Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" Graphite 2024

The Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a stunningly portable and fast productivity machine with a best-in-class CPU. But the ARM chip brings real compatibility headaches, especially for Adobe users and gamers. If your apps are supported, it's a fantastic buy, just make sure you shop around for the best price.

The Snapdragon X Elite is the star here, landing in the 99th percentile for CPU performance in our database. That means this thing rips through browser tabs, Office apps, and general multitasking without breaking a sweat. The integrated Adreno GPU is a different story, sitting near the bottom quarter of the pack. It's fine for streaming and light photo edits, but don't even think about modern gaming or heavy 3D work. The 16GB of RAM is solidly average for this class, and the 1TB SSD is a nice inclusion, even if its speed is middle of the pack.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro, the Surface wins on portability and touchscreen, but loses badly on GPU power and raw software compatibility. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i will absolutely smoke it in gaming and creative workloads thanks to their dedicated graphics, but they're heavier and have worse battery life. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is a closer rival that also stumbles on gaming, while the MSI Prestige is a direct ultrabook competitor that doesn't feel quite as polished as the Surface.

Pricing is a bit of a rollercoaster across vendors, with a spread from $1419 all the way up to $2124. At the lower end of that range, you're getting a fantastic premium ultrabook with a top-tier CPU and gorgeous screen. At the higher end, you're flirting with MacBook Pro M4 money, and that's a much tougher sell. Shop around and don't pay full sticker price for this one.

Microsoft's 7th Edition Surface Laptop is their big swing at the ARM-powered Copilot+ PC era, and honestly, it connects more often than it misses. The Snapdragon X Elite chip inside is an absolute screamer for everyday productivity, and the 13.8-inch PixelSense display is a joy to look at. It's thin, light, and feels every bit the premium machine you'd expect for the price.

If you need to run specific legacy Windows software, any Adobe Creative Cloud apps without hiccups, or play games beyond basic 2D titles, skip this. The ARM compatibility gamble isn't worth the headache. Get an x86 laptop with a dedicated GPU instead.

This laptop is a dream for students and business users who live in a web browser, Microsoft Office, and video calls. It's fast, portable, and the battery lasts ages. But if your workflow depends on specific Adobe apps, obscure printer drivers, or any kind of gaming, you need to look elsewhere. The ARM transition still has some rough edges, and you don't want to be the one sanding them down.