Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) vs Microsoft Surface Pro 13 (12th Edition)
The real choice here is the system: the Apple MacBook Air 13 runs macOS and the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 runs Windows. On the specs, the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 has the edge: it is faster and doubles as a tablet.
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Key differences
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Performance
Microsoft Surface Pro 13 wins
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13's Snapdragon X2 Elite is quicker: it is built for heavy creative work, while the Apple MacBook Air 13's Apple M5 has the power for photo and video editing.
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Gaming
Apple MacBook Air 13 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 13's built-in graphics manages light and older games, while the Microsoft Surface Pro 13's built-in graphics isn't made for games.
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Display
Microsoft Surface Pro 13 wins
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 has the better screen: 13" 3K OLED 600 nits 120 Hz against 13.6" 2.5K 500 nits.
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Battery life
Apple MacBook Air 13 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 13 should last longer: up to 18 hours against up to 15.5 hours.
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Connectivity
Evenly matched
Much the same ports and wireless on both.
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Portability
Evenly matched
About the same to carry: 1.23 kg and 1.18 kg.
Other differences
- Operating system Depends on you
They run different systems: the Apple MacBook Air 13 runs macOS and the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 runs Windows. Pick the one that runs the apps you rely on.
- Tablet mode Depends on you
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is a 2-in-1 that turns into a tablet; the Apple MacBook Air 13 is a regular laptop.
- Storage Microsoft Surface Pro 13 wins
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 has twice the storage: 1 TB against 512 GB.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 13 if…
- You own an iPhone or prefer a Mac: it runs macOS and works smoothly with Apple devices.
- You want a backlit keyboard, handy for typing in dim rooms.
- You want a little more room on screen: it's 13.6 inches.
Choose the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 if…
- You need Windows programs or want to play PC games: it runs Windows 11, which runs almost anything.
- You edit photos or video, or keep a lot open at once: its Snapdragon X2 Elite is the more powerful processor.
- You'd like to use it as a tablet, or write and draw on the screen: it's a 2-in-1.
- You store lots of photos, videos or games: it has 1 TB of storage.
- You watch a lot of films and video, or edit photos: its OLED screen has true blacks and rich colour.
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Microsoft Surface Pro 13 leads on performance and the screen; elsewhere the two are closely matched.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Performance
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is ahead on performance.
It is faster and has more storage, and the Apple MacBook Air 13 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Microsoft Surface Pro 13 (12th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 | Snapdragon X2 Elite |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Qualcomm Adreno GPU |
| AI engine (NPU) | — | 80 TOPS |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5X |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | PCIe 4.0 removable SSD |
| Storage slots | 0 | 1 |
Screen
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is ahead on the screen.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is a 2-in-1 that turns into a tablet; the Apple MacBook Air 13 is a regular laptop. The Apple MacBook Air 13 has a slightly bigger screen, while the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 doubles as a tablet, has an OLED screen and has a sharper screen.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Microsoft Surface Pro 13 (12th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 3K (2880 x 1920) |
| Aspect ratio | — | 3:2 |
| Panel | IPS | OLED |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 600 nits |
| Colour range | Wide colour (P3) | sRGB and Vivid colour profiles |
| HDR | None | Dolby Vision IQ |
| Finish | — | Anti-reflective |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Pen standard | — | Microsoft Pen Protocol |
Battery and size
Both are much the same on battery and weight.
Neither will be noticeably easier to carry or last noticeably longer away from a plug.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Microsoft Surface Pro 13 (12th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | Up to 15.5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 53 Wh |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | USB-C or Surface Connect |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70 W or higher USB PD power source | fast charging with minimum 65 W Surface supply or 60 W USB-C PD charger |
| Weight | 1.23 kg | 1.176 kg |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm | 287 x 209 x 9.3 mm |
| Materials | 100% recycled aluminium enclosure | anodized aluminium |
| Hinge | — | 165-degree full-friction kickstand |
| Colour | Sky Blue | Black |
| Colours available | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight | Platinum, Black |
Ports and wireless
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is ahead on ports and wireless.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Microsoft Surface Pro 13 (12th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C; charging, DisplayPort, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s), 1x MagSafe 3 (charging), 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x USB-C / USB4 (both charge, data, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x Surface Connect (charging), 1x Surface Pro Keyboard port |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps | USB4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | 3 |
| Card reader | None | None |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | — |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is ahead on extras.
The Apple MacBook Air 13 has a backlit keyboard, while the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 has Copilot+ AI features and has a sharper webcam.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Microsoft Surface Pro 13 (12th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 1080p | 1440p + IR |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | No |
| Keyboard | backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 ANSI or 79 ISO keys, 12 full-height function keys, ambient light sensor | — |
| Login | Fingerprint | Face |
| Number pad | No | No |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gestures | — |
| Speakers | four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos | 2 W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos |
| Microphones | three-mic array with directional beamforming | dual Studio Mics with voice focus |
| Pen | No | Supported (sold separately) |
| Security | Touch ID | Microsoft Pluton security processor, Pluton TPM 2.0, Windows Hello face authentication |
Software and model
They run different systems, so this comes down to the apps you use.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Microsoft Surface Pro 13 (12th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | MDHH4B/A | EP2-65073 |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 |