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Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch: Two-minute assessment
I’ve been begging Apple to release a purple MacBook for a few years now and have been repeatedly disillusioned yr after yr, so after I came upon that the Microsoft Surface Laptop computer 13-inch was going to sport a pastel purple colorway, it actually was Microsoft‘s recreation to lose in my eyes.
And whereas it would not fairly come shut sufficient to dethroning the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch, performance-wise, it is a very strong on a regular basis laptop computer that appears undeniably superior to Apple‘s reasonably boring MacBook Air design, which has stayed the identical over the previous couple of years.
The Floor Laptop computer 13-inch begins at $899.99 / £1,099 / AU$1,699 on Microsoft’s website, which is roughly the identical worth because the MacBook Air 13-inch (which begins at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699), however its efficiency, at instances, is considerably slower than Apple’s best laptop, making it an iffy worth proposition for individuals who may go both means so far as operating systems go.
Had the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch shipped with an Intel Lunar Lake chip reasonably than the underpowered Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core SoC, this may be a completely totally different assessment, as I would be giving this laptop computer six-out-of-five stars, as a result of in nearly each different means than its efficiency and minor compatibility points, that is the best ultrabook I’ve ever put my arms on.
Aesthetically, it is an improve over its bigger Surface Laptop 7 sibling that launched final yr, with a tighter type issue that’s exceptionally light-weight and smooth. Its 3:2 show presents loads of actual property for a laptop computer this small, and its keyboard and trackpad are a dream to make use of.
Better of all, it is available in purple (technically ‘Violet’), although you’ll pay barely extra for this shade choice than the bottom platinum colorway, because it’s solely out there on the upper capability configuration.
In the meantime, the Arm-based Snapdragon X Plus is an extremely environment friendly chip, getting simply over 17 hours of battery life on a single cost in my testing, which simply interprets into two full workdays or extra with out recharging, outlasting even the most recent MacBook Air 13-inch fashions.
If all you are in search of is a gorgeous-looking laptop computer that’s nice for on a regular basis computing duties, faculty work, and normal productiveness—whereas liberating you from having to maintain a continuing eye out for energy shops to recharge day after day—then the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is likely one of the best Windows laptops you should buy, and one of many best student laptops as effectively, particularly should you get a pupil low cost. It simply is not the knockout blow towards the MacBook Air that Home windows followers is perhaps hoping for.
Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch: Worth & availability
- How a lot does it value? Begins at $899.99 / £1,039 / AU$1,699
- When is it out there? It is out there now
- The place are you able to get it? You should buy it within the US, UK, and Australia
The Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is obtainable now, beginning at $899.99 / £899 / AU$1,699 immediately from Microsoft or at retail companions. It is available in barely cheaper than the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 7 within the US and UK, (beginning at $1,099.99 and £1,039, respectively). In Australia, nonetheless, the larger Surface Laptop 7 13.8-inch starts out cheaper at AU$1,597 (and it comes with extra highly effective {hardware} as well).
The Floor Laptop computer 7 13.8-inch additionally incorporates a extra highly effective Qualcomm chip, a sharper display screen, and higher port help (although no Violet colorway, you may need to accept the equally attractive Sapphire choice).
Equally, the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch can be barely cheaper than the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 within the US (beginning at $999), whereas being barely costlier within the UK (the bottom MacBook Air 13-inch begin at £999), whereas there is no distinction in beginning worth between the 2 in Australia.
Evaluate this, nonetheless, with the same memory-and-storage-specced Dell 14 Plus, beginning at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298, however which comes with extra highly effective x86 processors from AMD and Intel, that means that you simply get higher efficiency with none compatibility worries that include Arm-based chips.
Granted, none of those competing laptops look wherever close to pretty much as good because the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch, but when your major curiosity is efficiency, there are cheaper choices that can get you what you need.
