Is the Surface Pro 4 vs. MacBook Air Comparison Actually Fair?

Apple and Microsoft are at it again, with the latter company releasing an ad comparing its new Surface Pro 4 with the MacBook Air. In the musical commercial, Microsoft blatantly says that the MacBook Air is “less useful, like a hat for your cat.” But beyond the catchy tune and humor of Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 ad is a slightly unfair comparison.

For one, the Surface Pro 4 — with its touchscreen capabilities and included stylus — feels more like a tablet than a full-fledged computer. Perhaps a more fair comparison would be to pit the Surface Pro 4 head-to-head against Apple’s iPad Pro — which both share similar design features. But even that isn’t a directly fair comparison. While both devices share a touchscreen and a detachable keyboard, the Surface Pro 4 can actually act as a computer, too — with the ability to run full software programs rather than just mobile app versions.

So if we go back and compare the Surface Pro 4 and the MacBook Air, they are — on the surface — pretty similar devices in terms of hardware, tablet-like capabilities notwithstanding. They’re both thin, lightweight and portable devices with full personal computing capabilities. Although, in a lot of tests conducted, the MacBook Air tends to beat out the Surface Pro 4 in terms of speed.

That’s not really a surprise. The entry-level MacBook Air comes outfitted with a better CPU and more memory than the Surface Pro 4. And, in general, Apple uses premium-quality components within all of its devices. While that doesn’t mean there aren’t PCs with high-quality components, it does mean that less diversity in quality than machines running Microsoft Windows.

Additionally, Apple is a design pioneer, and it’s easy to take for granted the sleek, all-metal design of the MacBook since it’s been around and relatively unchanged for a while. But it is a beautifully designed machine. So while the Surface Pro 4 has tablet features, more cameras, and better inputs — the deciding factor between whether you should get Microsoft’s or Apple’s device is really a matter of which operating system you prefer.

Of course, Macs get fewer viruses, and are always loaded with less bloatware and annoying free-trial programs than many out-of-the-box Windows machines. And with Microsoft’s shift to incorporate tablet-like user interfaces into newer versions of Windows, Apple’s OS X actually kind of feels more like older versions of Microsoft’s operating system than Windows 10 does.

If you’re getting a machine to write, or edit video, or use Photoshop, then a MacBook Air might be an option to consider. But if your aim is gaming, then Mac computers leave a lot to be desired. Let’s be real about that, though. The Surface Pro 4 is hardly a gaming computer, either.

And let’s not forget that if your smartphone and tablet are made by Apple, there’s really no question that incorporating a MacBook into your device ecosystem will add convenience in your life — Messages, Contacts, Calendars, and other data will be synced pretty seamlessly between all of your Apple products.

Microsoft is obviously trying to snatch away the Mac market: the “creative types” — artists, musicians, journalists — who are stereotyped as being more likely to own a MacBook than a Windows laptop. Is it working? Only time will tell really. But the bottom line is, while the comparison might seem fair, it’s apples to oranges, really. If you’re an OS X-lover, you’re going to like the MacBook Air better. If you’re a Windows fanatic, the Surface Pro 4 is going to bring you a range of capabilities that your older PC doesn’t have.

Are you team Windows or team OS X? Let us know in the comments below!