Microsoft Surface Laptop (Copilot+ PC) Review

The era of the AI-powered PC is officially upon us, and Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop is its confident opening statement. Ditching Intel for Qualcomm’s potent Snapdragon X Elite, this machine isn’t just another refresh; it’s a fundamental reimagining of what a Windows laptop can be. It promises a future of incredible efficiency, on-device AI, and a legitimate challenge to Apple’s silicon dominance.

The first thing you notice about the new Surface Laptop is how familiar yet refined it feels. Microsoft has perfected its minimalist industrial design, and this iteration is the pinnacle of that effort. The CNC-machined aluminum chassis is rigid, sleek, and available in both 13.8-inch and 15-inch sizes. The bezels are now delightfully thin, making the vibrant PixelSense Flow display feel more immersive than ever. Perhaps the most welcome physical upgrade is the new haptic touchpad. It’s large, precise, and provides satisfying feedback that finally puts a Windows laptop on equal footing with Apple’s best-in-class trackpads. While the design isn’t a radical departure, it’s a masterclass in refinement.

Of course, the real story is under the hood. The move to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor is a bold gamble that largely pays off. For native applications—Microsoft 365, Edge, and a growing list of others—performance is incredibly snappy and fluid. The system runs cool and quiet, even under a moderate load, a testament to the chip’s efficiency. This efficiency translates into the laptop’s headline feature: battery life. We’re talking genuine all-day longevity that can stretch into a second day with lighter use, a feat that finally allows a premium Windows device to compete with the MacBook Air on its own turf.

This ARM-based architecture also powers the device’s “Copilot+ PC” designation. A powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) handles on-device AI tasks, enabling features like Recall, which creates a searchable timeline of everything you’ve seen or done on your PC. While privacy concerns have led Microsoft to make this feature opt-in and more secure, its potential is undeniable. Other features, like real-time translation in Live Captions and AI-enhanced effects for the excellent 1080p webcam, feel less like gimmicks and more like the future of personal computing.

However, this transition is not without its compromises. While Microsoft’s new Prism emulation layer for running older x86/x64 applications is vastly improved, it’s not flawless. Most day-to-day apps will run without a hitch, but power users who rely on specialized creative software or certain games may encounter performance bottlenecks or compatibility issues. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s a crucial consideration. You are buying into a platform that is still maturing, and while the trajectory is promising, there are occasional bumps in the road.

Ultimately, the new Surface Laptop (Copilot+ PC) feels like a significant step forward. It’s a beautifully crafted machine with a fantastic display, keyboard, and touchpad. For the user whose workflow exists primarily within modern, native applications and the web, the combination of brisk performance and marathon battery life is a game-changer. It is an excellent machine for professionals, students, and anyone who values portability and efficiency over raw, specialized power. For those heavily invested in legacy creative suites or PC gaming, however, it might be wise to see how the software ecosystem continues to adapt to this exciting new hardware.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon