Microsoft Surface Laptop vs Surface Book vs Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Laptop vs Surface Book vs Surface Pro: Head to Head

Need a Microsoft Surface device, but confused about the range? We break down the details of the lineup below:

Surface Laptop 3 vs Surface Book 3 – What’s the Difference?

On the surface – pardon the pun – the Laptop and Book don’t look worlds apart. They both take the form of a traditional laptop (albeit a stunningly slim and beautifully designed one), and will both serve your portable computing needs adequately.

Where they part ways, however, is that the Book has a removable display. This means that you can detach it and use it as a Windows tablet, wholly separate of the keyboard itself – although it’s worth noting that both the Laptop and the Book have touchscreens, and are compatible with the Microsoft Pen. The specs are comparable, however, thanks to the recent release of the Surface Book 3, which now boasts a 10th gen Intel processor to match the Laptop's own 10th gen.

In essence, the Laptop is a slightly better work machine, while the Book is more suited to play and creativity.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

A brilliant MacBook competitor, great for students or work purposes

Whisper it, but the Surface Laptop is Microsoft’s response to the Apple MacBook – from the high end styling to the price tag. The recent release of the Laptop 3 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but does make a few small tweaks to ensure that it's the best Surface Laptop yet.

The range starts at $899, and for that you'll get a 10th gen i5 processor. That's the case for the 13.5-inch model at least.

Microsoft has added a 15-inch model to the range this time around, which swaps Intel processors for AMD instead. Users are able to opt for the AMD Ryzen 5 3580U or AMD Ryzen 7 3780U.

As with most laptop models, the scope of specs is wide – you can opt for the entry level i5 processor model, or upgrade to an i7. Those looking to do some creative work or play games will want to look to the 15-inch models, which comes with additional GPU power options in the shape of AMD Radeon Vega 9 and RX Vega 11 GPU chips. Basically, there's a Surface Laptop 3 model out there for pretty much everyone.

Surface Laptop 3 Compared to Laptop 2

Those improvements we talked about earlier? Well, they're small, but not insignificant. The trackpad is now 20% larger, giving you more space when navigating with your fingers, and the chiclet-style keys now have a slight, shallow recess, meaning your fingers find their positioning more naturally.

In our opinion, the one backwards step is battery life. The Surface Laptop 2 could manage over 10 hours, but the 3 seems to settle on around 8 to 9, depending on use.

Read our full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Microsoft Surface Book 3

A hybrid laptop with plenty of power for creative tasks

The Surface Book 3, like the Laptop, feels every inch its price tag – which is just as well, given that the basic model starts at $1,599. However, this will net you a 10th gen Intel Core i5 and no dedicated graphics hardware, which almost defeats the point of this range for the creative market it's aimed at.

The Surface Book 3 occupies the middle ground between the Surface Laptop and the Surface Pro – the solid keyboard makes it a more believable laptop than the Pro, but the fact it is removable ensures that it also doubles as a tablet. It could be a good choice for those who want flexibility, but don't like the look of the keyboard cover of the Pro.

The Surface Book 3 for Artists

If you’re a budding artist, or a professional one, you’ll want to pick up the variant with NVIDIA GeForce graphics, which starts at $1,999 for the 13.5-inch model. Pick up the 15-inch version, and things get a lot more expensive. Are there cheaper options out there for Windows laptops with dedicated graphics hardware? Definitely. Do they have the style and versatility of the Surface Book 3? Not quite.

Another feature that the Book has over the Surface is battery life. While the Laptop 2 will go an impressive 14 hours between charges, the Book can, in theory, get up to 17 and a half. This puts it way above its rivals, and is a serious boon to those who want to create on the move.

Best Surface Pro to Choose

Microsoft’s Surface Pro range is aimed at those who are looking for a high-powered tablet/laptop hybrid. While the Surface Book 3 ticks those boxes, it first and foremost feels like a laptop. The Pro range, on the other hand, feels more like a tablet with a keyboard attachment (assuming you buy that accessory).

The latest version of the Surface Pro, the Pro 7, is a powerful tablet/laptop hybrid – but you might also find the older Pro models at some retailers for a knock down price.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The Surface Pro 7, is, naturally, the most powerful Pro model to date. It's available with 10th generation i3, i5, or i7 Intel Core processors, but it's not a huge leap from the Pro 6.

In fact, if you've got a Pro 6, we don't suggest upgrading to this, unless you really, really need a USB-C port (yes, the Surface Pro gets one here for the first time ever). For those that don't, the Surface, like its predecessors, is arguably the best Windows tablet out there – which is no surprise given that it's been made by Microsoft themselves.

