The 13.8-Inch Microsoft Surface Laptop: An Affordable Windows Laptop Powered by the Snapdragon X Plus Processor

An affordable Windows 11 laptop that can handle everyday computing tasks, that’s extremely thin and light, and that has an impressive battery life is hard to find. One that also provides the latest Microsoft Copilot+ PC AI tools and integrations is even less commonplace. So, if you’re a casual computer user or student looking for a capable laptop priced under $1,000, I suggest taking a look at the 2024 version of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop. It’s powered by the Snapdragon X Plus processor and offers more than enough processing power for the average user.

The marketing team at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (developers of the Snapdragon X Series processors), recently provided me with a review unit of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop so I could experience first-hand the power and capabilities of the Snapdragon X Plus processor and see how it functions in conjunction with a laptop running Windows 11 Home with Copilot+ PC capabilities.

What I discovered is that the Snapdragon X Series processors allow companies like Microsoft, Asus, Samsung, Lenovo, Acer, and HP to offer affordable laptops that don’t compromise too much on capabilities. Currently, there are three versions of the Snapdragon X Series processors used within Windows laptops. There’s the lower-end Snapdragon X, the mid-range Snapdragon X Plus, and the higher-end Snapdragon Elite. The Microsoft Surface Laptop falls into that middle range. 

Unlike other laptops and 2-in-1 devices in the Microsoft Surface lineup (many of which have a detachable keyboard), this one offers a traditional laptop design that includes a responsive touchscreen display, chiclet keyboard, touchpad, webcam, built-in microphones and speakers, and a few ports. This version of the Surface Laptop is available with a 13-inch, 13.8-inch, or 15-inch display. Keep reading to learn more about my experience testing the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop.

Who Will the 13.8-Inch Microsoft Surface Laptop Appeal To?

Thanks to its sub-$1,000 price and appealing design, the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop appeals to middle school and high school students, and anyone needing basic computing power to handle their everyday needs. It’s also ideal for someone who wants to experience the latest AI functions being integrated into Windows laptops and popular apps, and at the same time, enjoy all-day battery life while out and about. 

I found this Microsoft Surface Laptop to be highly capable, but it’s not a tool for someone who needs extreme computing power for video editing, hard core gaming, processing large amounts of data, or 3D modeling, for example.

Key Features of the 13.8-Inch Microsoft Surface Laptop

What I like most about this laptop are its thin and lightweight design, along with its all-day battery life. I found that the laptop works seamlessly with all sorts of apps, including over a thousand popular games targeted to casual gamers. And with its Copilot+ PC integration, it also provides all of the latest AI-based features you’d expect from a mid-to-high-end Windows laptop. However, this one is offered at an affordable price. 

From a design standpoint, this laptop is housed in an all-metal casing that’s both durable and elegant in appearance. The display offers impressive resolution, up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and touchscreen capabilities. 

The chicklet keyboard is a pleasure to type on, while the touchpad is large and responsive. As with all of the latest Windows laptops, users get a wide range of options for customizing the laptop’s performance and the appearance of the desktop and screensaver. There are also privacy and security features integrated into Windows that help protect users.

These days, many people use a Windows 11 laptop as their primary computer. This often means needing to connect a handful of peripherals and accessories to their laptop via USB cables or wirelessly (via Bluetooth). The Microsoft Surface Laptop supports Wi-Fi 7, as well as Bluetooth 5.3, so it’s pretty much on the cutting-edge when it comes to wireless connectivity.

As for ports, you’ll find just one USB Type-A port and two USB Type-C ports, along with one 3.5mm Audio Jack. This is a less robust port selection than you typically find on competing laptops, but it’s adequate for an average user. For access to more ports, an optional hub can always be connected to the laptop. For convenience, many other laptops have ports on the left and right sides (and sometimes on the back of the device), but in this case, all of the ports are located just on the left side. On the right is the magnetic port used exclusively for connecting the laptop with its power adapter.

What Sets the Microsoft Surface Laptop Apart from the Microsoft Surface Pro?

The Microsoft Surface Pro devices are glorified tablets (2-in-1 computers) that run Windows 11. They have a detachable keyboard (typically sold separately) and provide stylus support. Price wise, they run about the same price as a traditional laptop, but this varies based on how the device is configured. 

The Microsoft Surface Laptop, however, has a traditional Windows laptop design. It runs using the Snapdragon X Plus processor. As a result, these devices are able to handle everyday computing tasks, without requiring high-end internal components. It’s a lower cost laptop that can be used for popular common tasks, while running Windows with Copilot+ PC AI support.

For even less money, a Chromebook Plus, like the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 ($399 and up), is a viable alternative for someone who does not need to run Windows, and can rely heavily on cloud-based applications and data storage. The benefit of a Microsoft Surface Laptop is that it runs Windows 11 Home and most popular (locally installed) Windows applications and virtually all cloud-based applications. It does not need a continuous Wi-Fi internet connection, which gives users more flexibility in terms of where and how the laptop can be used.

