{"id":23491,"date":"2023-08-11T10:19:33","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T08:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=23491"},"modified":"2023-08-27T15:55:30","modified_gmt":"2023-08-27T13:55:30","slug":"are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Microsoft Surface Laptops Worth It? [2024 Update]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684491921bdc\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684491921bdc\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684491921bdc\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Microsoft_Surface_-_Timeless_If_Outdated_Looks\" title=\"Microsoft Surface \u2014 Timeless, If Outdated Looks\">Microsoft Surface \u2014 Timeless, If Outdated Looks<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Microsoft_Laptop_Portfolio_-_Full_Breakdown\" title=\"Microsoft Laptop Portfolio \u2014 Full Breakdown\">Microsoft Laptop Portfolio \u2014 Full Breakdown<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Laptop_1315_-_Versatile_Powerful_Well-rounded\" title=\"Surface Laptop [13\u201d\/15\u201d] \u2014 Versatile, Powerful, Well-rounded\">Surface Laptop [13\u201d\/15\u201d] \u2014 Versatile, Powerful, Well-rounded<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Laptop_Go_124_-_For_Students_and_Undemanding_Users\" title=\"Surface Laptop Go [12.4\u201d] \u2014 For Students and Undemanding Users\">Surface Laptop Go [12.4\u201d] \u2014 For Students and Undemanding Users<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Pro_12313_-_Best-in-Class_2-in-1\" title=\"Surface Pro [12.3\u201d\/13\u201d] \u2014 Best-in-Class 2-in-1\">Surface Pro [12.3\u201d\/13\u201d] \u2014 Best-in-Class 2-in-1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Book_1315_-_A_Hybrid_Powerhouse\" title=\"Surface Book [13\u201d\/15\u201d] \u2014 A Hybrid \u201cPowerhouse\u201d\">Surface Book [13\u201d\/15\u201d] \u2014 A Hybrid \u201cPowerhouse\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Go_10105_-_To_Be_Avoided_at_All_Costs\" title=\"Surface Go [10\u201d\/10.5\u201d] \u2014 To Be Avoided at All Costs\">Surface Go [10\u201d\/10.5\u201d] \u2014 To Be Avoided at All Costs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Laptop_Studio_144_-_For_Content_Creators\" title=\"Surface Laptop Studio [14.4\u201d] \u2014 For Content Creators\">Surface Laptop Studio [14.4\u201d] \u2014 For Content Creators<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Pro_X_13_-_The_Odd_One_Out\" title=\"Surface Pro X [13\u201d] \u2014 The Odd One Out\">Surface Pro X [13\u201d] \u2014 The Odd One Out<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Laptop_vs_Surface_Pro_-_Which_Is_Better\" title=\"Surface Laptop vs. Surface Pro \u2014 Which Is Better?\">Surface Laptop vs. Surface Pro \u2014 Which Is Better?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Which_Microsoft_Surface_Device_Should_You_Go_For\" title=\"Which Microsoft Surface Device Should You Go For?\">Which Microsoft Surface Device Should You Go For?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Products_-_Always_a_Step_Behind\" title=\"Surface Products \u2014 Always a Step Behind\">Surface Products \u2014 Always a Step Behind<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Pro_and_Book_-_Screen_Cracking_Battery_Swelling_Issues\" title=\"Surface Pro and Book \u2014 Screen Cracking, Battery Swelling Issues\">Surface Pro and Book \u2014 Screen Cracking, Battery Swelling Issues<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Microsoft_Surface_Laptops_-_What_to_Expect_in_2023_and_Beyond\" title=\"Microsoft Surface Laptops \u2014 What to Expect in 2023 and Beyond\">Microsoft Surface Laptops \u2014 What to Expect in 2023 and Beyond<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Conclusion_-_Are_Microsoft_Laptops_Worth_It\" title=\"Conclusion \u2014 Are Microsoft Laptops Worth It?\">Conclusion \u2014 Are Microsoft Laptops Worth It?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Are_Microsofts_Surface_Laptops_Any_Good\" title=\"Are Microsoft\u2019s Surface Laptops Any Good?\">Are Microsoft\u2019s Surface Laptops Any Good?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Is_Microsoft_a_Reputable_Laptop_Brand\" title=\"Is Microsoft a Reputable Laptop Brand?\">Is Microsoft a Reputable Laptop Brand?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Are_Microsoft_Surface_Laptops_Good_for_Gaming\" title=\"Are Microsoft Surface Laptops Good for Gaming?\">Are Microsoft Surface Laptops Good for Gaming?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Surface_Laptop_or_Surface_Pro_-_Whats_the_Difference\" title=\"Surface Laptop or Surface Pro \u2014 What\u2019s the Difference?\">Surface Laptop or Surface Pro \u2014 What\u2019s the Difference?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Is_the_Surface_Laptop_Studio_Worth_It\" title=\"Is the Surface Laptop Studio Worth It?\">Is the Surface Laptop Studio Worth It?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Which_Microsoft_Surface_Product_Should_I_Buy\" title=\"Which Microsoft Surface Product Should I Buy?\">Which Microsoft Surface Product Should I Buy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/are-microsoft-surface-laptops-worth-it\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Microsoft\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/surface\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Surface devices<\/a> are amongst the finest on the market. Their build quality is spectacular, their screens stellar and bright, their keyboards a joy to type on, and their trackpads accurate and precise (if a bit small).<\/p>\n<p>Then again, they have a myriad of drawbacks, too. They have just a handful of ports, they\u2019re nearly impossible to repair, they offer very little (if any) upgradeability, and, well, they\u2019re nowhere <em>near<\/em> powerful enough to appeal to professional users and those with demanding workloads.<\/p>\n<p><strong>They\u2019re a mixed bag, is what they are, which makes recommending them a fair bit harder than one would expect.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The fact that they\u2019re so expensive doesn\u2019t help either. These laptops, beautiful and well-rounded though they are, sure do come at a price \u2014 too big a price, one might add.<\/p>\n<p>And, the thing is, we\u2019re all spoiled for choice these days with so many amazing laptops being on offer \u2014 from a myriad of different OEMs. They\u2019re not <em>all<\/em> worth our time and attention, but the point stands nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Jzl0hHTc7Jw\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Jzl0hHTc7Jw\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Surface_-_Timeless_If_Outdated_Looks\"><\/span>Microsoft Surface \u2014 Timeless, If Outdated Looks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Microsoft takes a slightly different approach when compared to most other manufacturers. It only has a few laptop <em>lines<\/em> and so rarely does it opt for anything other than a simple spec refresh. The chasses, in other words, remain the same \u2014 you just get better and more novel internals\/components.