Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.5" 3 Review

The Surface Laptop 3 is a polished, premium-feeling shell wrapped around some seriously dated hardware. It's a classic case of style over substance. The one thing you need to know is that you're paying for the fit and finish, not the performance. It feels great to use, but under the hood, it's running components that were mid-range five years ago.

Honestly, nothing about the performance surprised me in a good way. That 10th-gen Core i5 is in the 15th percentile for CPU power, which means it's slower than 85% of other laptops. It's fine for web browsing and documents, but even basic multitasking can feel sluggish. The Intel integrated graphics land in the 47th percentile, so don't even think about gaming. The only thing that feels premium is the smooth Windows 11 experience on that nice 3:2 screen.

At a current price of $243, it's a tough sell. You're getting a beautiful chassis, but the guts are from a different era. If you find a used one for under $200 and only need a basic web machine, maybe. But there are better values out there with modern processors.

Forget the gaming laptops on the competitor list, they're in a different league. The real question is this or a used MacBook Air M1. The M1 Air, even used, will run circles around this Surface in speed, battery life, and efficiency. If you're stuck on Windows, look at a refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad or ASUS Zenbook with an 11th-gen or newer Intel chip. You'll get better performance and more ports for similar money.

I can't recommend buying the Surface Laptop 3 new or at this price. It's a gorgeous laptop that feels amazing, but it's hamstrung by old, slow hardware. You'll outgrow its limitations fast. Spend a little more or look for a used model of something newer. This is a hard pass unless you find it for a steal and your needs are incredibly light.