The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) and the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 are highly portable PC options, with the MacBook Air considered the best 13-inch laptop and the Surface Pro 11 as the best 2-in-1.
The MacBook Air 13 and Surface Pro 11 have similar dimensions, weight, RAM options, and storage configurations, but differ in processors, displays, and operating systems.
The MacBook Air offers colors, premium build quality, and a standard clamshell design, while the Surface Pro 11 includes a detachable tablet option with pen capabilities.
In terms of keyboards, the MacBook Air features the highly praised Apple Magic Keyboard, while the Surface Pro 11 includes the Surface Pro Flex keyboard, suitable for typing but slightly bouncy.
Both laptops offer modern ports like USB-C and various configuration options, with the MacBook Air excelling in touchpad quality and the Surface Pro 11 providing touch and pen capabilities.
In performance comparisons, the MacBook Air 13 with the M4 chipset outperforms the Surface Pro 11 in single-core and multi-core processing tasks, making it more responsive for productivity and creative work.
Display-wise, both laptops offer high-quality IPS and OLED options with good colors, brightness, and contrast, with the MacBook Air excelling in audio quality with a four-speaker system.
Both laptops are highly portable with great battery life, but the MacBook Air boasts better battery performance compared to the Surface Pro 11, making it a strong choice for all-day usage.
Ultimately, the MacBook Air 13 (M4) is recommended as the best small laptop with superb build, performance, and battery life, while the Surface Pro 11 is ideal for those seeking a 2-in-1 device with decent tablet functionality.
For tablet enthusiasts, the Surface Pro 11 is a suitable choice, but for others, the MacBook Air is a highly recommended option as the best small laptop available.