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5. Budget powerhouse
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How to choose
FAQs
If Windows is your operating system (OS) of choice, the best Microsoft laptops will almost certainly fit the bill, with a wide variety of models offering unique features at different price points. Best of all, these Microsoft-designed machines properly show off all the strengths of Windows OS in a more portable form factor.
In the decade since the launch of Microsoft’s Surface range, these laptops have gone from strength to strength, including everything from some of the best lightweight laptops to powerhouse 3-in-1 devices like the Surface Laptop Studio. Of course, with so many devices to choose from, it’s not easy to find the best one for your specific needs, which is why we’ve compared the specs, design and value of all of the best Microsoft laptops to help you find the perfect machine for your needs.
Of course, you might have a more specific use case in mind and care less about the brand; in which case, why not check out some of our other guides, like the best laptops for graphic design, or the best laptops for gaming?
Quick list
Below you'll find our quickfire picks for the best laptop for drawing. You can get a quick overview of each machine here, or jump down to more detailed information on those that catch your eye.
This is our top pick for the best Microsoft laptop because of its brilliant screen, battery life, and performance, especially when teamed with a Surface Slim Pen 2.
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While its specs aren't anything to write home about, if you're on a budget this competitively priced laptop is really built to last, It offers up to 15 hours of battery life, a crisp 12.4-inch touchscreen and good enough performance for more simple tasks.
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While it's technically more like a tablet, this 2-in-1 till offers a fully-fledged Windows 11 experience but with added portability, with the optional addition of a keyboard.
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The best Microsoft laptops available today
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The best Microsoft laptop overall
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Our testing determined that this is the best laptop Microsoft has made to date, enhanced by its litany of added features that will delight creatives across disciplines. It sports a rather lovely 3:2 touchscreen, and a brilliant mechanism for positioning it like an easel, and during our testing we managed to squeeze a really impressive 12 hours of use out of it.
This split hinge design allows the screen to slide atop the keyboard, making for a much more secure and stable hybrid form factor that's a real delight to use, especially as you get to know the device. The mechanism also means it can be propped like an easel, which is brilliant for artists, writers and editors alike, and especially if you have ergonomic needs or want to use the device hands-free.
Its screen offers a marvelously bright 505 nits, which were able to replicate in our testing, and thanks to its speedy 120Hz refresh rate, stylus support is fantastically The screen is bright – we measured 505 nits when we reviewed the laptop, and we found the 3:2 screen size is convenient for drawing too. We also found stylus support to be very responsive thanks to a zippy 120Hz refresh rate, but it's worth noting that the Surface Slim Pen 2 stylus is sold separately.
Thanks to its powerful 13th Gen Intel processors and up to Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, the second-generation Surface Laptop Studio really impressed us in our review, and with the memory support being boosted to a hefty 64GB too, there's plenty to love. It could do with more ports, but overall this is a gorgeous laptop for drawing and other creative work.
Read more: Surface Laptop Studio 2 review
The best budget Microsoft laptop
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This affordable Microsoft Laptop is an excellent choice if you want to make the most bang for your buck. It's up to date enough specs-wise to see you through a few years, but not quite up to scratch with some of its Surface siblings. Still, it'll comfortably see you through most productivity tasks and even a couple of creative ones.
Its base model's 12th Gen Intel i5-1235U isn't exactly going to blow you away with its power and prowess, but it's enough to handle basic creative tools and simpler tasks like browsing, emailing and entertainment. The base model also comes with 8GB of RAM, which is again just about enough for most mainstream design applications, provided you don't need to run any intense tasks. Its battery life, however, is most impressive; in our tests, it lasted for up to 15 hours.
The display is of good quality and offers touch controls, too, but it's relatively small at 12.4-inches. Despite its approachable price tag, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is surprisingly robust in build quality, though a few design aspects let it down. It only offers one USB-C port, a USB-A, audio jack, and Microsoft's Surface Connect interface, and isn't exactly a thing of beauty; but function is at the core of this affordable Microsoft Laptop.
Read more: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 review
The best Microsoft laptop for portability
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Yes, we know, the Surface Pro 9 is technically a tablet rather than a laptop. However, it runs Windows 11, meaning you can use the exact same, fully-fledged desktop software even in this more portable, handheld form factor. Plus, if you attach the optional Type Cover keyboard, the device is practically transformed into a stellar thin-and-light laptop that'll be the dream machine for any creative worker on-the-go.
