Modern Windows Laptops Outperform Older MacBook Pro in Speed Test: x86 Machines Prove to Be Faster in Basic App Opening

The latest Apple Silicon MacBook Pro lineup, equipped with cutting-edge chipsets and accelerated flash memory, alongside the macOS ecosystem, has long been a benchmark for performance in its price category. Nevertheless, this advantage is increasingly challenged, particularly by older MacBook Pro models.

Recent tests reveal that the M3 Pro variant’s performance, in specific scenarios, lags slightly behind that of the ASUS Zenbook S16, which boasts AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 processor. This finding raises questions about how well the newer M5 MacBook Pro will stack up against similar configurations in terms of performance, particularly in everyday tasks such as app launching.

M3 Pro’s Performance and Microsoft Apps on macOS

A preliminary speed evaluation conducted by tech enthusiast Lewis Doyle, who owns both an M3 Pro MacBook Pro featuring 36GB of unified RAM and an ASUS Zenbook S16 with identical RAM, brings interesting insights to light. The speed test commenced post a fresh boot, where the MacBook Pro initially took the lead. However, subsequent benchmarks showed that applications like Evernote, Microsoft Word, and Spotify launched quicker on the Windows laptop.

This revelation may surprise many, as conventional expectations align the M3 Pro with superior performance. However, several factors influenced these results. Notably, older MacBook models are limited to slower PCIe NVMe Gen 4 flash memory speeds. This hardware limitation results in lower Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS), ultimately translating to slower application launch times. Conversely, the Zenbook S16 utilizes advanced PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSDs, providing it a significant speed advantage.

I did a basic speed test comparing my MacBook Pro and Asus Zenbook S16. Not sophisticated, but representative of how snappy they feel compared with each other.#MacBook #AsusZenbook #Windows #macOS #Apple pic.twitter.com/rrAXAbZ4Xq

— Lewis Doyle (@lewisjdoyle) April 10, 2026

Additionally, it’s important to consider the effects of storage capacity on performance. Solid-state drives that approach full capacity typically experience a slowdown, an aspect not adequately represented in this specific speed test, rendering the comparison somewhat skewed. Furthermore, it’s crucial to note that faster app startup on any operating system does not guarantee seamless operation; performance lags can occur when interacting with advanced features within applications.

While Windows systems aren’t traditionally lauded for their performance fluidity compared to macOS, a more comprehensive evaluation might involve pitting the M5 MacBook Pro against the Zenbook S16, as both models would share modern processors and advanced PCIe NVMe Gen 4 solid-state drives. Regardless, the ASUS Zenbook S16’s competitive performance indicates a notable achievement for Windows laptops.

For further insights, you can view the original comments made by Lewis Doyle.

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