Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 Intel Core i5-1035G7 Review
The Surface Laptop 3 is all style and no speed. Its gorgeous design hides a sluggish, outdated processor that makes it hard to recommend.
Overview
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.
Performance
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.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredibly sleek and well-built aluminum chassis. 90th
- The 13.5-inch 3:2 PixelSense display is sharp and great for productivity. 75th
- Keyboard and trackpad are top-tier and feel fantastic. 72th
- Lightweight and very portable, scoring in the 92nd percentile for compactness.
Cons
- The internal specs are ancient and underpowered for the price. 15th
- Only 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage are entry-level specs today. 16th
- Port selection is terrible, landing in the 29th percentile. 19th
- CPU performance is a major bottleneck for anything beyond the basics. 31th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i5 1035G |
| Cores | 4 |
| Frequency | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Plus |
| Type | integrated |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Display
| Size | 13.5" |
| Resolution | 2256 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.3 kg / 2.9 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
Value & Pricing
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.
Price History
vs Competition
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.
Verdict
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.