Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" EP2-34093 2024, Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Sapphire

A monster CPU trapped in a laptop with too little storage and no gaming chops. Great for cloud-based work, bad for everyone else.

The CPU here is the star, no question. That 12-core Snapdragon X Plus at 3.4GHz is one of the best laptop chips we've seen, and it shows in real-world use. Apps open instantly, multitasking is smooth, and the NPU actually does make some AI features feel snappy. But the GPU is integrated and lands in the 14th percentile, so don't even think about gaming. And the RAM at 37th percentile is fine for browsing and office work, but it'll choke if you're a tab hoarder or run heavy creative software. The 256GB SSD is also a weak spot, filling up fast if you keep photos or videos locally.

Against the MacBook Air M3, the Surface wins on raw CPU speed and touchscreen, but loses on storage and overall polish. The MacBook Air starts with more storage and a better screen in our database. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i are gaming beasts with dedicated GPUs, so they're not really in the same conversation unless you want to play games, in which case the Surface is a non-starter. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is a closer competitor for portability, but it also has a dedicated GPU and more storage for a similar price. Honestly, the Surface's biggest competition is the MacBook Air M3, and the Surface wins on CPU but loses on storage and screen quality.

At $1,350 USD, this is a tough sell for anyone who needs more than basic storage. You're paying a premium for that Snapdragon chip and the Surface build quality, but 256GB in 2024 is almost insulting. If you live in the cloud and don't game, it's a solid deal. If you want to keep your files local or run anything graphically demanding, save your money and look elsewhere.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop EP2-34093 is a weird mix of genuinely impressive and mildly frustrating. The Snapdragon X Plus chip is a monster, landing in the 99th percentile for CPU performance in our database, which means it crushes everyday tasks and even gives Apple's M3 a run for its money. But then Microsoft pairs that beast with just 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, which feels like putting racing tires on a minivan. The one thing to know? This is a productivity machine first, and a pretty good one, as long as you don't expect it to game or store much.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, this isn't it. Go get an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or a Lenovo Legion Pro instead. If you need lots of local storage for photos, videos, or large files, the 256GB SSD will drive you crazy. And if you're a creative professional who needs 32GB of RAM or more, this config won't cut it. Look at the MacBook Pro M4 Pro or a higher-end Windows ultrabook.

The Surface Laptop EP2-34093 is a great productivity laptop with a killer CPU, but Microsoft made some baffling storage and RAM decisions. If you're a student or business user who lives in OneDrive and never games, it's a solid buy. For everyone else, the 256GB SSD and integrated GPU are dealbreakers. Wait for a sale or a higher storage config.