Rival

• Who it's for: The entrepreneur wants a MacBook Pro experience—from the aluminium build to the minimalist design—without buying a MacBook Pro.
• The Good: The optional 3.5K OLED touch display is arguably one of the best screens on any laptop. It's a performance beast, paired with potent Intel CPUs and up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU. The CNC-machined aluminium chassis feels every bit as premium as Apple's.
• The Catch: The port selection is minimalist (though it still includes an SD card reader, a win over the Mac). The webcam remains a disappointing 720p, which feels out of place on such a premium machine.
• Bottom Line: This is the closest you can get to a “MacBook Pro that runs Windows.” For many, the superior OLED screen and the freedom of the Windows ecosystem make it a better choice.

2. HP Spectre x360 16: The Flexible Powerhouse

• Who it's for: The consultant or agency owner who presents to clients, takes handwritten notes, and needs a versatile 2-in-1 without sacrificing high-end performance.
• The Good: Its 360-degree hinge allows it to transform into a tablet or presentation device, a trick no MacBook can perform. The gem-cut design is stylish and distinctive, and the large OLED screen is stunning for work and media.
• The Catch: To power that beautiful 4K OLED screen, battery life can take a noticeable hit compared to an IPS equivalent. It can also get warm when you push the dedicated GPU hard.
• Bottom Line: If your business involves client presentations, design mockups with a stylus, or any workflow that benefits from a tablet, the Spectre offers versatility the MacBook Pro can't touch.

3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme: The Boardroom Brawler

• Who it's for: The practical entrepreneur who values rugged reliability, user upgradability, and the best keyboard in the business. This is a workhorse, not a show pony.
• The Good: The ThinkPad keyboard is legendary for a reason—it’s a dream for anyone who writes extensively. It's built to MIL-SPEC durability standards, meaning it can survive drops and spills that would kill lesser machines. Best of all, two RAM and two SSD slots are easily accessible for future upgrades.
• The Catch: Its design is brutally functional. While handsome in a utilitarian way, it doesn't have the aesthetic flair of an XPS or a MacBook.
• Bottom Line: This is a wise long-term investment. It's a laptop built to be used, abused, and maintained for years. For an entrepreneur who sees their tech as a depreciating asset, the ThinkPad's longevity is its killer feature.

4. Razer Blade 16: The Creative's Stealth Bomber

• Who it's for: Video editors, 3D artists, architects, and anyone whose income is directly tied to rendering times. This is for maximum GPU power in a professional chassis.
• The Good: Unmatched performance. You can configure a Blade 16 with NVIDIA's most powerful mobile GPUs, often blowing a top-spec MacBook Pro out of the water in GPU-heavy tasks. The single-block aluminium chassis is on par with Apple's, and the unique dual-mode Mini-LED display can switch between 4K 120Hz for creative work and a faster FHD+ 240Hz mode.
• The Catch: Power comes at a price—both in cost and battery life. Don't expect to do heavy rendering away from a power outlet for long. And while cheaper than a maxed-out MacBook, it's still a significant investment.
• Bottom Line: If your business bills by the hour and render times are bottlenecked, this machine is a money-printing device. It offers workstation-class GPU performance that Apple's current silicon can't match.

5. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2: The Innovative Maverick

• Who it's for: The digital artist, designer, or architect who needs a seamless transition between typing, presenting, and drawing with a stylus.
• The Good: The unique pull-forward “easel” hinge is a brilliant piece of engineering, providing a stable, angled surface for drawing that's far superior to a wobbly 2-in-1. The 120Hz display is smooth, and the haptic trackpad is among the best on any Windows device.
• The Catch: It's a niche form factor, and you pay a premium for the unique hinge mechanism. Its performance is strong, but it doesn't reach the heights of the Razer Blade or a top-end XPS.
• Bottom Line: This is a purpose-built tool for a specific creative type. If your workflow involves a stylus, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 solves ergonomic problems like no other laptop.

6. Asus ProArt StudioBook 16: The Colour Purist's Dream

• Who it's for: Photographers, colourists, and brand designers for whom perfect, certified colour accuracy is a non-negotiable, mission-critical requirement.
• The Good: The screen is the star. It's a factory-calibrated, Pantone-validated 4K OLED display with virtually perfect colour accuracy. The addition of the physical “Asus Dial” integrated next to the trackpad offers tactile control over tools in creative apps like Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
• The Catch: The utility of the Asus Dial depends highly on your workflow and whether you're willing to integrate it. The overall design is more functional than fashionable.
• Bottom Line: Other laptops have great screens. The ProArt has a built-in professional-grade reference monitor. This level of verified accuracy is invaluable for creatives whose work will be printed or broadcast.

7. LG Gram Pro 16: The Impossibly Light Workhorse

• Who it's for: The entrepreneur who lives on the road—the consultant, salesperson, or CEO constantly moving between airports, offices, and client sites.
• The Good: It's astonishingly light. Picking up a 16-inch laptop that weighs under 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs) feels like magic. Despite its weight, it packs a beautiful high-resolution screen and delivers phenomenal battery life for everyday business tasks.
• The Catch: The magnesium alloy chassis doesn't feel as dense or rigid as a MacBook or XPS to achieve that weight. It's not a performance slouch, but it's not designed for sustained, heavy rendering tasks.
• Bottom Line: It masters the balance of a large, productive screen with extreme portability. For the professional whose office is their backpack, the LG Gram Pro offers freedom that heavier, more powerful machines can't provide.

How to Choose the Right Alternative For Your Business

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't be. The right choice comes down to answering three simple questions about your business.

Prioritise Your Workflow, Not the Brand

Be brutally honest about where you spend 80% of your time.

• Heavy Video/3D? Your priority is GPU power. Look at the Razer Blade.
• Writing & Spreadsheets? Keyboard and reliability are key. The ThinkPad is your ally.
• Client Presentations & Design? Versatility and screen quality matter most. The HP Spectre is a strong contender.

Audit Your Dongles: What Ports Do You Actually Need?

Look at the cables on your desk right now. Do you use an SD card reader daily? A USB-A mouse? An HDMI monitor? Choose a machine that has the ports you need built in. Whenever you don't have to search for a dongle, it's a small win for efficiency.

Think Long-Term: The Value of a Maintainable Asset

Consider the total cost of ownership. A laptop that allows you to double the RAM for £100 in two years is a much better long-term asset than a sealed unit that you must replace entirely.

The Final Verdict: It's About Smart Choices, Not Just Shiny Logos

The MacBook Pro is a fantastic computer. It is also not a small business owner's most intelligent financial or practical decision.

Each of the seven laptops on this list offers a compelling, rational argument against the default choice. They provide more power where it counts, greater flexibility for real-world work, better long-term value, and innovative features that Apple has simply ignored.

Choosing the proper hardware is a critical first step. However, the best tool is only as good as the strategy behind it. If your business's online presence isn't working as hard as your new laptop, it might be time for a new approach. Ensuring the right people see your brand is where the real growth happens. If your digital marketing isn't delivering, let's talk.

Frequently Asked Questions about MacBook Pro Alternatives

Ready to build a brand that’s as powerful as your hardware? A great laptop is a start, but a robust digital strategy drives growth. At Inkbot Design, we focus on practical, no-nonsense digital marketing services that get real results.

Explore our other articles on the Inkbot Design blog or, if you’re ready to get serious about your brand's growth, request a free quote today.