Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra
VS
91.1chipPerformancechip69.4
74.3Displayspec-based74.3
—Batteryspec-based89.3
62.1Portabilityspec-based56.2
3 spec wins — Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max)1 spec wins — Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) wins this laptop face-off, 79 to 72.6, pulling ahead mainly in performance (+22). Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max)
- Stronger performance score: 91 vs 69
- 100% higher storage: 2,048 GB vs 1,024 GB
- 10% lower weight: 1.8 kg vs 2 kg
Reasons to pick the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra
- 78% higher RAM: 64 GB vs 36 GB
- Lower launch price: $2,600 vs $4,799
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 16.3 ″+9% | 15 ″ |
| Panel type | PROLED XDR (tandem OLED, touch) | PixelSense Ultra mini-LED (touchscreen) |
| Resolution | — | 3270x2180 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X |
| Graphics | Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU) | NVIDIA Blackwell RTX (6144-core) |
| RAM | 36 GB | 64 GB+78% |
| RAM type | Unified memory | LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 2,048 GB+100% | 1,024 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD (removable, Gen 5) |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | — | 92 Wh |
| Charging | — | 140 W |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.8 kg+10% | 2 kg |
| Thickness | — | 18 mm |
| Material | 100% recycled aluminum | Anodized aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe, 3.5mm headphone jack | 3x USB-C/USB4 (one with Magnetic Connect), USB-A 3.1, HDMI 2.1b, SD card reader, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage | 1080p Full HD |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | Face recognition (Windows Hello) |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS 27 | Windows 11 Pro (Arm) |
Related comparisons
Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max)vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Pro)VSApple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max)vs ASUS ProArt P16 (H7607)VSApple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max)vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Pro)VSApple MacBook Pro 16 PROLED (M5 Max)vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max)VSMicrosoft Surface Laptop Ultravs Lenovo Legion Pro 7 Gen 10 AMD (16AFR10H)VSMicrosoft Surface Laptop Ultravs MSI Vector 18 HX AI A2XWVSMicrosoft Surface Laptop Ultravs GIGABYTE AORUS MASTER 18 AM8H (2025)VSMicrosoft Surface Laptop Ultravs Lenovo ThinkPad T1g Gen 8VS