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.

Cpu Intel Core Ultra 7 268V
Ram Gb 32
Storage Gb 1024
Screen 13.8" 2304x1536
Gpu Intel Arc Graphics
Os Windows 11 Pro
Weight Kg 1.4
Battery Wh
Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop for Business laptop
68 Overall Score

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.

Performance Percentiles

CPU 57.5
GPU 59.3
RAM 81.4
Ports 51.1
Screen 79.5
Portability 88.3
Storage 78
Reliability 75.3

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.

$2,345
$2,400

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 CpuGpuRamPortScreenCompactStorageReliability
Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop for Business 57.559.381.451.179.588.37875.3
Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M4 Max, Space Black) 87.417.998.794.794.971.199.695.9
Lenovo Legion Pro Series Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 (16 83F50019US 94.795.198.185.190.28.193.175.3
ASUS Zenbook ASUS 14" Zenbook Duo UX8406CA Multi-Touch Laptop 82.959.392.29991.576.27851.4
MSI Vector MSI 16" Vector 16 HX AI Gaming Laptop 94.79481.494.784.78.593.151.4
Gigabyte AORUS Gigabyte 16" AORUS MASTER 16 Gaming Laptop 94.795.191.199.990.213.493.13.1

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.

Deal Tracker

$2,345
$2,400