How the Snapdragon X Plus Is Different from Intel or AMD Processors

The Snapdragon X Plus processor was designed specifically for general purpose laptops to offer a nice balance between performance and extended battery life, while keeping prices down. These processors utilize ARM architecture technology designed with efficiency in mind, particularly when it comes to managing cloud-based applications or handling AI tasks. This is different from X86 architecture used by Intel and AMD processors in traditional laptop and desktop computers.

What people appreciate most about the Snapdragon X Plus is how it offers multi-core performance for handling traditional computing tasks, but can simultaneously provide access to the latest AI tools and features offered by Microsoft Copilot+. That said, the higher-end Intel and AMD processors are better suited to handle more complex computing tasks that require the best possible CPU performance and broader compatibility with higher-end applications.

While Intel and AMD CPUs typically rely on a separate GPU and NPU to generate high-quality graphics and advanced AI performance, this is nicely integrated into the Snapdragon X Plus in a way that caters to budget-conscious laptop users. It’s important to understand that a potential drawback of the Snapdragon X Series processors is lack of compatibility with more complex Windows applications.

All Microsoft 365 (Office) applications have been optimized for use with a laptop powered using a Snapdragon X processor, as have many other commonly used apps. These include Zoom, Slack, WhatsApp, Photoshop, apps for all popular video and music streaming services, a few consumer-friendly video editing apps (like CapCut), and an ever-growing selection of other mainstream apps.

Take Advantage of Microsoft CoPilot+ PC AI Integration

There’s been a lot of hype lately about how artificial intelligence tools and functionality are now being integrated into computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices we use in our everyday lives. Since the Microsoft Surface Laptop runs Windows 11 Home, it comes with the latest Microsoft Copilot+ PC AI functionality integrated into the device. 

There are many ways you can take advantage of these AI tools to streamline everyday tasks. As with many of the newest Windows laptops, the Microsoft Surface Laptop has a Copilot+ PC key integrated into the keyboard. Anytime you press it, you have access to a versatile AI-powered digital assistant.

Copilot+ continues to evolve quickly, so what it’s capable of doing today is only a preview of what’ll be possible in the months and years to come. I’ve discovered that just about anyone can benefit from using at least some of the AI tools and features currently offered, but you can opt to deactivate these functions if you’re not yet comfortable relying on AI. 

That said, Copilot+ can handle a wide range of tasks, plus it integrates with virtually all Microsoft apps and services. So, behind-the-scenes, your laptop can share data between apps, anticipate some of your needs, make certain decisions on your behalf, and help you become a better communicator.

This integration works particularly well with Microsoft 365 apps (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), the Edge web browser, and Microsoft Photos (especially for editing photos). It’s also useful for composing and editing text (for documents, emails, and text messages), summarizing content, translating content, transcribing audio content into text, and so much more.

Working with the 13.8-Inch Microsoft Surface Laptop

The Microsoft Surface Pro’s initial setup process pretty much mimics what you’d expect from any Windows laptop. The setup process encourages users to take advantage of the laptop’s facial recognition to unlock the device, but also relies on a PIN code for security. 

If you need to transfer content from an older laptop to this one, it can be done in a mostly automated way during the setup process. You can also pair the laptop with an Android or Apple mobile device. Most of Microsoft’s most common apps come preinstalled on the laptop, but there’s a vast selection of optional apps available from the Microsoft Store. To improve efficiency and conserve storage space, Windows 11 also encourages users to set up a free Microsoft OneDrive (cloud-based) account, or sign into their preexisting OneDrive account during the setup process.

After the initial setup is complete, use the options available within Settings to fine-tune and personalize a wide range of options related to the display, laptop performance, privacy, security, and Bluetooth accessories that will be used with the laptop (such as a wireless mouse, headphones, an external monitor, or earbuds).

I discovered that working with the Microsoft Surface Laptop is a pleasure. Yes, the screen does capture glare from ambient light sources in the area, but this can typically be compensated for by adjusting the display’s angle or brightness. I tested a diverse selection of popular apps and had no issues, except for when I attempted to run a few higher-end games.

I also found that the multitasking features integrated into Windows 11 work well with this laptop. This gives users the ability to easily manage multiple open windows or applications running simultaneously, and keep them well organized and easily accessible on the screen.

My Final Thoughts: Is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Worth It?

For budget-conscious people looking for a laptop that runs Windows 11 Home, offers Microsoft Copilot+ artificial intelligence tools, and can handle the computing tasks of most casual users, the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop is a viable option. It’s well constructed, visually appealing, reliable, and is convenient to carry around. 

It also does a great job serving as an entertainment-oriented device for streaming audio or video. The laptop can also play games offered by Xbox Cloud Gaming (with a subscription), or other locally installed or cloud-based games. 

Games can be experienced with or without an external mouse or optional wireless Xbox controller. For a computer at this price point, the built in speaker system is impressive, although most people will likely want to use Bluetooth (wireless) headphones or earbuds with the laptop to experience the best quality sound. 

Based on my testing, it can easily handle tasks like sending/receiving email, word processing, photo viewing and editing, streaming content, casual gaming, web surfing, video calling, instant messaging, personal scheduling, notetaking, light video editing, crunching numbers using a spreadsheet, social media, and much more. For people who want to use their laptop for these types of tasks, the Microsoft Surface Laptop offers an excellent value.