How to choose the best Microsoft Surface laptop or tablet (2021)

This is the closest analog to Apple’s MacBook Pro series. With 10th-generation Intel standard processors and a discreet Nvidia GPU chosen for the keyboard support, you’ll get amazing performance for a portable device. Plus, you’ll get the set of Surface goodies you’d expect: Windows Hello, a stunning high-resolution display, a luxurious backlit keyboard, and a large smooth glass silk trackpad.

The Surface Book 3 comes in a 13-inch or 15-inch package. In the battery test, the 13-inch model lasted about 12 hours, and in the real-world test, we were able to use it comfortably before we had to plug it in full-time.

Specifications to look for: 13-inch, Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD.

I dare say it’s a nice little laptop for a superficial laptop, just like the Surface Go 2 Surface Pro. That is, the name “Go” emphasizes portability and price, not strength. The Surface Laptop Go (7/10, recommended by WIRED) doesn’t surprise you by doing benchmark tests, but it’s very portable and stylish. It’s a lot of fun to use, too.

She is small and agile, has clean lines and a nice strong feeling, something that is rare at this price. The top is made of aluminum and the bottom is made of polycarbonate resin, which is stiffer and stronger than the typical plastic on your laptop. It looks like a $ 1,000 laptop, but it takes some commitment to keep the price so low. The largest is the bottom screen, as well as the HD (1080p) resolution. This means that the text may appear slightly pixelated.

However, if you like the portability of the Surface Go hybrid, but want a shell design with a more traditional closure, the Surface Laptop Go is a great choice. There are three configurations available, all using the same Intel i5 chip, but the RAM and SSD size are different. The middle option is the best value, offering 8 gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes of SSD. The low-end model is worth $ 550, but it only has 4 gigabytes of RAM, which won’t take you far in the day.

Features to look at: Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD.

Although surface programming has been as diverse as ever, there are still some flaws that can affect Microsoft’s enjoyment of a shiny new computer. The first inconvenience starts when you add the device to the cart. If you are taking the surface with the intention of using the famous, wonderful Surface Pen with it, you will have to buy it separately. In recent years, Surface Pro and Surface Book introduced Luma, but that is no longer the case.

Ports are another mixed bag for Surface devices. You’ll find USB-C ports on the entire Surface line, but there’s still no Thunderbolt 3 compatibility. You get support from the connector but not full speed. Despite the USB-C ports, Microsoft stuck the Surface Connect with a magnetic charger (confusing you can Also charge via USB-C). If you miss Apple’s MagSafe era, that’s not a bad thing, but if you expect a single-connector future, Microsoft has yet to deliver that properly.