Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop for Business Review
The Surface Laptop for Business offers a stunning screen and premium build in a ultra-portable package, but its high price and middling performance make it a luxury pick for specific users.
Overview
If you're a business professional or student looking for a seriously premium, ultra-portable Windows laptop, the Microsoft Surface Laptop for Business is a strong contender. It's got that classic, sleek Surface design, a fantastic 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen, and a spec sheet that's built for multitasking with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. People searching for a high-end business laptop with a great screen and solid build quality will find a lot to like here. Just know you're looking at a price tag around $2,400, so it's definitely in the premium tier.
Performance
Performance is solid for everyday business and creative tasks, but it's not a powerhouse. The Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU lands in the 58th percentile, which means it's perfectly capable for office apps, web browsing, and light photo editing, but it won't keep up with dedicated workstations. The Intel Arc integrated graphics are decent for its class, sitting in the 59th percentile, but that gaming score of 11.3/100 tells you everything. This is not a gaming laptop. It's for getting work done, and the 32GB of RAM ensures you can have a dozen Chrome tabs and a few spreadsheets open without a hiccup.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stunning 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen with 600 nits brightness 88th
- Premium, lightweight magnesium build at just 1.35kg 81th
- 32GB of RAM is fantastic for heavy multitasking 80th
- Includes Windows 11 Pro and WiFi 7 for future-proofing 78th
- Excellent backlit keyboard and touchpad
Cons
- Very expensive for the CPU and GPU performance you get
- Integrated graphics are weak for any serious gaming or 3D work
- Battery life is an unknown and could be a concern
- Port selection is just average (51st percentile)
- You're paying a premium for the Surface brand and design
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 268V |
| Cores | 48 |
| Frequency | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Arc Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM | 16 GB |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 1 TB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD |
Display
| Size | 13.800000190734863" |
| Resolution | 2304 |
| Panel | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 600 nits |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.4 kg / 3.0 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
Value & Pricing
At $2,400, the value proposition is tricky. You're paying for an exceptional portable design and a brilliant screen, not raw performance. If having the absolute best Windows ultraportable experience is your top priority, it makes sense. But if pure performance per dollar matters more, you can find laptops with much faster CPUs and even dedicated GPUs for this price. It's a luxury pick for those who value form and finish.
vs Competition
This laptop lives in a crowded field. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip will run circles around it in CPU performance and battery life, but you're locked into macOS. The ASUS Zenbook Duo offers a wild dual-screen setup for similar money, which is great for productivity. And if you need any graphics power at all, a laptop like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i gives you a dedicated RTX GPU for less. The Surface Laptop's main advantage is its cohesive, no-compromise Windows ultraportable design. It's the best pure Windows laptop experience, but competitors offer more power or more features for the cash.
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Port | Screen | Compact | Storage | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop for Business | 57.5 | 59.3 | 81.4 | 51.1 | 79.5 | 88.3 | 78 | 75.3 |
| Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M4 Max, Space Black) | 87.4 | 17.9 | 98.7 | 94.7 | 94.9 | 71.1 | 99.6 | 95.9 |
| Lenovo Legion Pro Series Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 (16 83F50019US | 94.7 | 95.1 | 98.1 | 85.1 | 90.2 | 8.1 | 93.1 | 75.3 |
| ASUS Zenbook ASUS 14" Zenbook Duo UX8406CA Multi-Touch Laptop | 82.9 | 59.3 | 92.2 | 99 | 91.5 | 76.2 | 78 | 51.4 |
| MSI Vector MSI 16" Vector 16 HX AI Gaming Laptop | 94.7 | 94 | 81.4 | 94.7 | 84.7 | 8.5 | 93.1 | 51.4 |
| Gigabyte AORUS Gigabyte 16" AORUS MASTER 16 Gaming Laptop | 94.7 | 95.1 | 91.1 | 99.9 | 90.2 | 13.4 | 93.1 | 3.1 |
Verdict
So, should you buy it? If you want a beautifully built, ultra-portable Windows machine for business, studying, or general use and money isn't the main object, this Surface Laptop is an easy yes. The screen and build quality are top-tier. But if you need serious processing power for video editing, coding, or data analysis, or if you want to do any gaming, look elsewhere. You can get more muscle for your money. This is for the user who prizes a premium, seamless daily experience above all else.