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23499\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23499\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23499\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup.jpg\" alt=\"Microsoft Surface Laptop Lineup\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23499\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23499 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201152%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Microsoft Surface Laptop Lineup\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201152%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Lineup.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23499\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.windows.com\/devices\/2021\/09\/22\/introducing-new-surface-products-built-for-windows-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>That\u2019s pretty okay in general, but the Surface Laptop, for instance, hasn\u2019t really changed visually in the span of five years. <strong>The very first one looks exactly the same as the Surface Laptop 5 which came out last year.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a great design, sure, but there\u2019s still ample room for improvement: the bezels are way too big, the trackpad needs to be enlarged, and a more diverse set of ports needs to be implemented as well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Microsoft, in that sense, comes up with a \u201cformula\u201d and then sticks with it longer than any other OEM.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a strange choice, all things considered, but there\u2019s no use in criticizing Microsoft\u2019s choices \u2014 it\u2019s obviously reaching its sales targets even with such an outdated (albeit somewhat timeless) design, so why fix something that seemingly &#8220;isn't broken?&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Laptop_Portfolio_-_Full_Breakdown\"><\/span>Microsoft Laptop Portfolio \u2014 Full Breakdown<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>The Surface portfolio is comprised of some very distinct and, in a way, <em>unique<\/em> offerings. There\u2019s no overlap whatsoever, and each separate line caters to a different demographic.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Microsoft doesn\u2019t have nearly as diverse a product stack as most of its competitors and, frankly, we're glad for that being the case \u2014 it removes any potential confusion, after all.<\/p>\n<p>Its laptops are also neatly segregated in terms of price as well. Buyers on a budget will gravitate towards the Surface Laptop Go and the much smaller (and way less powerful) Surface Go.<\/p>\n<p>Those who prefer a more well-rounded experience will go with a \u201cfull-fledged\u201d Surface Laptop or, if in need of a hybrid 2-in-1 device, a Surface Pro.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft, in this sense, has the fundamentals down right. Each separate line is easily distinguishable from another \u2014 other OEMs should really take note.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Laptop_1315_-_Versatile_Powerful_Well-rounded\"><\/span>Surface Laptop [13\u201d\/15\u201d] \u2014 Versatile, Powerful, Well-rounded<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Laptop is sort of the \u201cgo-to\u201d choice for anyone looking for a well-rounded and sufficiently powerful laptop. They\u2019re all imbued with either an Intel or <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/amd-processors-order-performance\/\">AMD CPU<\/a> \u2014 a U-series variant \u2014 and can easily handle most everyday tasks you\u2019d want to throw their way.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23500\" style=\"width: 1622px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23500\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-23500 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15.jpg\" alt=\"Sufrace laptops 13 15\" width=\"1622\" height=\"705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15.jpg 1622w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-1024x445.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-768x334.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-1536x668.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1622px) 100vw, 1622px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23500\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-23500 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201622%20705%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Sufrace laptops 13 15\" width=\"1622\" height=\"705\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201622%20705%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1622w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1622px) 100vw, 1622px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15.jpg 1622w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-1024x445.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-768x334.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15-1536x668.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Sufrace-laptops-13-15.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23500\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-laptop-5\/8xn49v61s1bn?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>They\u2019re also staggeringly beautiful if a bit visually outdated. As already mentioned, they\u2019re all sporting the same design, with only the colors slightly changing from one generation to the next. Hardly a change worth mentioning.<\/p>\n<p>The last three generations at least have a slightly better port selection when compared to the first two, but it\u2019s still a far cry from what we\u2019d like to see: a single USB-C, a single USB-A, and a headphone jack, with the proprietary MagSafe-like charging connector on the right-hand side.