It can run Windows 11 with ease, and its beautiful 13-inch 3:2 PixelSense Flow display offers a fantastic screen on which to enjoy everything from productivity tasks to entertainment, drawing, and editing. Plus, it works with the Surface Slim Pen 2, offering a smooth and easy experience.
Based on our review, and that this is a guide to the best Microsoft laptops, we'd definitely recommend investing in the optional keyboard; generally, we've found Windows challenging to control with touch alone, but the solid stand built into the device provides adequate support to hold Surface Pro 9 upright when in use, while you also have the benefit of being able to use this handheld and draw on your lap.
It's also a pretty machine, and comes in a beautiful range of colours; Graphite, Sapphire, Forest and the original Platinum, all of which are matched by the keyboard colorways. Note that like with the Surface Laptop Studio 2 above, the stylus is sold separately.
Read more: Surface Pro 9 review
The best Microsoft laptop for students
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a solid workhorse, capable of handling most tasks, but it may slow down when running multiple high-spec apps simultaneously. To get the best build, you'll need to invest more, making it one of the pricier Windows 11 laptops without the best value.
The design feels a little dated, but during our testing, we found the Surface Laptop 5 to be a great all-rounder and can run creative software with ease; though not more than one app at a time. We loved its touch screen, which is wonderfully responsive (though, we note, not OLED).
Read more: Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review
The best budget powerhouse Microsoft laptop
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio used to be our favourite laptop from Microsoft - especially if you're a creative - but has now been succeeded by the second-generation model. However, the original Surface Laptop Studio is still a more than viable option if you want something powerful but on a budget from the brand.
From its versatile 2-in-1 form factor to its premium build, bright and beautiful screen and its svelte design, Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio oozes a charisma and finish we wouldn't typically attribute to the oft-clunky tech giant. Better yet, it's technically a 3-in-1 laptop thanks to its easel mode, which is wonderful both for entertainment and for drawing.
In our review, we called it a "great all-rounder hybrid", and it's certainly got the specs to match this claim. It's got extra vertical space thanks to the taller 3:2 screen size, making it great for a variety of creative activities, and, certainly when configured in its most premium build, specs like its 120Hz refresh rate mean the Surface Laptop Studio just scrapes our minimum viable requirements for a gaming laptop.
See our full Microsoft Laptop Studio review for more details.
The best cheap Microsoft laptop
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a compact and lightweight laptop that excels in tasks like writing, admin work, and browsing on the go, but at this point it's been succeeded by new generation tech. That has, however, driven the price down, and if you just need something that works, this is your best bet.
It has a decent touchscreen, but the low resolution might not meet the requirements of graphics professionals, meaning it's better as a starter device or a budget-friendly alternative to some of the pricier models on our list.
Weighing just 1.1 kg, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a sturdy build with a satisfying keyboard and fast fingerprint login. However, the lower-than-average screen resolution of 1536x1024 may disappoint graphic designers and artists, and the 720p webcam resolution is middling, which is to be expected in a budget laptop, but does mean it's less suitable for Zoom calls.
On a positive note, the Surface Laptop Go 2 embraces environmental considerations by featuring more replaceable parts, making it potentially upgradeable and easier to fix than typical laptops (by Microsoft rather than home users).
Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review.
FAQs
Why should I buy a Microsoft laptop?
Microsoft is one of the best-known names in computing and needs little-to-no introduction, so it's fair to say you can trust the tech giant's laptops to be reliable.
That doesn't mean every Surface device is an absolute hit; back in 2012 when the line launched, the original Surface was met with mixed reviews, at best.
Still, these days the huge variety of form factors paired with how well these devices showcase Microsoft's proprietary Windows operating system make Microsoft laptops among the best available.
What's the best Microsoft laptop?
For us, there's no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is the best Microsoft Laptop in terms of performance; its specs and design are top-notch, and it's a great all-rounder. However, it's not fantastic at any one thing, perhaps barring graphic design, so it might not be the best one for you specifically.
How to choose the best Microsoft laptop
How should I choose the best Microsoft laptop for me?
Before choosing your next Microsoft laptop, the first thing you'll want to do is make sure you've organised your thoughts.
First, narrow down what budget you're working to, then what you're mostly going to be using the laptop for. Once you know this, you can keep an eye out for laptops that will meet your hardware needs while keeping the costs low.
For every laptop in our list, we've given guidelines for who it will be best for, so make use of our testing experience and expertise when making your choice!
