5 MacBook Pro Retina Alternatives

A MacBook Pro is indeed a packaged notebook and has a gorgeous display thanks to Apple’s so-called Retina display. But, not everyone uses Mac OSX and it has its own limitations to hardware also.

For those looking to have the Retina goodness to a Windows machine, here are our 5 top picks of MacBook Pro Retina alternatives.

ASUS VivoBook 4K

First in the list is the ASUS VivoBook 4K and it’s also the cheapest. For under fifty thousand bucks, you’ll already get a crisp UHD display, Core i7 processor and 2GB graphics. Its full metal design and brushed finish are also a great addition to the package.

ASUS VivoBook 4K key specifications:
15.6-inch IPS UHD display @ 3840 x 2160 pixels
2.4GHz Intel Core i7 5500U processor
NVIDIA GeForce 940M w/ 2GB VRAM
8GB DDR3L SDRAM
1TB HDD 7200rpm
Windows 10 Home
Php 49,995USD 852INR 72,223EUR 811CNY 6,204

Razer Blade Stealth

Next in line is the latest Razer Blade notebook dubbed as Stealth. Probably one of the sleekest gaming notebooks around, it’s a joy to bring around with its small footprint and all the exclusive Razer features you’ll get. The lack of dedicated GPU is a bit of a bummer but it can be connected to an external GPU dock.

Razer Blade Stealth key specifications:
12.5-inch UHD touch display @ 3840 x 2160 pixels
2.5GHz Intel Core i7 6500U processor
8GB RAM
512GB PCIe SSD
Windows 10
Php 88,000USD 1,500INR 127,125EUR 1,428CNY 10,921

ASUS Zenbook Pro UX501

This could be the best match to a MacBook Pro Retina. ASUS’ Zenbook Pro has the same look and feel of an MBP but with a beefier specs for less cash. You’ll get a UHD display, Core i7 processor, 512GB SSD, 4GB GPU, and the latest USB-Type C port. All that for just under a hundred thousand pesos.

ASUS Zenbook Pro UX501 key specifications:
15.6-inch UHD anti-glare display @ 3840 x 2160 pixels
2.6GHz Intel Core i7-7600HQ processor (6M Cache, up to 3.50GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM
8GB DDR4 2133 MHz SDRAM
512GB M.2 PCIEx4 SSD
Windows 10
Php 99,984USD 1,704INR 144,437EUR 1,623CNY 12,408

MSI GS60 2QE Ghost PRO 4K

A Windows gaming notebook is a great option for better multimedia handling, but some are just bulky to bring around. You’ll be glad to know that the MSI GS60 packs powerful specs in a slim casing. With the gaming requirement already covered including a Core i7, GTX 970M, and dual hard drives for speed and space, MSI has a competitive notebook here.

MSI GS60 2QE Ghost PRO 4K key specifications:
15.6-inch IPS UHD display @ 3840 x 2160 pixels
2.6GHz Intel Core i7 4720HQ
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M w/ 3GB GDDR5
16GB DDR3 RAM
256GB Super RAID SSD + 1TB HDD 7200rpm
Windows 8.1
Php 119,995USD 2,045INR 173,345EUR 1,948CNY 14,891

Microsoft Surface Book

Of course, the game against Apple’s top of the line notebook is not complete without an entry from its biggest competitor in the world of PC. Microsoft’s own Surface Book is a surprising offering from the Redmond company but its price tag is also shocking with no official support  in the Philippines. Good thing distributors can make ways.

Microsoft Surface Book key specifications:
13.5-inch Pixel Sense touch display @ 3000 x 2000 pixels
6th-gen Intel Core i7 processor
NVIDIA GeForce GPU
16GB RAM
512GB SSD
Windows 10 Pro
Php 169,999USD 2,897INR 245,581EUR 2,759CNY 21,097

A lot of MacBook Pro alternatives are out in the local market. Which are your picks? Hit the comments section below and share away.