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23493\" style=\"width: 2040px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23493\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23493\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports.jpeg\" alt=\"Surface Laptop Ports\" width=\"2040\" height=\"1360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports.jpeg 2040w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23493\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23493 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202040%201360%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Surface Laptop Ports\" width=\"2040\" height=\"1360\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202040%201360%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2040w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports.jpeg 2040w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-laptop-ports.jpeg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23493\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: The Verge<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The USB-C port does, in all fairness, support both video out and power delivery, but having just <em>one<\/em> such port <em>is<\/em> nonetheless quite limiting.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-laptop-5\/8xn49v61s1bn?activetab=pivot:fulltechspecstab#tab17a6f7ff5-0904-4d29-8837-bb1ea3206847\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Surface Laptop 5<\/a> is the first to support Thunderbolt 4, so at least you'll have an easy and user-friendly (i.e. non-proprietary) way of connecting your Surface Laptop to a dock or hub of some kind.<\/p>\n<p>The laptop itself leaves very little to be desired overall. Its performance is great, it\u2019s incredibly silent, the keyboard is a joy to use, and the trackpad, while laughably small (especially on the 15\u201d version), is still sufficient overall.<\/p>\n<p>The speakers, too, are loud and clear, despite having to fire through the keyboard itself.<\/p>\n<p>The screen, especially, deserves attention and praise. It\u2019s a high-res panel with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It <em>is<\/em> only 60Hz, but for most tasks and users that\u2019s still perfectly fine. And, perhaps best of all, it's touch-sensitive as well.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a great display that\u2019ll serve as a tremendous boon for web browsing, filling out spreadsheets, typing out emails, and the like.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not as great for content consumption because of its taller aspect ratio, but if you can endure the larger-than-expected black bars above and below your videos, you won\u2019t have much to complain about.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overall, the Surface Laptop is one of the finest, most premium laptops the Windows world has to offer.<\/strong> It\u2019s far from perfect, though, and its limitations, while certainly not plentiful, <em>can<\/em> be deal-breaking.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re after a thin-and-light ultrabook for either your work or travels, it <em>will<\/em> deliver the kind of performance you need \u2014 <strong>and it\u2019ll deliver the looks as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/b-wB5-3dyx8\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/b-wB5-3dyx8\" class=\" lazyload\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Laptop_Go_124_-_For_Students_and_Undemanding_Users\"><\/span>Surface Laptop Go [12.4\u201d] \u2014 For Students and Undemanding Users<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-laptop-go-2\/8pglpv76mjhn?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Surface Laptop Go<\/a> is, in many ways, a \u201cwatered down\u201d version of its bigger (and more powerful) brother.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23501\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23501\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23501\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go.jpg\" alt=\"Surface Laptop Go\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23501\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23501 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201920%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Surface Laptop Go\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201920%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Go.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23501\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-laptop-go-2\/8pglpv76mjhn?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It sports a smaller display with a lower pixel density (12.4\u201d, 1536 x 1024, 148 PPI), a slower (but still sufficiently capable) processor, and a chassis that isn\u2019t quite as impressive or well-built. It also omits a few features we\u2019ve all come to expect \u2014 like <em>keyboard backlighting<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That's... rather unacceptable, even though the laptop itself <em>is <\/em>somewhat reasonably priced.<\/strong> It has the exact same I\/O as the bigger Surface Laptop (without Thunderbolt support), alongside Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.<\/p>\n<p>Its 40Wh battery <em>is<\/em> rather miniscule but, fortunately, that doesn\u2019t affect the overall endurance of the laptop. It still lasts a fair bit on a single charge so that\u2019s not as big of an Achilles\u2019 heel as one would expect.<\/p>\n<p>Much like the aforementioned Surface Laptop, it\u2019s quite an alluring package (and even has slimmer bezels). It <em>does<\/em> have a few flaws and deficiencies, but they\u2019re a lot easier to glance over and accept given the asking price.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Then again, once you spec it out with 8GB of RAM, it\u2019s no longer as alluring \u2014 and there <em>are<\/em>, to be fair, better laptops for the money out there.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Overall, it's a good laptop with a few peculiar flaws. As long as you don\u2019t expect any miracles you won\u2019t be disappointed. <strong>And, needless to say, avoid the SKU with 4GB of RAM at all costs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xqfCL_a-XKw\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xqfCL_a-XKw\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Pro_12313_-_Best-in-Class_2-in-1\"><\/span>Surface Pro [12.3\u201d\/13\u201d] \u2014 Best-in-Class 2-in-1<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Pro is undoubtedly Microsoft\u2019s most unique and, generally speaking, most <em>popular<\/em> offering (and rightfully so). It is a truly <em>phenomenal<\/em> device \u2014 <strong>one that won\u2019t leave you wanting in any which way.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23502\" style=\"width: 1350px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23502\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23502\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8.jpg\" alt=\"Surface pro 8\" width=\"1350\" height=\"759\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23502\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23502 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201350%20759%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Surface pro 8\" width=\"1350\" height=\"759\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201350%20759%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-pro-8.