What makes it so good? Well, it's a tablet that really wants to be a laptop, which works in its favor. The kickstand on the back is solid as a rock, and given you've got a flat surface, will stand proudly without a single wobble. The screen resolution is a very pleasing 2736 x 1824, giving a pixel count of 267, meaning it can happily stand alongside revered displays such as that on the iPad Pro. And the audio is good too, thanks to those front facing speakers. Finally, battery life is… well, it's okay. A little more juice would be welcome, but eight hours is reasonable.

Our main gripe about the Pro 7 is that you really need the keyboard to complete the device, and it's sold separately. To be fair to Microsoft, the iPad Pro has the same problem – just know that you're going to have to dig a little deeper into your pocket for the complete Surface Pro 7 experience.

Replacing your Laptop with a Surface Pro 7

The Surface 7 is, in our eyes, an excellent alternative to a traditional laptop, of course with the caveat that you also purchase the keyboard peripheral. Attach a mouse (no, it doesn't need to be Microsoft's pricey Surface Arc Mouse), and you've got the full laptop experience in tablet form. You can even use the Microsoft Surface Pen too, for design work or notes on the display (again though, that costs extra).

Yes, there are more powerful laptops out there with cheaper price tags, but few offer the small form factor and flexibility of the Surface Pro 7.

Surface Pro 6

If your budget doesn't quite stretch to the Surface Pro 7, we'd suggest shopping around for the previous model. It may have been discontinued by Microsoft, but you'll still find it readily available at retailers. The Pro 6 might not quite boast the feature set of the Pro 7, but it's not a huge departure, and most users will be more than happy with a slightly downgraded Pro at a much cheaper price.

There's no USB-C here of course, but that's hardly a deal breaker, and the Intel processors are 8th generation, not 10th generation – but again, most will barely notice the difference in speed and power, especially when not compared side by side.

If you want the very latest and greatest Windows tablet, then yes, the Pro 7 is the one to go for – but savvy spenders will be more than happy with the Pro 6.

Microsoft Surface Go 2

Best budget Surface model to choose

If you came to this guide looking for a bargain, you’re probably on the brink of thinking you won’t find one – but hold up. Let us introduce you to Microsoft’s Surface Go 2. Got $399 to your name? Then you can pick one up. Ostensibly Microsoft’s answer to the iPad, the 10.5-inch tablet is its entry point into the Surface range.

Unlike the Pro models, the Go 2 appeals to mostly casual users. Its Intel Pentium processor might not be as powerful as the standard iPads, but unless you were to have them side by side, the average person would be unlikely to notice any dips in speed. With 8GB of RAM, it’s a snappy enough tablet, and daily browsers and streamers will find plenty to like here.

Microsoft Go 2 Connections

Unlike the more expensive Surface Pro 6, Microsoft does offer up a USB-C port here, as well as the USB 3.0 that was missing from the previous generation. There's also a headphone jack.

As it’s Windows based, to really make the most of the Go 2, you’ll want to pick up a keyboard to go with it. These start at $88. Throw in the Pen too, and suddenly the price starts to creep up – but it’s still cheaper than getting a Surface Pro.

Rather have an iPad? Check out our guide to Apple's full tablet range

Microsoft Surface X

Best Surface model to choose for a powerful tablet

The Surface X skips the typical Intel or AMD chips, instead opting for Intel's SQ1 processor. As a result, the specs are better than you might expect from such a slim tablet: A nice 13 hours of battery life and 4G LTE support are two big perks. The high-end 13-inch 2880 x 1920p screen looks great and responds well, and the front-facing speakers are small but loud.

On the downside, the headphone jack and microSD card slot are not included and will be missed, though you'll get two USB-C ports. Pricing starts at $999, which will net you 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB storage, and goes as high as $1,799 for 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB storage.

Overall, the price might make this tablet less attractive, particularly since the keyboard and pen aren't included and will cost you extra. Still, the specs are indeed impressive, making this a device to consider if you're looking for a relatively powerful tablet as a secondary screen.

Verdict: Which Surface is Best?

Which Surface is best really depends on your needs and budget. The first thing to know is that you can get more powerful laptops and tablets for less. However, the design of the Surface range is impressive, and they are generally a joy to use – not to mention head turners.

If you’re a student or an avid worker, go for the Surface Laptop 3. Creative and need graphical horsepower? Opt for the Surface Book 3.

Those who crave portability should look towards the Pro 7 if they have high demands of their hardware, or the Surface Go 2 if they don’t. However, we highly recommend that if you go down this road, you should purchase the Type Cover keyboard accessory – a Surface tablet without it really does feel like half a product.