Microsoft offers a great range of laptop , from those that can take the configuration of a pad , to the more conventional clamshell physical body . But the fundamental head is , which is the best Microsoft Surface laptop for your needs ?
We look back a hoi polloi of laptops every year , including all of the late and great offering from Microsoft . We make certain to put every laptop through a variety of bench mark tests so we can get a in effect mind of the functioning , projection screen calibre , establish caliber , feature , and more .
Everyone has different needs from their laptop computer , so we ’ve made sure to include a broad sort of picks for this tilt , including the Surface Pro serial for those who require a tablet - laptop computer cross , as well as the Surface Studio which is a utilitarian pick for graphics designers and those who like to adumbrate directly onto a touchscreen .
It ’s worth remark that there are a few new Surface laptop that we do n’t yet have reviews for , including the Surface Pro 10 and the wrapping of Copilot+ enabled Surface laptops , so keep your eyes pare for any possible change to this list once we get these devices in for testing .
With those devices in judgement , it may be worth expect a little longer before get a final buying determination , but if you take a laptop right now then check out our best Microsoft Surface Laptop picks below . If you ’re not wholly fast to Microsoft , then also check out our more generalbest laptop , best ultrabook , best student laptopandbest budget laptoppages .
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Learn more about how we test laptops
Every laptop we survey goes through a serial of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including soma quality , performance , screen calibre and assault and battery sprightliness .
These admit formal man-made benchmarks and written trial , plus a series of genuine populace checks , such as how well it runs the most frequently used apps .
We also check that to use every laptop computer we survey as our chief gadget for at least a week to ensure our reassessment is as exact as possible .
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Pros
Cons
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Trusted Score
Even though there are far more powerful laptops within the Microsoft Surface range of mountains , sometimes the most impressive gadget is the one that works best for most hoi polloi , all while cramming in net ton of technical school to offer up fantastic value for money . TheSurface Laptop Go 2falls into this category absolutely .
While the originalSurface laptop computer Gowas a square twist in its own rightfield , Microsoft was capable to raise the bar in its successor by implementing the ( then ) new Intel 11th Gen processor which bring about significant gain in the realm of speed and battery life . Although the more recentSurface Laptop Go 3is on the market , an inauspicious price wage hike makes it far worse in overall economic value for money .
Elevating the experience is the fantastic keyboard , boasting deep presses that feel incredibly satisfying and make it a unfeigned joy to type on . Because of the laptop computer ’s comparatively small chassis , it might take some getting used to if you are come from a larger equipment .
As a final flourish , the Laptop Go 2 ’s use of high - end stuff makes it feel far more bounty than its mid - range price would have you believe , with a sturdiness that ’s quite rarefied at this price breaker point .
TheSurface Pro 9is one of the best 2 - in-1 laptops you could corrupt , and not just in Microsoft ’s stable of gimmick . It does n’t have a whole good deal of competition but it top the likes of theDell XPS 13 2 - in-1 . Its stiffest competition come in the form of a more mobile - centric gadget , theiPad Pro ( 2023 ) , but that just wo n’t do if you ’re after a Windows choice .
Microsoft ’s flagship pill hybrid has n’t changed all that much from the previous generation and , as a resultant role , it might be worth considering the Surface Pro 8 if the new example is a routine more than you ’d wish to pay . Nevertheless , the Surface Pro 9 is a better machine , just not by bound and boundary . It ’s definitely better for multi - core work load , like redaction and coding .
The total package offers a sensational 2.8 K PixelSense exhibit that ’s idealistic for watching motion-picture show and browsing the web . It also comes with a 120Hz show , supply that extra bit of smooth scrolling . The Surface Pro 9 is at its best when viewed as a luxe , extremist - portable , productivity machine . The performance on offer , depend on the skew you select , will comfortably tackle plenty of tab in your web web internet browser of choice and run well when partner off up with other apps , like Spotify , Zoom and the like . This is all achieved with Intel ’s later 13th Gen fries , up to 32 GB RAM and up to 1 TB SSD storehouse . Plenty of great power for this slimline machine .
One of the new additions to the Surface Pro 9 is a Forest unripened colourway . If you find the Platinum or Graphite a bit dull and the Sapphire a bit garish , the honey oil sit nicely in between . But Microsoft give with one hand and consume away with the other . The Pro 9 does dump the earpiece jack , so get that dongle ready if you ’ve not made the switch to wireless sound recording .
Despite its gloriously slim frame and whippersnapper , it ’s deserving take note we were pleasantly surprised by the assault and battery life on offering . Those who have fairly acute productivity workloads should be able to get a full working day out of the Surface Pro 9 , stretching even further if you spend a lot of metre watching film or in just a few tabs .
TheMicrosoft Surface Laptop Studio 2is by no mean value perfect but its compounding of forward-looking specifications and a excogitation centre on aiding originative workflows make it the best Surface for content creators .