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23502\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-pro-8\/8qwcrtq8v8xg?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s way more powerful than its slim and light chassis would suggest, is appropriately cooled (which means it won\u2019t get too hot or loud), and can actually sustain its performance for longer than one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MjAexyyAUUY&amp;ab_channel=HardwareCanucks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">would expect<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Because its components are placed <em>vertically<\/em>, cooling them isn\u2019t nearly as big of a challenge as it would\u2019ve been otherwise because of the more natural airflow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In fact, the Surface Pro 8 and 9 punch <em>way<\/em> above their weight class CPU-wise, which is definitely a surprise given their ultra-thin form factor.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23494\" style=\"width: 1699px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23494\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-23494\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover.png\" alt=\"Surface Pro keyboard type cover\" width=\"1699\" height=\"1339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover.png 1699w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-1024x807.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-768x605.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-1536x1211.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1699px) 100vw, 1699px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23494\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-23494 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201699%201339%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Surface Pro keyboard type cover\" width=\"1699\" height=\"1339\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201699%201339%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1699w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1699px) 100vw, 1699px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover.png 1699w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-1024x807.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-768x605.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover-1536x1211.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/surface-pro-keyboard-type-cover.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23494\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Microsoft<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The (optional but still necessary) keyboard type cover is <em>much <\/em>better than one would expect and, despite being a bit flimsy in certain use cases, actually offers a better typing experience than most other ultrabooks on the market. <strong>Weird but true.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ditto for the Surface Pen whose inclusion instantly turns the Surface Pro into one of the most versatile devices on the market. The Surface Pro 8 and 9 type covers even have a small for it to be safely stored and wirelessly charged.<\/p>\n<p>It <em>can<\/em> get quite expensive (the type cover and pen are always sold separately), but if you\u2019re after a device of this kind, the Surface Pro 8\/9 definitely deserves a glowing recommendation \u2014 <em>and then some<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>There <em>is<\/em> a bit of competition out there, but few are the devices that can match its seamless user experience and top-notch build quality.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JJwbcpL8FIo\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JJwbcpL8FIo\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Book_1315_-_A_Hybrid_Powerhouse\"><\/span>Surface Book [13\u201d\/15\u201d] \u2014 A Hybrid \u201cPowerhouse\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Book is a device unlike any other.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23503\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23503\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23503\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3.jpg\" alt=\"Surface Book 3\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23503\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23503 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201280%20720%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Surface Book 3\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201280%20720%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Book-3.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23503\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kYFnAnmwG5c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It sports a much better port selection than the three lines\/sub-brands listed above, has a level of build quality and craftsmanship that can rival that of the finest MacBooks out there, and is also imbued with some respectably powerful internals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It also hasn\u2019t been updated and refreshed in what feels like forever.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Its key selling point, though, is its hybrid nature: you can simply and without much effort detach the display from the \u201cbase\u201d and start using it as if it were a tablet. <strong>This is Microsoft at its best.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So rarely does a manufacturer think outside the box, and we cannot even <em>fathom<\/em> the amount of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Research_and_development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">R&amp;D<\/a> money that had to be spent in order for a device like this to come to fruition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s not for everyone, though, and it is precisely its hybrid nature that, at times, ends up being its biggest weakness. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The top \u201cportion\u201d of the device is simply too large and heavy to be used as a tablet (for a prolonged period of time, at least). Its hinge, while certainly a feat of engineering, doesn\u2019t allow the laptop to close fully flat.<\/p>\n<p>Certain hardware-related bugs and issues have also been reported and, once you add in an incredibly high MSRP, you get a device that \u2014 while undeniably great and beautiful \u2014 is somewhat hard to recommend.