Apple MacBook vs Microsoft Surface:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apple MacBook had more branded searches than Microsoft Surface among laptop brands in Australia. Apple MacBook had about 90,500 branded searches, while Microsoft Surface had 8,100. Apple MacBook made up 53.4% of all laptop brand searches we track, and Microsoft Surface accounted for 4.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about laptop brands, Apple MacBook appeared in all five answers and Microsoft Surface in one. Apple MacBook was mentioned before Microsoft Surface in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Apple MacBook, about 11 searches for every 1 for Microsoft Surface
Who does AI mention more?
Apple MacBook, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple MacBook, named ahead of Microsoft Surface in 4 of 5 answers
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Top laptop brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple MacBook appeared in all five answers. Microsoft Surface was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Apple MacBook was listed before Microsoft Surface in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Lenovo1st- Apple MacBook2nd
ASUS3rd
Dell4th
Acer5th
Microsoft Surface6th
HP7th
MSI–
Razer–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Apple MacBook5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Lenovo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- ASUS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Dell2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- HP1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Microsoft Surface1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Acer1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- MSI0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Razer0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about laptop brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best laptop brand in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which laptop should I buy for university?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best laptop for working from home?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“laptop”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best laptop”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.
Is Apple MacBook or Microsoft Surface more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple MacBook and Microsoft Surface by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine laptop brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Apple MacBook, Microsoft Surface. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple MacBook | HP | Lenovo | Dell | Microsoft Surface | Acer | ASUS | MSI | Razer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 51.2% | 12.6% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 5.6% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 0.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.1% | 14.8% | 9.9% | 9.9% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 0.71% |
| Dec 2025 | 47.8% | 14.3% | 11.7% | 9.6% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 2.8% | 0.84% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.1% | 14.4% | 11.8% | 9.6% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 0.69% |
| Feb 2026 | 55% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 9% | 4.9% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 0.65% |
| Mar 2026 | 58.8% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 5.3% | 2.4% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 0.83% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.1% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 10% | 5.5% | 3% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 0.88% |
| May 2026 | 53% | 13% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.1% | 0.94% |
| Jun 2026 | 49.4% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 9.9% | 6.6% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 0.87% |
| Jul 2026 | 52.4% | 12.9% | 10.5% | 8.6% | 5.7% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 0.93% |
| Aug 2026 | 56% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 5% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 1.8% | 0.82% |
| Sep 2026 | 53.4% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 0.77% |
Microsoft Surface sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “surface laptop”.
How has the Apple MacBook and Microsoft Surface comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apple MacBook was ahead of Microsoft Surface in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple MacBook’s share of searches among laptop brands in Australia moved from 51.2% to 53.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 90.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Surface’s share of searches among laptop brands in Australia moved from 5.6% to 4.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 8.1K.
How did search popularity change for Australia laptop brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple MacBook lost share of searches among laptop brands in Australia, from 56% to 53.4%.
Microsoft Surface’s share of searches among laptop brands in Australia has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 6.6% to 4.8% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple MacBook’s and Microsoft Surface’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apple MacBook
1 branded search term
- macbook
Microsoft Surface
1 branded search term
- surface laptop
Other head-to-heads among laptop brands
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