All that stated, nonetheless, that is the best-looking laptop computer you are going to discover at this worth, in my view, and sure, that features your complete MacBook lineup. If you wish to look good at a restaurant whereas studying emails, or streaming Netflix in an airport lounge whereas ready for a flight, this laptop computer will flip heads (at the very least in Violet) with out completely breaking the financial institution.
The one actual knock I can level to is that the long-term worth of the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is decrease than a MacBook Air 13-inch with M4. The latter is way more performant, and it’ll keep ‘present’ for a number of years longer than the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch, in all probability.
Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch: Specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core SoC
- 16GB LPDDR5x
- The show might be higher
There is not an entire lot of variation by way of spec configurations for the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch, with the largest distinction being some further storage and two extra colorway choices.
|
Worth: |
$899.99 at Microsoft.com | £899 at Microsoft.com| AU$1,699 at Microsoft.com |
|
Colorways: |
Platinum |
|
CPU: |
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core |
|
GPU: |
Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 |
|
Reminiscence: |
16GB LPDDR5X-4300 |
|
Storage: |
256GB SSD |
|
Display screen: |
13-inch, 3:2, 1920x1280p 60Hz, 400-nit, Contact PixelSense |
|
Ports: |
2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Energy Supply, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Kind-A, 1 x combo jack |
|
Battery (WHr): |
50WHr |
|
Wi-fi: |
WiFi 7, BT 5.4 |
|
Digital camera: |
1080p |
|
Weight: |
2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
|
Dimensions: |
11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 ins | (285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6mm) |
For $100 / £100 / AU$200 extra, you possibly can improve the storage on the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch to 512GB and get extra Violet and Ocean colorway choices, however in any other case the costlier configuration (which I examined out for this assessment) is an identical to the bottom configuration.
|
Worth: |
$999.99 at Microsoft.com | £999 at Microsoft.com| AU$1,899 at Microsoft.com |
|
Colorways: |
Platinum, Violet, Ocean |
|
CPU: |
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core |
|
GPU: |
Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 |
|
Reminiscence: |
16GB LPDDR5X-4300 |
|
Storage: |
512GB SSD |
|
Display screen: |
13-inch, 3:2, 1920x1280p 60Hz, 400-nit, Contact PixelSense show |
|
Ports: |
2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Energy Supply, 1 x USB Kind-A 3.1, 1 x 3.5mm combo jack |
|
Battery (WHr): |
50WHr |
|
Wi-fi: |
WiFi 7, BT 5.4 |
|
Digital camera: |
1080p |
|
Weight: |
2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
|
Dimensions: |
11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 ins | (285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6mm) |
There is not any choice to improve the reminiscence or storage on any of those fashions past the configuration choices on the time of buy, which does make the longevity of the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch’s specs extra restricted than laptops just like the Dell 14 Plus, the place you possibly can at the very least improve the storage if you would like.
And whereas the specs on the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 won’t be upgradable both, they’re merely higher general for a comparatively small improve in worth, that means the long-term worth of the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is superior general.
Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch: Design
- Stunning shade choices and implausible aesthetics
- Gentle and moveable
- Show decision is barely 1280p with no HDR
The design of the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is just gorgeous. There is not any different strategy to describe it.
Beginning with the outside aesthetics, the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is as near a MacBook Air for Home windows as you are going to discover in the marketplace, and in my view, it is even higher trying due to the extra Violet and Ocean colorways alongside the default Platinum look of the bottom mannequin.
You pay further for the splash of shade, nevertheless it’s a worthwhile funding. The machined aluminum end of the laptop computer chassis, together with the pastel-ish hue of the chassis and the darker, extra matte shade of the keycaps and trackpad, actually assist make this laptop computer stand out.
The show on the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is a step down from the bigger 13.8-inch Floor Laptop computer 7 from 2024, which had a most decision of 2304 x 1536 (a PPI of 201, in comparison with the 1920×1280 Floor Laptop computer 13-inch’s 178 PPI) and 120Hz refresh in comparison with simply 60Hz for the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch.