<\/p>\n<p>And, well, if you liked the video above, the following one <em>also<\/em> warrants some attention:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xnt434MF0VM\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xnt434MF0VM\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s more of a \u201cconcept,\u201d a device we\u2019d all love to use, and yet a computer that is weaker than the sum of its parts. <strong>It excels neither as a tablet <em>nor<\/em> as a laptop.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a great option for artists but, frankly, so is the Surface Pro \u2014 or <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/microsoft-surface-pro-vs-apple-ipad-pro\/\">Apple\u2019s iPad Pro<\/a>, for that matter.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that it hasn\u2019t been updated and refreshed specs-wise is <em>also<\/em> a pretty big issue \u2014 the most recent model is <em>three<\/em> years old at this point.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a weird, beautiful, quirky device that, unfortunately, never really caught on. And, frankly, it\u2019s highly debatable whether it\u2019ll <em>ever<\/em> get updated.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sQFjKmWYpLk\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sQFjKmWYpLk\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Go_10105_-_To_Be_Avoided_at_All_Costs\"><\/span>Surface Go [10\u201d\/10.5\u201d] \u2014 To Be Avoided at All Costs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Go targets a very specific demographic and, for the most part, was always marketed as an affordable tablet that could still be used as a \u201cregular\u201d laptop for general productivity work \u2014 due to it sporting a full-fledged, feature-rich operating system (unlike Apple\u2019s iPadOS).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23504\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23504\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23504\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go.jpg\" alt=\"Microsoft Surface Go\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go.jpg 960w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23504\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23504 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20960%20540%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Microsoft Surface Go\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20960%20540%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go.jpg 960w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Microsoft-Surface-Go.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23504\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-go-3\/904h27d0cbwn?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>And, sure enough, it sports all the hallmarks of a Surface device: stellar looks, amazing build quality, great screen, a phenomenal keyboard (type cover sold separately, as always), and a few niceties thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Its biggest flaw? Absolutely horrendous performance.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now, to be fair, one should never expect any kind of miracle from an Intel Pentium or, at most, a Core i3, but still \u2014 to get such a pitiful amount of power in today\u2019s day and age is simply unacceptable.<\/p>\n<p>Worst of all, the iPad \u2014 despite not being as capable OS-wise \u2014 is actually <em>many<\/em> times more powerful and adept at, well, <em>everything<\/em>. It\u2019s better for web browsing, creating content, drawing, graphic design, video editing, and so on and so forth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Even if it\u2019s many years old and seemingly outdated, it can <em>still<\/em> run circles around the Surface Go.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Surface Go, much like the Surface Book, is a stellar device in concept, but it fails to stick the proverbial landing \u2014 and it\u2019s none of Microsoft\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n<p>Because it\u2019s powered by horrendously incapable processors, it can\u2019t really deal with more than a handful of tabs and applications, to say nothing of <em>moderate<\/em> multitasking.<\/p>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2023\/4\/19\/23689559\/microsoft-surface-pro-11-inch-surface-go-4-arm-rumors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ARM-based version<\/a> <em>is<\/em> coming, but it\u2019s nowhere near close to release.<\/p>\n<p>And so, it excels at nothing in particular and is essentially overshadowed by a good chunk of Apple\u2019s product stack. <strong>With that in mind, it\u2019s a hard device to recommend.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vBnpGIZK9R0\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vBnpGIZK9R0\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Laptop_Studio_144_-_For_Content_Creators\"><\/span>Surface Laptop Studio [14.4\u201d] \u2014 For Content Creators<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yet another weird concept that, in one way or another, fails to deliver.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23505\" style=\"width: 857px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23505\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23505\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio.jpg\" alt=\"Surface Laptop Studio\" width=\"857\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio.jpg 857w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio-768x516.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 857px) 100vw, 857px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23505\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23505 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20857%20576%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Surface Laptop Studio\" width=\"857\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20857%20576%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 857w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 857px) 100vw, 857px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio.jpg 857w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio-768x516.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Laptop-Studio.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23505\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-laptop-studio\/8srdf62swkpf?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It, too, features spectacular build quality and all the many top-notch features we\u2019ve come to expect from a Surface device, but it also comes with its own (fairly unique) list of drawbacks and peculiarities.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest problem, one could argue, is the internals: <strong>they\u2019re both outdated <em>and<\/em> underpowered.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The laptop itself is by no means a slouch but, when compared to nearly <em>all<\/em> of its competitors, it fails to compete on even footing performance-wise.