Please, Buy This INSTEAD of M3 MacBook Pro in 2023...

Arthur Winer
21 Nov 202310:44

TLDRThis video discusses alternatives to the M3 MacBook Pro, highlighting the Acer Swift X14 as a cost-effective option with impressive specs including an Intel Core i7 13700H processor, Nvidia RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It also praises its 14.5-inch 1800p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The video further compares this laptop to the M3 MacBook Pro in terms of performance and price, suggesting that for less money, users can get a powerful machine suitable for gaming and professional work. Additional laptops such as the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI VGP68 HX are also reviewed, emphasizing their high-end specs and competitive pricing, positioning them as strong contenders against Apple's offerings.

Takeaways

  • 💻 The Acer Swift X14 is a cheaper alternative to the M3 MacBook Pro, offering powerful internals including an Intel Core i7 13700 H processor and Nvidia RTX 4050.
  • 🖥 The Acer Swift X14 features a 14.5-inch 1800p OLED display with a 120 HZ refresh rate, which is comparable to Apple's Pro Display XDR.
  • 💰 The Acer Swift X14 is priced significantly lower than the M3 MacBook Pro, offering great value for the price.
  • 🔍 The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is a customizable laptop with a unique webcam bump and offers good specs for a reasonable price.
  • 📱 The MSI V gp68 HX 16 in is a powerful gaming laptop with a 16-inch full HD Plus IPS display and RTX 480, aimed at users who prioritize performance over design.
  • 🎨 The Razer Blade 14 offers a sleek design and high performance with a 14-inch 16:10 aspect ratio display and is a strong contender to MacBook Pros.
  • 🚀 The ROG Zephrus G14 is a blend of a professional laptop and a gaming powerhouse, featuring a 14-inch 1600p display with 165 HZ refresh rate and RTX 4090.
  • 🔌 All the laptops mentioned run on Windows and are closing the gap with Apple's offerings in terms of performance and compatibility.
  • 🧩 Windows laptops have made significant strides and now offer more game compatibility and upgradability compared to Macs.
  • 📈 Intel and AMD's chips are increasingly competitive with Apple's own silicon, providing powerful alternatives.
  • 📊 The performance graphs from Apple's events may not fully represent the superior performance capabilities of RTX cards compared to M3 chips.
  • 🔗 Links to all the laptops and the best deals on Amazon are provided in the video description for easy access.

Q & A

  • What is the starting price of the cheapest M3 MacBook Pro?

    -The cheapest M3 MacBook Pro starts at $1,600.

  • What is the alternative laptop to the M3 MacBook Pro that the speaker found to be more cost-effective?

    -The alternative laptop is the Acer Swift X14, which offers powerful internals at a lower price point.

  • What are the key specifications of the Acer Swift X14?

    -The Acer Swift X14 features an Intel Core i7 13700H processor, Nvidia RTX 4050, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

  • How does the display of the Acer Swift X14 compare to the MacBook Pro's display?

    -The Acer Swift X14 has a 14.5-inch 1800p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is on par with Apple's Pro Display XDR, but it has a lower brightness level of 365 nits compared to the 600 nits on the M3 MacBook Pro.

  • What is the price of the Acer Swift X14 on Amazon?

    -The Acer Swift X14 is available on Amazon for $1,000, which is considered a steal for its specifications.

  • What is the name of the organizational tool that the speaker recommends for managing tasks and notes?

    -The speaker recommends Notion as the ultimate organizational tool.

  • What are the key features of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 that make it a good alternative to the M3 MacBook Pro?

    -The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 features a AMD Ryzen 7 Pro processor, up to 32GB of RAM, AMD Radeon RX 6500M graphics, and a 1200p display with anti-reflective coating and a 60Hz refresh rate.

  • What is the approximate price range for the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 after customizing it with recommended upgrades?

    -Depending on the specifications, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 can cost around $1,700.

  • Which laptop is suggested as the most powerful alternative to the M3 MacBook Pro for the least amount of money?

