Best Microsoft Surface PCs in 2021
Best
Microsoft Surface PCs
Windows Central
2021
Are you interested in buying your first Surface but aren’t sure which one to get? Well, we’ve got you covered with our ultimate round-up of the best Surface PCs available today, whether that be a thin and light computer like the Surface Pro X or something with epic performance and versatility like the Surface Book 3. Here’s our round-up.
Best Overall: Surface Laptop 4
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The Surface Laptop 3 features 11th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors in the 13.5-inch models, and AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors in the 15-inch models. The 13.5-inch variants come in a handful of colors and even include the option for an Alcantara-covered keyboard base.
Surface Laptop 4 also includes Microsoft’s excellent front-facing web camera, 1x USB-A port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-C port in addition to the Surface Connect port for charging.
Pros
- Thin and light.
- 11th gen Intel and AMD Ryzen 4000 processors.
- 13.5-inch and 15-inch options.
- USB-C.
Cons
- AMD variants are last gen.
- No Thunderbolt 3.
Best Performance: Surface Book 3
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The Surface Book 3 is a laptop that can also turn into a tablet at the press of a button, featuring Intel 10th-generation processors, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and pen support for drawing and note-taking. In the keyboard base, you can find 2x USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader. The keyboard base is also available with dedicated NVIDIA graphics in either GTX 1650, 1660, or Quadro 3000 card options.
Like the Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Book 3 is available in either 13.5-inch or 15-inch variants, with the NVIDIA 1660 and Quadro options being exclusive to the 15-inch models. Dedicated graphics is what propels the Surface Book 3 into performance territory for us, and makes it the most powerful Surface on the market today.
Pros
- 2-in-1 form factor.
- 10th gen processors.
- Dedicated NVIDIA graphics.
- USB-C.
Cons
- Only one color.
- 15W CPU.
- No Thunderbolt 3.
Best Portability: Surface Pro X
Source: Windows Central
The Surface Pro X is a 2-in-1 tablet that can also replace your laptop with an optional keyboard accessory with built-in pen charging capabilities. Surface Pro X features the new Surface Slim Pen and charges magnetically in the keyboard cover, a first for a Surface PC. It also has an edge-to-edge 13-inch display, which makes it feel much bigger than it is, especially compared to the Surface Pro 7.
The Microsoft SQ1 or SQ2 chip on the inside is an interesting choice. On the one hand, it enables the slim profile of the Surface Pro X, but on the other hand, it means there are some compatibility constraints with apps. Any x86-64 bit apps will not run on Surface Pro X, meaning you’re limited to ARM32, ARM64, or x86 apps only. This will change with a future software update that adds support for x86-64 apps, however.
Surface Pro X features two USB-C ports, a SIM slot for LTE, and a user-upgradable SSD under the kickstand in addition to the Surface Connect port for charging.
Pros
- Super thin.
- Good battery life.
- LTE built-in.
- Edge-to-edge display.
Cons
- Only one color.
- ARM CPU means some programs won’t work.
- No Thunderbolt 3.
- No headphone jack.
Best for Students: Surface Laptop Go
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Its small design also means it’s one of the lightest Surface PCs on the market, making it a great choice for carrying around at school all day. It also has battery life that will last you the school day, paired with a capable Intel Core i5 processor, up to 8GB RAM, and up to 256GB storage.
You can get it in a handful of fun colors too, including Ice Blue, Sandstone, and Platinum. The best part? Surface Laptop Go starts at just $549, so it won’t break the bank.
Pros
- Compact design
- Good battery life.
- Fun colors
- Thin bezels
Cons
- Low RAM and no fingerprint in the entry-level model.
- No backlit keyboard.
- Low resolution display.
Best Budget: Surface Go 2
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
For $399, you’re getting a super premium PC too. It’s not plastic, with cheap materials making the PC look and feel budget. Instead, Microsoft has essentially shrunk down the Surface Pro 7 from a design perspective, meaning this thing looks premium. Where Microsoft has cut costs is in processing power. For $399, you’re only getting an Intel Pentium GOLD 4425Y with 4GB RAM.
This configuration is passable for those who do only light computing, which involves nothing more than browsing the web, checking email, and writing documents in Word or creating a simple PowerPoint presentation. Anything more than that, and you’ll want to splash out for the 8GB RAM option, or spend a little more than that for the Intel Core m3 variant.
Surface Go 2 features 1x USB-C port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack in addition to the Surface Connect port for charging.
Pros
- Low starting price.
- Premium build quality.
- Thin(ish) bezels.
- Intel Core M3 option available.
Cons
- Entry-level model is underpowered.
- Small keyboard.
- No Thunderbolt 3.
Best 2-in-1: Surface Pro 7
Source: Windows Central
Surface Pro 7 is rocking Intel 10th-Generation Core i5 and i7 processors, along with a 12.3-inch display, 1x USB-C port, 1x USB-A port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, along with Surface Connect and expandable microSD card storage. It also has colorful Type Cover accessories available, which turns the Surface Pro 7 into an excellent laptop replacement PC.
It has Surface Pen support too for inking onto the display. Unlike the Surface Pro X, the Surface Pro 7 is compatible with all your Windows apps and games thanks to its Intel processor.
Pros
- 2-in-1 form factor.
- Colorful accessories.
- USB-C.
- Built-in Kickstand.
Cons
- Dated design.
- No Thunderbolt 3.
Best Desktop: Surface Studio 2
Source: Windows Central
On the inside, Surface Studio 2 features Intel 7th-Generation Core i5 and Core i7 processors, up to 2TB storage and 32GB RAM. It also comes configured with either an NVIDIA GTX 1060 or 1070 for graphics power. Around the back, we have 4x USB-A ports, 1x USB-C port, Gigabit Ethernet, a full-size SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Even though the Surface Studio 2 is a couple of years old at this point, it still starts at an incredibly high $3,499 for the entry-level model. The highest-end model is even more expensive, so although the Surface Studio 2 is the best desktop PC Surface on the market today, there will likely be a new one coming shortly.
Pros
- Incredible design.
- Large touchscreen.
- Pen support.
- Dedicated graphics.
Cons
- Outdated specs.
Summing up
Microsoft makes many different Surface PCs these days, and it can be hard to choose which one to buy if you’re not sure what exactly you’re looking for. If you need the best performance, we think the Surface Book 3 is your best bet. If you’re looking for something great for working on the go, the Surface Pro X is an excellent choice.
But, if you’re looking for the most well rounded, approachable, and easy to use Surface, we think the Surface Laptop 4 is the best overall choice. It’s beautifully crafted, easy to use, and has no form factor gimmicks or anomalies to get used to. It’s plenty powerful, with a best-in-class keyboard and trackpad combo to boot.
Those on a budget can also check out the Surface Go 2, which we think is a great mini-PC to compliment your main one.
Credits
Zac Bowden is a senior editor at Windows Central, which means he covers a wide array of software and hardware here at Windows Central. Joining Mobile Nations in 2016, you can usually find him playing with new Windows 10 builds or secret unreleased prototype devices. Hit him up on Twitter: @zacbowden.
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