The design is the first thing that trip up your eye with the Surface Laptop Studio 2 , with a unique plinth - like blueprint making room for plenty of vents on the underside of the twist . But , it ’s the showing that ’s the star . It can be pulled forward to sit in front of the keyboard for a secure video recording - watching experience or to put up an better angle for draw on the display . Then , you’re able to bring it forrader even further to have it lie down flat , gain another handy draught angle . The Surface Slim Pen 2 works magnificently too , with a raw feel to the stylus both in its design and how it feels on the display – but it will cost you spare .
We were impress by the operation even if it ca n’t keep stride with powerhouse gaming laptops , even those with standardised specifications . However , the portable human body constituent of this laptop computer and its 14.4 - column inch presentation make it far more portable than those challenger . As such , if you ’re a serious creator who is always on the go , this could make the Laptop Studio 2 perfect for you . The specs under the exhaust hood consist of a 13th Gen Intel Core H - serial chip , with an NPU also included to enable AI features like Windows Studio upshot for your webcam , as well as up to an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU .
Strong power in a rather portable chassis , and it ’s a Windows motorcar , you ’d be right to be implicated about assault and battery life grant how that combining has performed in the past . However , we were surprised by the stamina of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 , lasting above 10 hours in our testing . It seems a pocket-sized miracle that Microsoft has manage this given the comparatively dinky 56.3Wh at bottom .
TheMicrosoft Surface Laptop 5is the latest loop of the company ’s classic 13 - column inch and 15 - in laptop . cost the same amount as its predecessor , the laptop feature upgrade such as a 12th - generation Intel Core processor and support forThunderbolt 4connectivity .
Those are admittedly modest upgrade , but enough to make the Surface Laptop 5 a serious purchase than the Surface Laptop 4 when priced the same . During the tests , we notice the new microchip to be comfortably powerful enough for basic productiveness work load , while the sharp concealment resolution evidence to be great for watching telecasting .
you may admittedly get expert economic value elsewhere beyond the Surface branding . TheM2 - powered MacBook Airoffers more baron at the same cost , while theDell XPS 13 OLEDfeels far more luxurious for just a couple hundred plug more .
But if you ’re attached to the Microsoft Surface mark , and want a classic 13 - inch clamshell laptop , then the Surface Laptop 5 should still serve you perfectly well . Although given the minor upgrades , it ’s deserving checking to see whether theSurface Laptop 3andSurface Laptop 4are available at a discounted price beforehand .
If it ’s a 2 - in-1 Surface you ’re after , theMicrosoft Surface Pro 8may stand for the best value if you could incur it cheaper than the young Surface Pro 9 . The new model offers trivial improvement upon the previous generation .
You ’ll find small refinements compare to theSurface Pro 7 , most observably with a smaller bezel around the screen . It feel outstanding with a well - build up frame that feature no flex . There have also been obtrusive upgrades to the keyboard and stylus , with the former offering more creditworthy keys that boast much less flex with a carbon - character layer , while the stylus features a build - in haptic motor to mimic the veridical - mankind tactual sensation of a pencil on paper , which works , but not as well as more specialised drawing tab .
The video display has been upgraded to feature a 120Hzrefresh pace . This provides a better sense of motion with smoother scrolling and cosmopolitan navigation . Otherwise , the panel here is typical Surface with it offering great contrast for an LCD as well as some decorous brightness , which we measured with our colourimeter . The only real issue here was more specialist - grade vividness space coverage , as we only measured the Pro 8 to enshroud 73.4 % of the Adobe RGB space and 75.7 % DCI - P3 , meaning this convertible may not be the best for more originative workflows .
In term of barrage life , we managed to get between 8 and 10 minute out of the Pro 8 , with and without the keyboard book binding attached respectively . This will give enough juice to get through a work day , but perform any more acute tasks , such as using a 120Hz refresh rate or having the filmdom brightness at maximum , will see stamina decline .
within , the Surface Pro 8 is powered by an Intel Core i7 - 1185G7 C.P.U. , which proved to be more than hefty enough for everyday economic consumption , be it for open up dozens of Chrome tabs or canonical picture redaction . This was also backed up in our benchmark test where the Surface Pro 8 supply stacks in the like of Geekbench 5 and 3DMark Time Spy that were similar to aDell XPS13 OLED .
The Surface Pro 8 is a o.k. choice for those who want a Windows - style iPad equivalent weight that is n’t short of power , battery life sentence and modern looks . It ’s a convertible that ’s deserving your retainer .
FAQs
The most powerful Surface laptop powerful now is the Surface Laptop Studio since it can be configure with an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU . However , laptops such as the MacBook Pro offer far more world power .
Our favourite Surface tablet is the Surface Pro 9 . Although the Surface Go 3 is another option if you require a cheap alternative .
The Surface Laptop is a formal laptop computer , with a keyboard attached to the screen . The Surface Pro is actually a tablet , which can be paired with a detachable keyboard appurtenance .
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