A MacBook Air Rival Is Here: The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7Configurations of the systemsPerformance of Microsoft Surface Laptop 7AI capabilities and arm-on-window app compatibilityStyle and PresentationResults of performance testingDimensions of colorThe multicore Geekbench 6Single-core Cinebench 2024Multicore Cinebench 2024 CPU3DMarkup SpyProcyon AI Computer Vision (integer) Time SpyTest for battery drain streaming onlineConfigurations of the systems Microsoft's favorite child, the Surface Pro, receives more presents and attention than its unremarkable, neglected sister, the Surface Laptop.
Although the most recent Surface Pro 11 now has an OLED display option to complement its more adaptable detachable design and pen capability when compared to the clamshell laptop, it also deserves to be the co-headliner for Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC debut with the Surface Pro 11. Many x86 software could not operate on an Arm-based system, and previous attempts to port Arm applications to Windows were beset by poor compatibility and poor performance. Nonetheless, compatibility and performance have both improved.
The Surface Laptop 7, which comes in 13.8-and 15-inch variants, is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor. Our smaller device came upgraded from the standard $1,000 model to contain a 1TB solid-state drive, 32GB of RAM, and a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor. Even though these modifications cost twice as much as the original model, our test machine had excellent overall performance and a luxuriously lengthy battery life that is comparable to that of a MacBook. Additionally, it has a sturdy construction and a sleek appearance that are just as luxurious as those of a MacBook Air.
However, before you go full Windows on Arm make sure that any mission-critical Windows software you need is either seamlessly running through Microsoft's Prism emulator or compatible with Qualcomm's Arm-based hardware now or soon. It's also true that the Surface Laptop 7 doesn't have a discrete GPU as an upgrade option, which reduces its appeal for gaming and content creation. It is approximately as capable of gaming as a MacBook Air, which is not very much.
The Surface Laptop 7 is an all-around well-built ultraportable with exceptional battery life, provided that compatibility with your particular requirements is met and the inbuilt Adreno GPU is sufficient for your workflow. Furthermore, most people should be able to get by with one of the less expensive options; you don't necessarily need to spend $2,000.
Configurations of systems Equipped with a 1TB SSD, 32GB DDR5 RAM, Qualcomm Adreno 741 graphics, and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 running Microsoft Windows 11 Home (24H2) 32GB DDR5 RAM, Qualcomm Adreno 741 graphics, 512GB SSD, Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Microsoft Windows 11 Home (24H2) 11 Plus 7440 Dell Inspiron 14 32GB DDR5 RAM, Intel Arc Graphics, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Microsoft Windows 11 Home, and a 1TB SSD
The HP Spectre x360 14 64GB DDR5 RAM, Intel Arc graphics, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, and a 2TB SSD With Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB DDR5 RAM, Intel Arc Graphics, and a 1TB SSD, the Acer Swift Go 14 runs Microsoft Windows 11 Home. Asus Slim 7i (14IMH9) Computer specifications: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 32GB DDR5 RAM, Intel Arc graphics, Microsoft Windows 11 Home. One-Than SSD With a 16GB unified memory and 512GB SSD, the MacBook Air 13 (M3) runs Apple MacOS Sonoma 14.4.
Starting at $1,000, the Surface Laptop 7 has a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. There is only one hue available: silver platinum. The price increases to $1,200 when the 512GB SSD is added, making the final three color options—black, sand, and sapphire—available. Qualcomm's integrated Adreno GPU powers each of the 13.8-inch models' distinctive 2,304x1,536 pixel resolution and square 3:2 aspect ratio LCDs. Starting at $1,399, the 15-inch model has a Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
The first Windows laptop we tested with a runtime close to a MacBook's is this one, with a battery life rating in the catbird seat. Actually, it's the 13- or 14-inch laptop that has run in the labs for the longest time. Specifically, it operated for 19 hours and 50 minutes, or almost 20 hours, on our YouTube streaming battery drain test. It surpasses the M3 MacBook Air by 93 minutes. Because it can accommodate a larger battery and lasted for slightly over 21 hours on the same test, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the only laptop with a longer battery life.