<\/p>\n<p>The RTX 3050 Ti can be had in laptops that cost well under a thousand dollars. Ditto for a high refresh rate display.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s nothing to write home about and \u2014 <strong>perhaps worst of all<\/strong> \u2014 this machine was marketed as a spectacular option for creatives and illustrators when, in fact, it fails to really cater to <em>either<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>It echoes so much of the aforementioned Surface Book; <strong>great in some regards, baffling, and woeful in others.<\/strong> And, as is so often the case with Surface products, it\u2019s <em>obscenely<\/em> overpriced.<\/p>\n<p>Now, to be fair, Microsoft <em>is<\/em> supposedly working on an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowslatest.com\/2023\/04\/09\/surface-laptop-studio-2-rtx-4060-is-the-next-powerful-microsoft-hardware\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">updated model<\/a>, but unless it ends up retailing for a more reasonable sum, it, too, will be hard to recommend.<\/p>\n<p>Then again, laptops like these are a rarity. Whether that\u2019s for a good reason is up for debate, but, for <em>some<\/em>, it might just be worth the investment.<\/p>\n<p>If the Surface Laptop Studio happens to fit your needs, then it\u2019s definitely worth taking a look at. We <em>do<\/em> recommend waiting for a spec bump as it\u2019s presumably right around the corner (October, most likely).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Everyone else, though, should look elsewhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GtD48dr9T6A\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GtD48dr9T6A\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Pro_X_13_-_The_Odd_One_Out\"><\/span>Surface Pro X [13\u201d] \u2014 The Odd One Out<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Surface_Pro_X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Surface Pro X<\/a>, despite being marketed as the next best thing since sliced bread, is arguably one of Microsoft\u2019s biggest flops. And, again, it has all the hallmarks of a top-tier product: spectacular build quality, a top-notch display, great type cover, and so on and so forth.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23506\" style=\"width: 1287px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23506\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23506\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X.jpg\" alt=\"Surface Pro X\" width=\"1287\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X.jpg 1287w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-1024x573.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1287px) 100vw, 1287px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23506\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23506 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201287%20720%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Surface Pro X\" width=\"1287\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201287%20720%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1287w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1287px) 100vw, 1287px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X.jpg 1287w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-1024x573.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Surface-Pro-X.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23506\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/d\/surface-pro-x\/8qg3bmrhnwhk?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Its weaknesses? <strong>The fact that it sports an ARM-based chipset and a pretty weak one at that.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That wouldn\u2019t be that big of an issue if <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/windows-on-arm-guide\/\">Windows on ARM<\/a> were in a better state than it is right now \u2014 but it\u2019s <em>not<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>It <em>is<\/em> getting better, and Microsoft <em>is<\/em> aware of its importance, but there are absolutely no guarantees as to <em>when<\/em> it\u2019s going to be as polished as one would expect.<\/p>\n<p>Worse of all, the Surface Pro X was always geared towards business users and those with larger budgets \u2014 and yet it couldn\u2019t deliver in the vast majority of workflows.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Going with a regular Surface Pro is, without a shadow of a doubt, the better option, regardless of one\u2019s profession<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is twofold: Windows on ARM still needs <em>many<\/em> years of polishing (not to mention ample developer support) and Qualcomm still needs to bring its chipsets to a higher level performance-wise for devices like these to make sense.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Laptop_vs_Surface_Pro_-_Which_Is_Better\"><\/span>Surface Laptop vs. Surface Pro \u2014 Which Is Better?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>That depends entirely on your needs and preferences.<\/p>\n<p>If you want a 2-in-1 hybrid device, you obviously have to go with the Surface Pro. It punches <em>way<\/em> above its \u201cweight class\u201d and can be used in a myriad of different ways \u2014 to say nothing of its high refresh rate display (only available on the Surface Pro 8 and 9).<\/p>\n<p>Those are no small benefits.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Laptop, on the other hand, is the \u201csafer\u201d pick if you\u2019re after a traditional clamshell design. It, too, is a stellar, well-rounded product, and can be easily recommended.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Microsoft_Surface_Device_Should_You_Go_For\"><\/span>Which Microsoft Surface Device Should You Go For?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As always, that really ought to be dictated by your workflow.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Pro is a mighty powerful device that, by all means, can be used both as a traditional laptop (because of its stellar keyboard cover) <em>and<\/em> a tablet. It\u2019s the most versatile product Microsoft has to offer.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Laptop, on the other hand, adheres to a more traditional formula and, more often than not, manages to stick the proverbial landing.<\/p>\n<p>It <em>is<\/em> a bit visually outdated but is still a looker and, for the most part, will deliver great day-to-day performance for whatever you might want to throw its way.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Go, Surface Laptop Studio, and Surface Pro X are wholly unique devices and, as such, cannot be easily recommended. They all have their unique pros and cons but are, for the most part, underpowered <em>and\/or<\/em> horrendously overpriced.