Apple's new MacBook Pro isn't the 13-inch 'pro' laptop king — Razer Blade Stealth is

MacBook Pro Source: Apple tree

While the world is staying dwelling in quarantine, the tech companies have at least been keeping usa entertained with hardware launches, and today, once more, it's Apple's turn with a new 13-inch MacBook Pro. And while some corners of the cyberspace will go wild, as you'd expect, those of united states of america that follow the Windows scene can expect again and wonder simply why folks are eager to throw piles of cash at the Cupertino giant.

There was a time when Apple led the way in making desirable, loftier-end laptops, but those days are gone. In the world of the 13-inch laptop, in that location is a new king of the loma for professional person form hardware, and information technology comes from Razer, not Apple.

What you get with the new MacBook Pro 13-inch

Apple Macbook Pro 13 Source: AppleIt plays Dota ii, cool.

Brand no mistake, the hardware on the MacBook Pro 13-inch is excellent. Much is unchanged, like the Retina Display with True Tone which volition keep to look eyewatering good. Apple tree's sticking with the Bear on Bar, too, even though it's pretty weak compared to something like ASUS' ScreenPad, and while there are no legacy ports, in that location are however four USB-C Thunderbolt iii connections which are more than than you'll find on near Windows machines.

The MacBook Pro is, well, underwhelming.

The new stuff sounds practiced, too. 10th Gen Intel processors with Iris Plus graphics, a better keyboard and a higher base of operations storage capacity from its SSD. Apple's besides using fast LPDDR4X RAM, and even though the design is pretty dated at this point, you at least know it's going to be well congenital.

There are some flies in the ointment, though, the first is that the 10th Gen models only offset at $1,800, not the $ane,200 entry point that you lot come across in the shop. Yes, Apple tree really did merely launch two "new" versions of the MacBook Pro 13-inch with eighth Gen Intel processors. Sly dogs.

There'southward likewise no defended graphics, and to me, that'due south the biggest omission from a laptop which calls itself "Pro" in 2022. Apple tree and NVIDIA don't work together, OK, and possibly AMD's new RX 5500M just won't piece of work in the MacBook Pro chassis. I'thou not claiming to be smart enough to figure it out, but Apple really should be. Especially when y'all're having to fork out $2,000 just to get a Cadre i7.

Later all ... Razer figured information technology out.

The Razer Blade Stealth is the king

Razer Blade Stealth Source: Windows Key

Enter stage left, the Razer Blade Stealth. Swooping in similar a wrecking ball to rewrite the rulebook for a 13-inch Ultrabook. High resolution and high refresh charge per unit displays? Cheque. Defended graphics? Check. tenth Gen processors? You bet.

Manifestly, information technology's never black and white, and the rumors of Apple'due south switch to its own design, ARM-based CPUs continues to swirl, just those don't exist however and what does exist is, bluntly, underwhelming. Razer, by comparison to Apple tree, is a small company, but a company that is continually pushing innovation. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

The Blade Stealth costs MacBook Pro money and has so much more to offering.

The latest refresh to the Blade Stealth is mind-blowing. There's no other way to depict information technology. Sure, it's targeted at gamers like the residuum of the Bract lineup, merely every bit we've come to see in recent times, the crossover betwixt gaming machines and other fields like content creation are continually blurring.

The base model has a MacBook Pro-matching 16GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB of storage. Razer pairs these, though, with a Core i7-1065G7, and in this case a full HD brandish but with a 120Hz refresh rate. Considering gamers want fast refresh rates.

Where Razer actually pulls ahead is that the Blade Stealth doesn't rely on Iris Plus graphics. It has a GTX 1650 Ti 4GB inside from NVIDIA. And allow'southward non beat around the bush, it annihilates the Iris Plus G7 integrated GPU. And the price for all this? $1,800.

You come across where I'thou going. If you lot'd similar a more content-creation friendly 4K impact display, it's another $200 on top. Pretty skillful, right?

Why buy Apple anymore?

Razer Blade Stealth Source: Windows Key

We've written many comparisons with Apple tree'due south laptops because whether they run Windows or not, they're in directly contest to a number of the best and brightest from this side of the Os ocean. And we'll always try to be as fair as possible, only i question always comes back effectually.

Why should anyone buy a MacBook Pro?

Razer is the king of the small "Pro" laptop now.

Ultimately, we settle on the same answer. Apple tree'due south software and services are locked-in. While you can enjoy much of what Microsoft makes on a Mac, you tin can't opposite that. And for folks entrenched in apps like Final Cutting Pro and Logic Pro, in that location'due south no comparable product on Windows. Apple's control of the hardware/software mix results in an incredible, optimized experience, and it'southward totally understandable that those who utilise them wouldn't be able to leave them behind.

But for everyone else, Apple isn't the male monarch anymore. The Windows family continues to innovate, benefitting from advances made by Intel and AMD, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, Razer, ASUS and and then many more than. The ecosystem is thriving, and bated from a small group, in that location really is no "must buy" reason to get a Mac anymore.

If you're looking for a 13-inch Pro laptop, give the Razer Blade Stealth a try.

Challenge the throne

Razer Bract Stealth 13 (2020)

The new Razer Blade Stealth xiii (2020) brings much more than ability to the table with Intel's tenth Gen CPUs and GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics and, for the first time, a 120Hz display, making it hard to pinnacle in the 13-inch category.

We may earn a committee for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Windows 11 review: The start of a new era

Updated February 2022

Windows xi review: The showtime of a new era

Microsoft is back with a roaring passion to create a modernistic version of the Windows user experience that'due south simple to use, beautifully designed, and well-connected, all in an try to make you more productive in your professional or creative workflows. But, is it any adept?

Where are all the guns in Dying Light 2?

Shooty bang bang

Where are all the guns in Dying Calorie-free two?

Information technology's by design, sure, but at that place'south a distinct lack of firearms in Dying Light two. For better or worse, modern medieval Villedor is a identify to build your ain weapons. Just what happened to the guns and ammo and might information technology e'er brand a comeback?