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Surface Book vs. MacBook Pro Laptop

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macbook pro laptop

Microsoft and Apple unveiled computers in 2016 including new Macbook pro laptop. Microsoft targeted the creative professional while Apple is aimed squarely at the mainstream audience. Different visions but alas, whenever are more than one, comparisons will be made. Microsoft took direct aim at the MacBook Pro laptop with its revamped Surface Book so let’s look at the differences. Since Apple did not update the iMac, I will leave off the Microsoft Surface Studio and just compare the MacBook Pro laptop and Surface Book.

Performance

Both the Surface Book and MacBook Pro (13”) have options to choose. Either a 6th generation i5 or i7 processor. The MacBook Pro 15” only has the quad core i7 option. It is interesting that neither Microsoft nor Apple decided to put Intel’s 7th generation Kaby Lake chips inside their respective laptops. On the graphics front, Microsoft decided to put an NVIDIA GTX 965M with 2GB of GDDR5 RAM. While not a slouch in performance, again, it’s interesting that Microsoft decided not to put NVIDIA’s new 10-series cards inside, likely to save costs. Apple went with AMD instead, opting for the AMD Radeon Pro 450 and 460 options. Both the NVIDIA and AMD cards are more than enough for heavy photo/video editing, 3D modeling, and engineering projects but don’t expect to do much triple-A gaming on them…at least not on very high graphics settings. Light to moderate games such as CS:GO, DOTA 2, League of Legends, and even Overwatch are playable at medium settings but higher end games such Doom or Witcher 3 might require reduced graphics settings and resolution.

Display

Whether consumers decide to purchase the Surface Book or MacBook Pro laptop, they’re in for a visual treat. Both computers sport beautiful high end, colorful, dense displays. The MacBook Pro 15 Retina Display has a 2880 x 1800 resolution and 220 pixels per inch (ppi), while the MacBook Pro  13 has 2560 x 1600 resolution and 227 ppi. Surface Book PixelSense display has a 3000 x 2000 resolution with 267 ppi which easily outclasses the MacBooks. However, despite that edge, most people would be hard pressed to see the difference between them. Apple claims the new MacBook Pro laptopscreens are 67% brighter and 25% more colors than previous MacBook Pros.

Design and Features

During Apple’s event, they made a big deal about how much slimmer and lighter than the new MacBook Pros are compared to the previous generation. The new 2016 MacBook Pros are about 20-23% smaller than their previous incarnations while the new Surface Book is about the same as before.  The MacBook Pro 13 is slightly smaller than the Surface Pro but both are still slim and light laptops.

Feature wise, they couldn’t be more different. Apple opted to “future proof” their machines and add four USB-C ports on the 15” model (two on the 13” model). These are the only ports on the entire machine (save for the 3.5mm headphone jack) so any external connectivity to HDMI or USB Type A will need a dongle. The Surface Book has two USB 3.0 ports (Type A), an SD card reader, headphone jack, and mini-DisplayPort. Curiously, Microsoft omitted any USB-C ports. All but the base model MacBook Pros sport the new Touch Bar which replaces the usual row of function keys. This enables the functionality to dynamically change depending on which apps the user is in. While Apple shies away from touchscreen on their Macs, Microsoft embraces it by having a touchscreen display that can detach from the keyboard. The included Surface Pen enables taking notes or drawing directly on the screen.

Price

Let’s just say it. These laptops are super expensive. The Surface Book i7 starts at $2,400 and tops off at $3,300. The MacBook Pro starts at $1,500 for the Touch Bar-less 13” model and goes up to $2,900 fully loaded. The 15” model starts at $2,400 and tops off at $4,300 fully loaded. These laptops may be overpriced to some for what’s essentially outdated CPUs and GPUs. Microsoft and Apple believe their products represent significant value for performance, features, and build quality. Regardless, any serious graphic designer or engineer interested in these products will have serious horsepower to work with. Price probably won’t be a factor.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. DigitalCruch

    September 18, 2019 at 3:36 pm

    Thanks for detailed review. I was just looking to buy MacBook Pro to complete my graphic designing projects. However, after reading this post, I have also become a fan of Surface Book but its price is a little high for me.

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Reviews

What’s the Best Logo Design Agency in 2025?

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best logo design agency

Brands looking for the best logo design services know just how crucial logos are in making a lasting impression across audience segments. 

In fact, it has been reported that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) spent $1.8 million on its logo rebrand in 1997. That’s how valuable logos are in communicating one’s brand story and, at the same time, building trust and credibility.

The great news is, you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg like the BBC did for a logo that works. With numerous platforms offering unlimited graphic design, you can have a beautiful logo design, along with other visual assets you need for your business.

Here are the top options:

1. Penji

Best Logo Design services Penji
Logo designs by Penji

Hailed by users as the best graphic design company in 2025, Penji offers design expertise without the long-term commitment of hiring an agency or an in-house designer.

Pros:

  • A vast pool of professional creatives, each with their own field of design expertise
  • Fast turnaround time of 24-48 hours
  • Dedicated app where users can request projects and revisions, communicate with their design team, and download designs

Cons:

  • It may not be a practical service if you only need one to two designs per month.