It additionally has a decrease distinction ratio of 1,000:1 in comparison with the bigger model’s 1,400:1. The Floor Laptop computer 7’s show can be fabricated from Corning Gorilla Glass 5. In distinction, the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch’s show is barely “Strengthened glass” in accordance with Microsoft’s official spec sheet for the Floor Laptop computer lineup.
The show does max out at 400-nits, although, which is good and brilliant sufficient for most individuals and conditions, however you may battle to see the display screen correctly should you’re utilizing the laptop computer outdoors on a brilliant sunny day.
I discovered that carrying the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch round was very simple, because it fitted in just about any laptop bag and was skinny and compact sufficient that I used to be ready to make use of it sitting in an airplane seat throughout my 15-hour flight to Computex 2025 with virtually no concern.
Talking of utilizing the laptop computer, the important thing switches are quiet and have good journey and responsiveness, and the whole lot is well-spaced, so you do not really feel cramped regardless of the laptop computer’s smaller measurement.
The trackpad is likewise responsive and clean, making navigation and clicking across the desktop a breeze.
One factor that is not that nice is the port choice, which is restricted to 2 USB-C Gen 3.2 ports, a USB-A Gen 3.1 port, and a 3.5mm jack for a headset.
It’d have been good to get some USB4 ports in there such as you get with the bigger Floor Laptop computer 7 fashions, however each USB-C ports do help energy supply and DP 1.4 output (although should you’re making an attempt to hook up with a couple of monitor, you want one port per monitor, reasonably than with the ability to daisy-chain them to only a single port).
The webcam, in the meantime, is a 1080p Floor Studio Digital camera that’s crisp sufficient, however not like the bigger Floor Laptop computer fashions from final yr, it doesn’t help Home windows Hey authentication, and it would not have a bodily privateness shutter, which in 2025 ought to be just about necessary, so together with the port and show downgrades, I’ve acquired to ding what’s in any other case a virtually excellent design.
Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch: Efficiency
- A efficiency downgrade from final yr’s Floor Laptop computer
- Some compatibility points with ARM structure nonetheless linger
- Gaming is functionally a no-go
What holds the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch from actually being the fierce MacBook Air competitor that many people hoped it will be is the 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus SoC.
Once I reviewed the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 final yr, I used to be genuinely impressed by the efficiency of the Snapdragon X Elite chip, regardless of the compatibility challenges that Home windows-on-Arm remains to be working by way of. That was a way more highly effective chip, although, and even the 10-core Snapdragon X Plus SoC presents noticeably higher efficiency than what the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is packing.
The 8-core chip is not terrible, to be clear. It is completely good for normal computing duties like streaming, faculty work, and workplace productiveness, and it is in all probability one of many best student laptops on the market for individuals who need a bit bit of fashion to associate with their research.
However should you want this laptop computer to do something apart from writing up papers and reviews, streaming films, or utilizing web-based cloud software program, you’ll possible be sad with what you are getting right here for the value.
Essentially the most direct and apparent comparisons I could make with this laptop computer is the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with Apple Silicon (beginning with the Apple M2), the bigger 13.8-inch Floor Laptop computer 7, the lately launched Dell 14 Plus, last year’s Dell XPS 13 (with each Intel and Qualcomm SoCs), and the Asus Zenbook A14 with the entry-level Snapdragon X SoC.
Solely the M2 MacBook Air 13-inch and Dell 14 Plus are cheaper than the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch (at the very least on the time of assessment), and all of those laptops begin across the identical worth, give or take 100 bucks or so.
The fashions I’ve examined and that TechRadar has reviewed prior to now fluctuate by spec, so it isn’t completely an apples-to-apples comparability specified by the charts above, as among the Dell and Apple notebooks’ benefits will be simply chalked as much as costlier processors.
In the event you go along with any of these programs on the identical worth because the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch I examined, the efficiency distinction won’t be practically as dramatic on paper, and virtually definitely will not be all that noticeable.
