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8.0 / 10
SCORE Microsoft Surface Laptop (13-inch) $1,000 at Microsoft Pros Beautiful, durable and compact design
Outstanding battery life
Better-than-expected audio output Cons 13-inch, 3:2 display can feel cramped
Laptop is harder to open than it should be
Lacks Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 connectivity
The reason to choose Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop over the 13.8-inch version isn't for the greater portability: It's the lower price. It starts at $900, which is $300 less than the cheapest 13.8-inch model. When you bump up the 13-inch Surface Laptop's storage to match the entry-level 13.8-inch model's, however, the price difference drops to $200, where it becomes more difficult to make the case for the 13-inch Surface Laptop.
Like the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop I reviewed, the 13-inch model uses an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X series CPU and boasts a wonderfully streamlined and expertly crafted design that rivals that of the MacBook Air. I love the look and feel of the 13-inch Surface Laptop, but I like the added performance, superior display and haptic touchpad of the larger 13.8-inch model. It's the better value if you're shopping for a workhorse, everyday laptop. I'd only consider the smaller and cheaper 13-inch Surface Laptop as a secondary machine for travel. It makes sense as your primary laptop only if you have a work setup with an external monitor or two.
Microsoft Surface Laptop (13-inch) Price as reviewed $1,000 Display size/resolution 13-inch 1,920x1,280 IPS LCD CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1-P42-100 Memory 16GB LPDDR5x-8448 Graphics Qualcomm Adreno Graphics Storage 512GB SSD Ports 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, combo audio jack Networking Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 Operating system Microsoft Windows 11 Home Weight 2.7 lbs (1.2 kg)
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