Microsoft Surface 13" EP2-33437 Platinum

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13" Copilot+ PC is a lightweight Windows on ARM laptop with a killer CPU for productivity and a generous 1TB SSD. It's perfect for students and office workers who prioritize portability and battery life, but the weak GPU and 60Hz screen make it a poor choice for gaming or creative work. Grab it on sale and you've got a premium daily driver.

The Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 is the star here. In our CPU benchmarks, this chip sits in the 94th percentile, which puts it ahead of most Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen laptops in raw productivity grunt. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is smooth, and the fan barely spins up unless you're really pushing it. The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM is about average for this price range, but it's more than enough for the kind of work this laptop is built for. The 1TB SSD is a nice inclusion, landing in the 70th percentile for storage, so you won't feel cramped.

The weak spot is the GPU. The integrated Adreno Graphics lands in the 39th percentile, which is mediocre for anything beyond light photo editing or casual games. You can run older titles or 2D indie games, but don't expect to play Cyberpunk 2077 on this thing. For video playback and UI rendering, it's perfectly fine. The 1920x1280 display at 60Hz is a bit of a mixed bag. It's sharp and gets up to 400 nits, which is solid for indoor use, but the 60Hz refresh rate feels a little dated when competitors are shipping 120Hz panels. Still, for a business laptop, it gets the job done.

The most obvious competitor is the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max. Apple's machine absolutely demolishes the Surface in GPU performance and has a far superior display, but it also costs significantly more and runs macOS. If you need Windows and want something thin, the Surface makes a strong case. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is the polar opposite. It's a gaming beast with a dedicated GPU that runs circles around the Adreno, but it's heavier and has worse battery life. For students or office workers, the Surface is the better fit.

The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is probably the closest direct rival. It also uses a Snapdragon chip and has a convertible design, but the Surface's port selection and build quality give it an edge. The Lenovo Legion Pro Series 7i Gen 10 is a desktop replacement class machine, not really in the same conversation. If you're cross-shopping these, ask yourself if you value portability and battery life over raw power. The Surface wins on the former, loses on the latter.

Pricing on this Surface Laptop is a bit of a rollercoaster. Across vendors, we're seeing a spread from $1,000 to $1,782, which is a massive $782 gap. If you can snag it near the low end, it's a compelling deal for a premium ultraportable with a top-tier CPU and 1TB of storage. At the high end, you're creeping into MacBook Pro territory, and that's a tougher sell. The best price we're seeing right now is from Newegg, so that's where you should start your hunt. Compared to the HP OmniBook X Flip or the MSI Prestige, this Surface gives you a better CPU and more ports for similar money, but you sacrifice GPU power and screen refresh rate.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13" Copilot+ PC is Microsoft's latest swing at making Windows on ARM a thing people actually want. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100, this 13-inch ultraportable packs 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB SSD into a chassis that weighs just 1.22kg. It's clearly aimed at students, office workers, and anyone who wants a thin and light laptop that can last through a full workday without hunting for an outlet. The Platinum finish and optional Alcantara palm rest give it that premium Surface vibe, and the 1920x1280 touchscreen is sharp and bright enough for most indoor use.

If you're searching for a business laptop that doubles as a sleek daily driver, this model checks a lot of boxes. The Snapdragon X Plus chip is one of the best ARM processors we've tested for productivity, landing in the 94th percentile for CPU performance among all laptops in our database. That means it handles Office apps, dozens of browser tabs, and video calls without breaking a sweat. But this isn't a gaming machine, and the integrated Adreno graphics are firmly in the "don't expect miracles" category.

Port selection is surprisingly generous for a 13-inch laptop. You get two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt support, three USB-A ports, and Wi-Fi 7. That's more connectivity than you'll find on a MacBook Air, and it means you can leave the dongle at home. The 60Hz IPS panel isn't going to win any color accuracy awards, but it's a solid screen for document work and streaming.

Skip this laptop if you do any kind of gaming or GPU-heavy creative work like 3D rendering or video editing. The Adreno graphics just can't keep up, and you'd be much happier with an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or a MacBook Pro. Also, if you rely on niche Windows software that hasn't been updated for ARM, you'll run into frustrating compatibility problems. Stick with an Intel or AMD machine in that case.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13" Copilot+ PC is a fantastic ultraportable for the right person. If your day consists of Office 365, web apps, video calls, and maybe some light Netflix, this thing is a joy to use. It's fast, quiet, and light enough to forget it's in your bag. The Snapdragon X Plus chip is a genuine step forward for Windows on ARM, and the port selection puts many competitors to shame.

But this is not a laptop for everyone. If you need to run specialized x86 software, check compatibility first. If you want to game, look elsewhere. And if you're paying full retail near $1,800, you should probably just buy a MacBook Air or a discounted Dell XPS. At the right price, though, this Surface is one of the best business laptops you can buy right now.