Microsoft Surface Book i7
A Microsoft Surface Book i7 laptop rests on a tabletop at an event in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., October 26, 2016. Reuters/Lucas Jackson

While Apple fans eagerly wait to get their hands on the upcoming Apple MacBook Pro 2016, there’s another laptop in the market that is generating a lot of buzz. The Microsoft Surface Book i7 has all the innovative features that users would love to see in the laptop for which they are ready to empty their pockets.

The Surface Book i7 has a metallic chassis and a detachable keyboard. It is considered the heaviest of Microsoft devices weighing around 1,647g. In fact, the Microsoft Surface Book i7 has more or less kept the old design. The screen can be separated from the body and used as a tablet.

In terms of power, the base model of the Surface Book i7 has the latest Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB RAM. The premium versions have a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M GPU. This means the laptop has the capability to handle a multitude of tasks, provided it’s kept in one piece, reports Trusted Reviews.

As per Microsoft, the new 256GB/8GB/Intel Core i7 version of the Surface Book i7 is available for US$2,399 (AU$3,120). The new 512GB/16GB/Core i7 version costs US$2,799 (AU$3,636) and the new 1TB/16GB/Core i7 version is priced at US$3,299 (AU$4,285).

In comparison to the Surface Book i7, the Apple MacBook Pro 2016 is thinner and lighter in build. The all-metal body adds to the stylish look. Performance-wise, the MacBook Pro should be faster as it not only uses a Skylake processor but also a better RAM and 2TB of storage. The 15-inch MacBook Pro version also has the AMD Radeon Pro graphics card.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro model uses the Intel Iris Graphics. However, battery-wise the Surface Book i7 provides 12-16 hours of battery life compared to MacBook Pro’s 10 hours.

As per Apple, the 13-inch basic model comes at a price of US$1,499 (AU$1,950), the Touch Bar and Touch ID included 256GB model comes at US$1,799 (AU$2,340) and the same 512GB model comes at US$1,999 (AU$2,600). The 15-inch 256GB model is available for US$2,399 (AU$3,120) whereas the 512GB model comes at a price of US$2,799 (AU$3,636).

While Apple is constantly improving its MacBook Pro versions, the Microsoft Surface Book i7 laptop provides a better package deal for now. Moreover, its detachable screen is an added bonus.

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