2. Kimp

Best Logo Design services Kimp
Logo design by Kimp

Kimp, meanwhile, is another design-as-a-service provider that provides graphic design and video design.

Pros:

  • Simple pricing plans (Graphics, Video, or Graphics + Video)
  • 7-day free trial available 

Cons:

  • Graphics and videos are offered in separate plans, and you have to choose the highest plan to get both.  

3. Design Pickle

Best Logo Design services Design Pickle
Logo by Design Pickle

Design Pickle is another logo design agency you may want to consider if you need unlimited graphic design and budget is not an issue.

Pros:

  • Offers a dashboard where you can track your requests
  • Wide variety of design projects available

Cons:

  • Its higher tiers are a bit steep compared to its competitors

4. Design Shifu

Logos by Design Shifu

Last but not least, Design Shifu is a good option for first-time design platform subscribers. Offering the lowest pricing rates among other players, it can be a good option for users with tight budgets.

Pros:

  • One of the cheapest rates for unlimited graphic design
  • Good option for design service newbies

Cons:

  • Lower tiers don’t come with options like custom illustrations

Featured Image Credit: Photo by George Milton from Pexels

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What’s the Best Graphic Design Company in 2025?

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unlimited graphic design

With many internet users searching for products or services online before buying, a strong online presence is no longer optional, but has become essential. That said, many brands aiming to produce consistent visual branding are now turning to unlimited graphic design services.

What’s the best graphic design company offering graphic design as a service today? We rounded up four of the most popular ones in the market, including their top features. 

1. Penji

unlimited graphic design Penji

First on our list is Penji, which offers unlimited graphic design at a flat monthly rate. Over the years, this company has emerged as a reliable service provider and has outlasted quite a few players in the design industry. 

Features:

  • A wide array of graphic design services, from branding kits and logos to motion graphics, print design, and web design
  • Working with them is like working with a creative agency because of a dedicated design team, but without the same cost
  •  Offers more than 120 types of creative services

2. Design Pickle

unlimited graphic design Design Pickle

Design Pickle, meanwhile, is also among the first providers of unlimited graphic design. Their list of services is wide, including motion graphics, but it’s only available in the top tiers.

Features:

  • Users can request one or two active projects at a time, depending on their plan
  • Features workflow integrations with Slack and Zapier
  • Provides social media graphics, print design, logos, and more; offers motion graphics and video, but only for higher plans that cost more  

3. ManyPixels

unlimited graphic design ManyPixels

ManyPixels, meanwhile, is among the graphic design service companies often touted as mid-level, affordable graphic design agency for clients who need simple designs. It takes pride in offering reliable services for every client.

Features

  • Wide range of designs, from social media posts to marketing assets and web design
  • Some of its plans provides a dedicated designer
  • Slack communication available in higher tiers

4. Kimp

unlimited graphic design Kimp

Do you need static images and video assets regularly? Kimp offers both. This unlimited graphic company provides graphic design in about 24 hours and video assets in up to four days. 

Features:

  • Motion graphics and static graphics
  • Transparent pricing model
  • Provides a dedicated project manager

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels

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What’s the Best Subscription-Based Graphic Design Service in 2025?

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When it comes to subscription-based graphic design services, the right fit depends on your specific requirements, needs, and budget. That said, the best graphic design subscription service would give you the most value for your money and the best results for your project.

Here are four of the most popular unlimited graphic design players and why they are crowd favorites.

1. Penji

Best graphic design subscription service Penji

For years now, Penji has been hailed by users as the best graphic design subscription service. Featuring a state-of-the-art app, it’s one of the creative subscriptions that makes it so easy to request a design and attach all the visual pegs you need. Requesting revisions is also easy; you only need to point your cursor at a section of the design, click, and type in your comment.

The best part? Penji has a powerful team of vetted designers (it only hires the top 2% of creatives), making it arguably the best graphic design subscription service. That means they can handle anything you might need – from logos and branding guidelines to posters,  packaging design, and even UI/UX design.  

Pricing: Subscriptions start at $499, with a 30-day money-back guarantee

2. Design Shifu

Best graphic design subscription service Design Shifu

Design Shifu can be one of the best creative as a service providers for users who are new to graphic design outsourcing. They also offer one of the cheapest options for limited design credits (not unlimited) which can be good enough for those who are just testing the waters.

Pricing: Starts at $199 per month for 5 design credits

3. Kimp

Best graphic design subscription service Kimp

Kimp, meanwhile, is one of the best graphic design subscription service options for small businesses and startups with a limited budget. They offer a turnaround time as quick as 24 hours and allow two active requests at a time. Their cheapest package is already enough for day-to-day graphic design needs. If you need video design and motion graphics, however, you may want to consider getting their pricier tiers.

Pricing: Starts at $448.50 per month

4. ManyPixels

Best graphic design subscription service ManyPixels

Also included in our best graphic design subscription service providers is ManyPixels. It offers branding and marketing designs, including social media, web design services, and illustrations. Aside from graphic designs, the platform also does video editing and motion graphics, making it a good choice for influencers and ecommerce brands.
Pricing: Starts at $599 per month

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki from Pexels

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