Microsoft Surface laptop comparison 2020

Microsoft was an early innovator in mobile-friendly hybrid PC hardware. It’s hard to find a PC-maker today that doesn’t ape Surface’s kickstand-packing, detachable-keyboard-rocking design. It’s hard to find a nicer Windows experience than what Surface offers. But which one is better? Get our Microsoft Surface laptop comparison 2020 to select as per your needs.

Microsoft’s Surface notebooks give users chance to experience Windows 10 as its creators intended. But do you want the affordable Surface Go, the mainstream Surface Pro 7, the detachable Surface Book, the traditional Surface Laptop 3 or the superportable Surface Pro X? Find below Microsoft Surface laptop comparison that will assist to make your decision.

Microsoft Surface laptop comparison 2020

Is Microsoft Surface good for school student?

The Microsoft Surface Laptop is an aesthetically pleasing midrange ultraportable laptop with admirable performance and class-leading battery life that should suit most college students just fine. If you’re going to make the purchase, though, do it for fall semester before time runs out for the free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

With its sleek aluminum design and light weight, Microsoft is pitting the Surface Laptop squarely against Apple’s line of MacBooks. If macOS is more your thing, you can get a similarly outfitted entry-level MacBook Pro for the same price as the Surface Laptop we tested, although you’ll have to sacrifice some storage and connectivity to stay in that price range. The base-level MacBook also starts at $1,299, but packs a less-powerful 1.2GHz Intel Core m3 CPU, though it weighs less at a cool 2 pounds (Microsoft Surface laptop comparison).

If the Surface design is appealing but you’re not ready to shell out more than a grand, the Surface Pro is a powerful alternative that offers the flexibility of its detachable keyboard for as little as $799.

Meanwhile, the Core i7-powered version of the New Razer Blade Stealth remains our Editors’ Choice for midrange ultraportables for its faster performance and wealth of features, all for $300 less than our upgraded Surface Laptop.

Others Microsoft Surface laptop comparison 2020

Which one is for whom

Each of Microsoft’s laptops has its pros and cons. To help you choose, we’ve broken down the differences below ( (Microsoft Surface laptop comparison). ) and come up with some recommendations.

1. Surface Laptop 3 – Students, writers and businessmen

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3580U | Memory: 16GB RAM | Size: 13.4 x 9.6 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 3.4 pounds | Display: 15-inch, 2496 x 1664 | Storage: 256GB M.2 SSD | Ports: USB-C, USB 3.1, Surface Connect, Headphone/Mic

Starting at $999, the Surface Laptop 3 can only be used as a clamshell, which makes it ideal for users who don’t need tablet mode at all. The latest version of Microsoft’s flagship laptop comes in two sizes, 13.5-inch and 15-inch. Both offer up to a strong 10th-Gen Core i7 processor, and the 15-inch has an option for an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU. They both sport an improved keyboard built to put the MacBook to shame. The Surface Laptop 3 also introduces an attractive new Sandstone color option, and finally nets you that USB Type-C port (Microsoft Surface laptop comparison).

Pros: Students, essayists and bloggers will likely prefer the Surface Laptop, the best Microsoft notebook for typing. The Surface Pro will bounce around if you try and use its laptop-mode on your lap, and the Surface Book costs $500 more. Unlike that expensive Surface Book, the Laptop offers a cushy Alcantara-covered keyboard. If concerned about durability, Microsoft enabled the keyboard deck to be completely removable and replaceable. On top of that, you can get an aluminum deck instead of Alcantara.

The Surface Laptop 3 — which comes in platinum, sandstone, cobalt blue and matte black, is also the best option for those looking for a notebook that stands out from the crowd. The Surface Book only comes in silver (the sold-separately Type Covers for the Surface Pro are available in the same colors as the Surface Laptop, except for the sandstone option).

Cons: The Surface Laptop 3’s limited design makes it the only member of the family to not offer a detachable tablet display (though its screen supports ten-finger touch input). You also have to spend at least $1,299 (13-inch) or $1,499 (15-inch) to get it with what we consider decent specs: a Core i5 CPU (AMD Ryzen 5 for 15-inch), 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Also, those fancy colors are also restricted to the $1,299 13-inch model, while the 15-inch gets only black and platinum.

2. Surface Pro 7 – mainstream users and designers

CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G4 | Memory: 8GB RAM | Size: 12.5 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds (2.4 with case) | Display: 12.3-inch, 2736 x 1824 | Storage: 256GB SSD | Ports: Headphone/Mic, microSD, Surface Connect, USB 3.1, USB Type-CHIGH SPEC

A tablet with a kickstand that attaches to Microsoft’s keyboards to form something that resembles a laptop, the Surface Pro 7 is the jack-of-all-trades in this lineup. The new system’s battery life is rated for 10 hours and 30 minutes, which is impressive if it proves to be accurate, as it surpasses the Surface Pro 6’s battery life, at 9:20 (Microsoft Surface laptop comparison).  

Microsoft’s latest flagship detachable starts at $749 with a powerful Intel 10th-gen Core i3 processor, and finally comes with a USB Type-C port. It’s a great pick for mainstream consumers and casual artists who don’t want to spend over $1,000 for a laptop.