Nonetheless, it is fairly clear that the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch both lands someplace in the midst of its competitors, or is available in second or third from the underside. Add to that some efficiency points stemming from Microsoft’s Prism software program layer that interprets x86-architecture-designed applications, which is just about each Home windows program, to be Arm-compatible.
Typically, this works reasonably effectively, nevertheless it does introduce system overhead that can gradual issues down. In brief, until you are operating a bit of uncommon Arm-native software program, you’ll virtually by no means get pretty much as good an expertise with Home windows software program on Arm as you’ll with the x86 structure powering Intel and AMD chips.
The query comes down as to whether or not the efficiency is ok, and I believe that for most individuals, it is going to be (until you need to load up Steam and get into PC gaming. The best gaming laptop, this isn’t).
Very similar to the MacBook Air 13-inch, the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch is extra geared towards informal computing wants and productiveness work, and it excels at these duties.
So, although the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 will get roughly twice as many frames per second because the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch, the MacBook Air 13-inch nonetheless struggles to take care of playable body charges until you critically cut back your graphics settings.
The MacBook’s gaming benefit, then, solely actually seems intimidating as a share, however in apply, not one of the laptops I examined had been appropriate for the duty of taking part in, say, Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings and native decision.
What it actually boils right down to, then, is whether or not you are simply in search of a brand new laptop computer to maintain up with family and friends, perhaps do some workplace work, or write that Sci-Fi novel on the native espresso store that you’ve got been that means to lastly get round to this yr.
If these are the bins that want ticking, any of the laptops listed above will get the job performed, however none will look pretty much as good because the Violet Floor Laptop computer 13-inch.
Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch: Battery Life
- How lengthy does it final on a single cost? 17 hours and 14 minutes
- How lengthy to recharge from empty to full? With the included 45W charger, it takes about two and a half hours to cost to full.
One different key space the place the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch shines is its stellar battery life. In my testing, it ran about 17 hours and 14 minutes on common in my battery take a look at, due to the super-efficient Arm structure. This places it in fourth place general in my high 10 laptop computer take a look at group, nevertheless it does outlast all three MacBook Air 13-inch fashions within the group by an hour or extra.
So although it isn’t formally within the battery life winner’s circle, you possibly can’t ask for way more from a laptop computer this skinny and light-weight.
Must you purchase the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch?
|
Class |
Notes |
Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
Worth |
Whereas not as low-cost as one thing just like the Dell 14 Plus, it’s on par or cheaper than comparable choices from Dell and Apple. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Specs |
There aren’t an entire lot of configuration choices, and the dearth of USB4 is unlucky. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Design |
It is merely attractive and a pleasure to sort on. If it had a bodily digicam privateness shutter, higher ports, and a greater show, it would be a 6 out of 5. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Efficiency |
For an informal use pocket book, it is consistent with equally specced Home windows laptops, however the MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 runs circles round it. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Battery Life |
At simply over 17 hours of battery life in my testing, this is likely one of the most lasting Home windows laptops round. |
5 / 5 |
|
Last Rating |
It isn’t excellent, and had Microsoft flexed some muscle to get a 10-core chip on this laptop computer with out elevating its worth, it’d really be the Home windows MacBook Air we have been ready for, nevertheless it’ll be greater than shut sufficient for most individuals and appears higher than something Apple has put out in years. |
4 / 5 |
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How I examined the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 13-inch
- I spent a few month with the machine
- I used our commonplace suite of benchmarking instruments and efficiency assessments
- I used it as my major work laptop computer, together with taking it on a world work journey
I spent a few month with the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch, far longer than I normally spend with a tool below assessment. Whereas this was principally because of circumstance (Computex and WWDC, particularly), this did permit me to do a a lot deeper dive.
Along with my regular benchmarking course of, I took further time to retest some competing laptops we had within the workplace to give you a extra thorough comparability towards the Floor Laptop computer 13-inch’s opponents.