    -The MSI V GP68 HX 16 is suggested as the most powerful laptop for the least amount of money, with a price tag of $2,100.

  • What are the standout features of the Razer Blade 14 that make it a contender to the MacBook Pro?

    -The Razer Blade 14 has a 14-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 1600p resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and is powered by a Ryzen 9 processor and RTX 470 graphics card.

  • How does the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 compare to the M3 MacBook Pro in terms of performance and price?

    -The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9, 16GB of RAM, and RTX 4900 with 16GB of VRAM, making it a formidable opponent to the M3 MacBook Pro. It is priced at $3,300, offering high performance at a competitive price.

  • What is the speaker's overall opinion on Windows laptops in comparison to Apple's MacBook Pro?

    -The speaker believes that Windows laptops have made significant advancements and offer powerful alternatives to MacBook Pro, with better gaming capabilities, fewer compatibility issues, and the ability to be upgraded more easily.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Affordable Alternatives to M3 MacBooks

The paragraph discusses the high cost of M3 MacBooks and introduces the Acer Swift X14 as a more affordable alternative. It highlights the Acer's impressive internals, including an Intel Core i7 13700 H processor, Nvidia RTX 4050, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The Swift X14 also features a 14.5-inch 1800p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is comparable to Apple's Pro Display XDR, albeit with slightly lower brightness. The laptop offers a good selection of ports and a competitive price of around $1,000, making it a strong contender for those seeking power on a budget.

05:04

💰 Customizable and Powerful Laptops for Less

This section explores other laptop options that provide high performance at a lower cost than the M3 MacBook. It mentions the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, which is customizable and features a unique webcam bump. The laptop comes with AMD Ryzen 7 Pro, an option to upgrade to 32GB RAM, and an AMD Radeon RX 6500M graphics card. The paragraph also discusses the MSI V GP68 HX 16, which prioritizes performance over design, and the Razer Blade 14, which offers a sleek design and powerful specs similar to MacBooks. Lastly, it introduces the ROG Zephyrus G14, a well-balanced professional laptop and gaming powerhouse with AMD Ryzen 9, 16GB of RAM, and RTX 4090 graphics.

10:04

🚀 Windows Laptops as Viable MacBook Competitors

The final paragraph emphasizes the advancements in Windows laptops, particularly in terms of performance and gaming capabilities. It notes that Intel and AMD chips are closing the gap with Apple's offerings and that Windows laptops generally have fewer compatibility issues and are more upgradable. The speaker also mentions a previous video where they switched to Windows and found it to be a fun experience. The paragraph concludes by thanking viewers for watching and hints at a follow-up video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡M3 MacBook Pro

The M3 MacBook Pro is a high-end laptop developed by Apple, known for its performance and design. In the video, it is mentioned as a comparison point for other laptops being discussed. The M3 chip is Apple's latest processor, offering improved performance over previous models, but the video suggests that there are more cost-effective alternatives available.

💡Acer Swift X14

The Acer Swift X14 is a laptop that is presented as a more affordable alternative to the M3 MacBook Pro. It features an Intel Core i7 13700 H processor, Nvidia RTX 4050, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD, making it a powerful machine for various tasks. The video emphasizes its value for the price and its impressive internal specifications despite its less appealing design.

💡OLED Display

An OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display is a type of screen technology that offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast ratios. The Acer Swift X14 is highlighted for having a 14.5-inch 1800p OLED display with a 120 HZ refresh rate, which is considered a strong selling point and on par with Apple's Pro Display XDR in terms of image quality.

💡Intel Core i7 13700 H

The Intel Core i7 13700 H is a high-performance processor from Intel, featuring 14 cores (six performance and eight efficiency cores). It is mentioned in the context of the Acer Swift X14, where it is noted for offering more CPU power than the base M3 MacBook Pro, making it faster for CPU-related work.

