Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13.5" 2022, Core i5, 8GB, 256GB SSD, Platinum (Alcantara)

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a premium 13.5-inch Windows ultrabook with a great touchscreen, excellent build quality, and a comfortable keyboard. It's ideal for students and everyday users, especially at used prices between USD 450 and USD 620. Just know that 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD mean this isn't built for heavy multitasking or gaming.

The Core i5-1235U is a 10-core chip that handles everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. Web browsing, Office apps, video calls, all fine. But our benchmarks put this CPU at the 40th percentile for its class, which means it's about average for ultrabooks. The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics lands at the 47th percentile, so casual gaming and light photo editing are doable, but this is not a gaming laptop. Our gaming score for this machine is a 6.5 out of 100, which should tell you everything you need to know about playing anything beyond indie titles or older games at low settings.

The 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM is where things get tight. That's 21st percentile for this category, and in 2025, 8GB means you'll feel the squeeze with lots of browser tabs open or if you try to run heavier apps alongside each other. The 256GB SSD is also on the small side at the 16th percentile. It's fast, sure, but you'll be managing storage before long. For a student laptop, it works. For a power user, it's a compromise.

The obvious comparison is the Apple MacBook Air M4. The Air absolutely destroys this Surface in raw performance, battery life, and even resale value. But the Surface Laptop 5 has a touchscreen, which the Air still doesn't offer, and if you're locked into Windows, that's a non-starter for the Mac. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 is the business alternative, with better port selection and a more repairable design, but it's heavier and less stylish. The HP OmniBook X Flip and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro are both newer with better specs on paper, but they'll cost you significantly more even used. If you want a Windows ultrabook with a touchscreen and premium build on a budget, the Surface Laptop 5 holds its own. If you need performance or battery life above all else, look elsewhere.

Here's where things get interesting. New, this laptop was priced like a premium ultrabook, and at that price, the 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD were tough to swallow. But used pricing in our database ranges from USD 450 to USD 620 across two US listings, and at the lower end of that spread, you're getting a lot of laptop for the money. The Best Buy listing at the lower end of that range is the better deal if you can snag it. Compared to a new MacBook Air M4 or a ThinkPad T14 Gen 6, a used Surface Laptop 5 at USD 450 is a compelling budget option for students who want that premium feel without the premium price tag.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 sits in that premium ultrabook space where you're paying for build quality and that clean Windows experience. This 13.5-inch model with the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD is aimed squarely at students and anyone who wants a lightweight laptop for everyday work. It's not cheap when new, but used listings in our database show it going for USD 450 to USD 620, which changes the value math considerably.

People searching for this laptop usually want to know if it's good for school, whether the touchscreen is worth it, and how it stacks up against a MacBook Air. The short answer: it's a beautifully built machine with a great screen and keyboard, but the base specs hold it back if you push it hard. The 8GB of RAM is the biggest bottleneck here, and that's worth knowing before you buy.

At 1.30kg, this thing is genuinely light. The aluminum chassis feels premium in a way that budget laptops just don't. And the 3:2 aspect ratio display at 2256x1504 gives you more vertical space for documents and web pages, which is something you'll appreciate the first time you open a spreadsheet.

Skip the Surface Laptop 5 if you need to run demanding software like video editors, 3D modeling tools, or virtual machines. The 8GB of RAM and integrated graphics will choke on those workloads. Gamers should look at something with a dedicated GPU, like the ASUS ProArt PX13 or a gaming laptop. And if battery life is your top priority, the MacBook Air M4 or HP OmniBook X Flip will last noticeably longer on a charge. This is a laptop for everyday computing, not heavy lifting.

Should you buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5? If you're a student or someone who lives in a browser, writes documents, and wants a laptop that feels expensive without being expensive, yes, especially at the used prices we're seeing. The build quality, screen, and keyboard are genuinely excellent, and the touchscreen is a nice bonus for note-taking or casual use.

But if you plan to run demanding software, edit video, or keep 50 browser tabs open, the 8GB of RAM will frustrate you. And if you want to play games, this is simply the wrong machine. For the right user at the right price, though, this is a laptop that punches above its weight in everyday use.