<\/p>\n<p>Their build quality aside, there\u2019s really nothing worth pointing out or praising. There are <em>many<\/em> other options on the market, all of which can deliver a much better level of performance, especially for the asking price.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Products_-_Always_a_Step_Behind\"><\/span>Surface Products \u2014 Always a Step Behind<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Microsoft has this weird tendency of equipping its products with slightly outdated (i.e. last year\u2019s) components.<\/p>\n<p>Things <em>have<\/em> gotten a bit better lately, but it still feels like Surface devices are the last to get sought-after features and updates.<\/p>\n<p>Thunderbolt support has only <em>now<\/em> been added, for instance, and the lack of truly powerful processors <em>also<\/em> warrants a mention \u2014 all models but the Surface Laptop Studio are equipped with U-series CPUs which, while sufficient, are by no means cut out for demanding workloads and use-cases.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, Surface devices are amongst the most premium, beautiful, and <em>peculiar<\/em> on the market. <strong>Their strengths are wholly unique, but so are their limitations and flaws.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For most, they\u2019re totally negligible. For others, they\u2019re a total dealbreaker.<\/p>\n<p>Either way, they\u2019re worth checking out.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Pro_and_Book_-_Screen_Cracking_Battery_Swelling_Issues\"><\/span>Surface Pro and Book \u2014 Screen Cracking, Battery Swelling Issues<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Surface products are not devoid of issues.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike some other laptops, they don\u2019t have any overly glaring QC issues (which is definitely a plus), but they are still prone to experiencing some truly <em>weird<\/em> problems which, one could argue, is a by-product of their overall design.<\/p>\n<p>A surprising number of users have reported <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Surface\/comments\/p0oke1\/the_screen_cracked_by_itself_in_my_surface_laptop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cracked screens<\/a> on their Surface Laptops (those that didn\u2019t have the Alcantara keyboard deck), whereas the Surface Pro line is known for having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.engineering.com\/story\/the-microsoft-surface-swollen-battery-problem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">battery swelling<\/a> issues.<\/p>\n<p>This, at some point, is unavoidable, as the batteries themselves are housed in the very same chassis as the rest of the internals \u2014 and they do <em>not<\/em> respond well to prolonged exposure to heat.<\/p>\n<p>This is by no means a universal issue, but it\u2019s definitely something you need to keep in mind. <strong>Microsoft\u2019s spotty (and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2020\/5\/8\/21252634\/microsoft-surface-laptop-3-screen-crack-free-repair\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>wholly inconsistent<\/strong><\/a><strong>) track record when it comes to RMAs is <em>also<\/em> worthy of note.<\/strong> As always, your mileage will vary.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Surface_Laptops_-_What_to_Expect_in_2023_and_Beyond\"><\/span>Microsoft Surface Laptops \u2014 What to Expect in 2023 and Beyond<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>That\u2019s a hard question to answer as Microsoft, unlike most other OEMs, tends to do things in its own way \u2014 often to the detriment of its own products.<\/p>\n<p>Thunderbolt support was a highly requested feature for <em>years<\/em> and it took this Redmond-based giant a whopping <em>five<\/em> years to implement it.<\/p>\n<p>Predicting what\u2019ll come out next feels nigh impossible. Still, we <em>have<\/em> noticed certain tendencies, and, thanks to numerous different leaks, we at least have a solid enough idea of what\u2019s to come, both later this year <em>and<\/em> beyond.<\/p>\n<p>First of all, Microsoft is reportedly working on a smaller Surface Pro with an 11&#8243; screen (probably to better compete with Apple's iPads), alongside an ARM-based Surface Go 4.<\/p>\n<p>A more efficient chipset would no doubt alleviate the vast majority of the Go's current issues \u2014 namely the lack of power.<\/p>\n<p>The chip itself will reportedly be based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7c, so don't expect any miracles, though. An Intel-based version is also a given, but it's probably not going to be worth the asking price.<\/p>\n<p>Other than that, we're bound to get the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10 later this year, both of which are going to be equipped with Intel's 13th Gen processors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Finally, a gaming laptop of some kind is allegedly in the works as well.<\/strong> It'll sport a 12th Gen H-series processor from Intel, alongside either the RTX 3050 Ti (4GB) or the RTX 3070 Ti with <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-much-vram-do-you-need\/\">8GB of VRAM<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This might not sound all that impressive as NVIDIA's <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/nvidia-graphics-cards-order-performance\/\">RTX 40 series GPUs<\/a> are already out in the wild (and are readily available), but it's still well within Microsoft's M.O. \u2014 <strong>the aforementioned tendency to release new products with last year's components.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_-_Are_Microsoft_Laptops_Worth_It\"><\/span>Conclusion \u2014 Are Microsoft Laptops Worth It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Absolutely \u2014 as long as you\u2019re aware of their limitations and inherent drawbacks.<\/strong> Some of them are great, like the Surface Pro (and fairly unique, too).<\/p>\n<p>Others, like the Surface Laptop, are both well-rounded <em>and<\/em> somewhat outdated. Still, they <em>are<\/em> worth purchasing, especially if you can snag your model of choice at a good price.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Go, Surface Pro X, and Surface Book should generally be avoided \u2014 for entirely different reasons. The first one\u2019s horrendously underpowered, the second \u201cundercooked,\u201d and the third both outdated <em>and<\/em> somewhat finicky.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Laptop Studio, on the other hand, warrants a <em>mild<\/em> recommendation, but only if its unique \u201cform factor\u201d happens to be in line with your needs and preferences. It\u2019s in dire need of a refresh and, presumably, <em>will<\/em> be updated later this year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overall, they\u2019re wholly unique laptops and, despite their flaws, they <em>do<\/em> stand out from the crowd.