Pros: While the Surface Pro isn’t the lightest of Microsoft’s devices, it’s still just under 2 pounds and is cheaper than ever, landing under the $800 range. It also provides the best tablet experience, as the Surface Book’s detachable screen only lasts for a couple of hours on a charge when it isn’t docked.

Cons: Unfortunately, the Surface Pro 7’s price still doesn’t include a keyboard, so you’ll spend at least $129 extra for an attachable Surface Type Cover ($159 for one covered in the luxurious Alcantara). And even after you buy one, it’s still not as lap-friendly as the Surface Laptop and Book, which offer a more traditional design.

3. Surface Pro X – An ideal traveller companion

CPU: Microsoft SQ1 | Memory: 8GB or 16GB RAM | Size: 11.3 in x 8.2 in x 0.3 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds (without Type Cover) | Display: 13-inch, 2880 x 1920 | Storage: 128, 256, or 512GB SSD | Ports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x Surface Connect port, Surface Keyboard connector port, 1 x nano SIM

The Surface Pro X sounded like an idealized version of the Surface Pro 7, but early reviews suggest that might not be the case. It’s not simply a tablet with a kickstand, but it comes included with a Surface Type Cover and a Surface Pen that can be held within the Type-Cover, even when the keyboard is lifted. To top it all off, the Surface Pro X boasts the best battery life in Microsoft’s line up, rated for 13 whole hours, making this device perfect for frequent travelers (Microsoft Surface laptop comparison).

Microsoft’s Surface Pro X starts at $999 and is packed with the company’s own proprietary processor, the Microsoft SQ1. We’re excited to see how that stacks up against the likes of Intel and AMD. In terms of ports, it holds two USB Type-C ports, a microSIM card slot for LTE connectivity and a headphone jack.

Pros: With the Surface Pro X, the Surface Pro gets some justice. Now you get the keyboard and pen wrapped into an incredibly portable device at no extra cost. Its 13 hours of battery life can get you through an entire workday and then some. Oh, and not only do you get a USB Type-C port, but you actually get two.

Cons: 32-bit apps sometimes don’t run properly, which can be a deal-breaker (or work-killer). Performance issues also arose, with the 2-in-1 hanging on some testers, and slowing down a bit too much at other times.

4. Surface Book 2 – need to edit video

CPU: Intel Core i7-8650U | Memory: 8GB RAM | Size: 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.9 inches | Weight: 3.6 pounds | Display: 13.5-inch, 3000 x 2000 | Storage: 256GB SSD | Ports: USB 3.1 with Type-C, Headphone/Mic, Surface Connect, USB 3.1HIGH SPEC

The Surface Book is the best of the bunch, earning its higher price. Not only does its detachable design give you a real laptop (no kickstand here) and a full-fledged tablet, but it’s the Surface with the most graphics power, which many creative professionals require. So, if you can afford to spend at least $1,499, this is your best choice. And if you need to do professional video editing or 3D modeling, you’ll have to get the Surface Book with Performance Base, which starts at $2,399 (Microsoft Surface laptop comparison 2020).

Pros: The Surface Book provides the best of both worlds: a high-res tablet that you can use on its own and a notebook that balances well on your lap. It also has over 12 hours of battery life if you use it with an integrated GPU.

Unlike every other Microsoft notebook, the Surface Book can also be purchased with a discrete graphics card. Video editors can get the notebook with an Nvidia 965m GPU, which reached 78.5 fps on the Cinebench OpenGL graphics test, a rate more than twice as fast as we saw in systems with Intel integrated Iris graphics.

Cons: Starting at $1,499 without discrete graphics, $1,899 with a low-end GPU and $2,399 with an Nvidia 965m chip, the Surface Book is restricted to those with a mountain of cash to burn. And it took until April 1, 2019 for Microsoft to give it an 8th Gen Core i5 CPU as a standard spec, which will start to look outdated soon enough.

5. Surface Go – those with modest needs

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Memory: 4 RAM | Size: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Display: 10-inch, 1800 x 1200 | Storage: 64GB SSD | Ports: USB-C

If you’re looking for a simpler system, Microsoft’s latest Surface — the Surface Go — is right for you. Starting at $399 before its accessories — such as detachable keyboard and pen — the Surface Go is Microsoft’s answer to iPads and Chromebooks. It’s less-speedy, though, making it ideal for casual internet use, including web browsing, email writing and social media activity. Advertisement

We found Microsoft’s detachable to have an impressively colorful display, a comfortable keyboard complete with a full-on touchpad, and strong overall performance for the price. However, the 2-in-1’s somewhat short battery life holds it back.

Pros: While the Surface Go feels like a well-built device, its $399 price is its strongest weapon. That’s nearly half the price of the entry-level Surface Pro. And unlike the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, it features a USB Type-C port, and doesn’t require Microsoft’s $80 Surface Connect to USB-C Adapter.

Cons: That Intel Pentium CPU means you’re not going to be running demanding apps, such as Adobe’s Photoshop, smoothly on this device. Also, the Surface Go’s tablet screen has pretty thick bezels, which make it look a bit outdated. Lastly, it arrives running Windows 10’s S Mode, which limits you to the Windows Store apps, though that’s easy to disable.

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