As mentioned, Microsoft’s design here is essentially the same as before, plus the new color options—a different set than last year. The metal finish feels high-end, which is especially lovely at the price, and it’s just the feel I prefer for an ultraportable you can carry in one hand. At only 2.7 pounds, this is an exceptional daily travel companion. The larger Surface Laptop options exist if you want to shift the balance of screen real estate and portability, while this comes off like the PC world’s answer to the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Microsoft’s display is decent, even if relatively small. The 3:2 aspect ratio used in some Surface systems means a squarer shape and resolution, coming in at 1,920 by 1,280 pixels. While uncommon, this is a full HD equivalent in practical terms (1200p for 16:10 screens and 1080p for 16:9 screens), and the pixel count is only really something for creative types to be aware of. The screen is sharp, clear, and bright enough, supporting touch input as well. I have no complaints with the screen as it is. However, considering some laptops in this price range come bearing OLED panels (or at least an upgrade option), this is arguably display tech on the basic side.
The rest of the build is impressive, as we’ve come to expect from Surface machines. The keyboard is small (with only so much you can do on a 13-inch laptop), but the keys deliver satisfying feedback. Microsoft’s touchpad is a reasonable size and scrolls smoothly. As with all Copilot+ PCs, this system has a dedicated Copilot key to quickly pull up the suite of AI tools, including the Copilot chatbot.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
While many smaller laptops have transitioned to USB Type-C ports only, the Surface Laptop 13 holds on to the more traditional USB Type-A—barely. You’ll find one USB-A port on the left side and two USB 3.2 Type-C ports on the right side, which should be enough for this type of laptop. Any other physical connectivity (like video out) must come through the USB-C ports and/or an adapter.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The laptop also includes Wi-Fi 7 for quick wireless connectivity and Bluetooth for additional device connections. Microsoft’s camera of choice is 1080p, another welcome feature at this price. This camera resolution is becoming more common, but many laptops still feature only 720p webcams, and the difference is clear.
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Camera resolution alone doesn’t always make for clear images, but Surface devices usually produce superior video quality, which carries through to this model. Video sessions are sharp, the camera handles dimmer lighting well, and built-in AI assistance improves visuals further. Qualcomm’s onboard neural processing unit in its Snapdragon X chips enables these effects, now built into Windows 11. Even the basic camera app can deploy automatic framing, eye contact correction, lighting fixes, and more. In addition to Copilot itself and per-app enhancements, these are examples of AI PC features at the moment. These Copilot AI functions will only increase in number and efficacy over time.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