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>They are, in short, some of the finest Windows-based devices on the market. They\u2019re not the most powerful for the asking price, but they sure do strike a nice balance in regard to their features, build quality, and overall performance.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, <em>especially<\/em>, deserve a glowing recommendation (albeit one with a few asterisks attached to it).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s go over a few potential questions you might have regarding Microsoft and its laptop portfolio:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Microsofts_Surface_Laptops_Any_Good\"><\/span>Are Microsoft\u2019s Surface Laptops Any Good?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>They\u2019re absolutely amazing \u2014 unless you need ample I\/O, repairability, and a tremendous amount of power.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re thin, light, amazingly well-built, and pretty darn capable, too.<\/p>\n<p>They have amazing build quality and are amongst the finest Windows laptops on the market \u2014 which, naturally, comes at a pretty steep price.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Microsoft_a_Reputable_Laptop_Brand\"><\/span>Is Microsoft a Reputable Laptop Brand?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Absolutely. We\u2019re talking about one of the biggest companies in the world, and it shows in the way in which its products are built and the attention to detail with which they were brought into existence.<\/p>\n<p>They are, in a way, the \u201cMacBooks of the Windows world,\u201d and that, as far as we\u2019re concerned, is no small compliment.<\/p>\n<p>Certain models <em>are<\/em> a bit underpowered, but they were never really marketed as desktop replacements but, rather, thin-and-light ultraportables and multi-purpose devices for the vast majority of \u201ccasual\u201d (i.e. not overly demanding) users \u2014 or, alternatively, creatives who want an \u201call-in-one\u201d device for all their computing needs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Microsoft_Surface_Laptops_Good_for_Gaming\"><\/span>Are Microsoft Surface Laptops Good for Gaming?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Not at all. <\/strong>Certain models \u2014 like the older Surface Books and the Surface Laptop Studio \u2014 <em>can<\/em> game, but the experience itself isn\u2019t worth the investment.<\/p>\n<p>In general, if all you want to play are esports titles (and are okay with lowering certain settings and playing on lower resolutions), you <em>will<\/em> get a very solid experience in <em>Overwatch 2<\/em>, <em>League of Legends<\/em>, <em>DOTA 2<\/em>, and the like.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Anything more demanding, however, will <em>not<\/em> be playable.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surface_Laptop_or_Surface_Pro_-_Whats_the_Difference\"><\/span>Surface Laptop or Surface Pro \u2014 What\u2019s the Difference?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The former is a traditional clamshell laptop, and the other is a 2-in-1 hybrid device.<\/p>\n<p>Their biggest difference is in their <em>form factors<\/em>. They share the same processors, they\u2019re equally as snappy, equally as well-built, and, more often than not, are equally worth your hard-earned money.<\/p>\n<p>The Surface Pro (the last two generations, at least) <em>does<\/em> have a high refresh rate display, optional LTE connectivity, and it works a lot better with Microsoft\u2019s Surface Pen \u2014 it\u2019s a tablet, after all \u2014 but its biggest selling point is still its convertible, hybrid nature.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, they cater to noticeably different audiences but, as far as their internals are concerned, they\u2019re a lot more similar than their looks would imply.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iOb31Uc4XKM\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iOb31Uc4XKM\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Surface_Laptop_Studio_Worth_It\"><\/span>Is the Surface Laptop Studio Worth It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not at all.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s an overpriced and underpowered (hybrid) laptop that simply isn\u2019t worth the asking price. It\u2019s a stellar device overall, but its horrendous MSRP is definitely a problem \u2014 an understatement if ever there was one.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019ll presumably be updated later this year, but, odds are, it\u2019ll still end up retailing for <em>way<\/em> more than it should, so you\u2019re probably better off buying a different laptop, be it from Microsoft or any other OEM.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Microsoft_Surface_Product_Should_I_Buy\"><\/span>Which Microsoft Surface Product Should I Buy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are the only ones that deserve a \u201cglowing\u201d recommendation \u2014 as long as you\u2019re aware of their inherent limitations, of course.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re spectacularly well-built and are capable enough to handle most productivity tasks you\u2019d want to throw their way.<\/p>\n<p>All other Surface devices should be avoided as they\u2019re, for the most part, both underpowered <em>and<\/em> overpriced.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Have you ever owned a Surface device and, if so, what was that experience like? Let us know in the <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> section down below and, in case you need any help, head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">our forum<\/a> and ask away!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft\u2019s Surface devices are amongst the finest on the market. Their build quality is spectacular, their screens stellar and bright, their keyboards a joy to type on, and their trackpads accurate and precise (if a bit small). Then again, they have a myriad of drawbacks, too. They have just a handful of ports, they\u2019re nearly...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2346,"featured_media":23492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[173],"tags":[147,316],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23491"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23491"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23659,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23491\/revisions\/23659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}