💡Nvidia RTX 4050

The Nvidia RTX 4050 is a graphics processing unit (GPU) designed for laptops, offering significant graphical performance for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks. The video mentions that the RTX 4050 in the Acer Swift X14 will outperform the integrated graphics of the M3 MacBook Pro, making it suitable for gaming and other GPU-intensive applications.

💡Price Comparison

The video script frequently makes comparisons between the cost of the M3 MacBook Pro and the prices of the alternative laptops discussed. It emphasizes the value proposition of the Acer Swift X14 and other laptops, noting that they offer competitive performance at a lower price point.

💡Lenovo ThinkPad Z16

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is another laptop mentioned as an alternative to the M3 MacBook Pro. It features a customizable design, a 1080p webcam with an infrared scanner for Windows Hello, and a choice between a 1200p or a 2400p display. The laptop is powered by AMD Ryzen 7 Pro and AMD Radeon RX 6500M, making it a versatile machine for various tasks.

💡MSI V gp68 HX

The MSI V gp68 HX is a gaming-oriented laptop that is positioned as a powerful and cost-effective alternative to the M3 MacBook Pro. It has a 16-inch Full HD Plus IPS display with a 165 HZ refresh rate, an Intel i7 13700 HX processor, and an RTX 4080 GPU. Despite its plastic build, it offers high-end specifications suitable for gaming and demanding work.

💡Razer Blade 14

The Razer Blade 14 is a laptop that combines a sleek design with high performance, making it a contender to the MacBook Pro in terms of both aesthetics and capabilities. It features a Mercury-colored aluminum body, a 14-inch 16:10 aspect ratio display with 1600p resolution and a 240 HZ refresh rate, and is powered by a Ryzen 9 processor and RTX 3070 GPU.

💡ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a laptop that balances professional design with gaming performance. It has a 14-inch display with a 1600p resolution, 165 HZ refresh rate, and DCI-P3 color gamut. The laptop is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor, 16 GB of RAM (upgradable to 32 GB), and an RTX 4090 GPU, making it a formidable option for both work and gaming.

💡Notion

Notion is mentioned as an organizational tool that the video's speaker uses to manage tasks, track progress, take notes, and plan various aspects of their life. It is praised for its ease of use, power, and customizability, allowing for all work to be done within a single, unified workspace, which is particularly useful for collaboration and remote work.

Highlights

The M3 MacBook Pro is an amazing device but may not be suitable for everyone due to its price and design.

Acer Swift X14 is a cheaper alternative to the M3 MacBook Pro, offering impressive internals for less money.

The Acer Swift X14 features an Intel Core i7 13700 H processor, Nvidia RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

The Swift X14's 14.5-inch 1800p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate rivals Apple's Pro Display XDR.

The Acer Swift X14 is priced significantly lower at $1,000, making it a great value for its specifications.

Notion is recommended as an all-in-one organizational tool that simplifies task management and collaboration.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers customization options and a good balance of performance and design.

The MSI V gp68 HX 16 inch is a powerful gaming laptop with a 165Hz refresh rate and RTX 4800 graphics.

The Razer Blade 14 has a sleek design and high refresh rate display, making it a strong competitor to the MacBook Pro.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 is a blend of professional laptop and gaming powerhouse with a 165Hz display and RTX 4090 graphics.

Windows laptops have made significant advancements, with Intel and AMD chips closing the gap on Apple's offerings.

The Acer Swift X14 has a less appealing design compared to the MacBook but offers better CPU performance.

The Swift X14's OLED display provides better contrast and color accuracy for movie watching than the MacBook's mini LED.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 features a unique webcam bump and customizable options for a personalized experience.

The MSI V gp68 HX has a full HD Plus IPS display with a 165Hz refresh rate, ideal for high-end gaming.

The Razer Blade 14's Mercury color and upgraded specs make it an attractive and powerful alternative to the MacBook Pro.

The ROG Zephyrus G14's aluminum body and powerful specs make it a worthy alternative to the MacBook Pro for $3,300.