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7.8 / 10 Score Cnet Score CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category with most assessing pricing, quality, features and performance. Read more on: How we test Microsoft Surface Laptop for Business (8th Edition) $1,950 at Microsoft Pros Strong overall performance from Intel Core Ultra X7
Privacy screen feature is actually useful
Sleek, sturdy chassis Cons High price that rarely, if ever, goes on sale
Battery life is merely average
1080p webcam disappointing for biz laptop
You really need to love the Microsoft Surface Laptop for Business in order to stomach its pricing. The problem is, as much as I like the latest eighth-generation of this laptop, Microsoft's pricing for it makes me queasy and keeps me from summoning any deeper feelings for it. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon and HP's EliteBook Ultra G1i remain closer to my heart; they're still my picks for the best business laptops.
The Surface Laptop for Business, eighth edition, is available in two sizes and comes with either Intel Core Ultra Series 3 or Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 processors. I tested the 13.8-inch model with a Core Ultra X7 processor and integrated Intel B390 graphics. It proved to be a strong overall performer with good (but not great) battery life, wrapped in a thin and light (but not superlight) enclosure.
The standout feature here is the Surface Laptop for Business's integrated privacy screen that you can toggle on and off to keep nosy neighbors from peeping at your display. It's really effective in narrowing the horizontal viewing angles while leaving the vertical viewing angles alone, so you, sitting directly in front of the laptop, can still see everything on the screen. That's a trick that Lenovo's Privacy Guard doesn't quite pull off and a feature that HP doesn't offer for its EliteBook Ultra.
That said, if you don't do a lot of your work on airplanes, crowded coffee shops and other public places near potential onlookers, then you're better off with a ThinkPad X1 Carbon or HP EliteBook Ultra, both of which can frequently be found deeply discounted.
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