Best 13.8 Inch Laptops in 2026: 3 Picks Compared on Specs
The best 13.8-inch laptop right now is the Microsoft Surface Laptop (2026), the only pick in this size class with the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and the 120Hz touchscreen that every 13.8-inch listing here shares. It is the strongest all-around choice among the three current Surface configurations that match this screen size. The picks below are chosen from the stated specifications in the listings, not from testing by this site, and each model's live price is shown on the page.
3 picks from 2 laptops that match this guide with a price we can quote today. Every price below is live and carries the moment it was read.
The picks at a glance
| # | Pick | Laptop | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best overall | Microsoft Surface Laptop | $1,689.00 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details) |
| 2 | Best for students and everyday writing | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 AI Copilot+ PC for Business | $1,049.99 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details) |
| 3 | Most storage | Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop |
Which one should you buy?
- For students and note-takers: All three picks share a 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen and 16GB of RAM. The Surface Laptop 7 configuration adds the pool's lightest weight at 1.34 kg, which makes it a natural choice for carrying between classes. See pick 2
- For music production on the go: Two of the three listings are tagged for music production. The Surface Laptop (2026) is the only one with the Snapdragon X2 Elite chip, and it keeps a full terabyte of storage for project files. See pick 1
- For a large local media library: If you keep your audio, video, or photo library on the internal drive, the Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop's 1.5TB SSD is the largest storage option in the 13.8-inch class. See pick 3
The 3 picks
1 Best overall
Microsoft Surface Laptop
- CPU
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite
- RAM
- 16 GB
- Storage
- 1000 GB
- Screen
- 13.8 in
- Refresh
- 120 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
- Weight
- 1.36 kg
- OS
- Windows 11
$1,689.00 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details)
This is the only pick in the pool with the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor, and it pairs that chip with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD on the 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen that all three listings share. At 1.36 kg it is slightly heavier than the other two, by exactly 20 grams. If you want the Elite-named processor in the 13.8-inch Surface lineup, this is the configuration to start from.
Pros
- Snapdragon X2 Elite processor, the only Elite-named chip in the pool
- 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD
- 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen
Cons
- Heaviest of the three at 1.36 kg
- Less storage than the 1.5TB pick
- Windows edition is stated only as Windows 11, with Home or Pro not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Buyers who want the current 13.8-inch Surface with the X2 Elite chip
- Buyers who want 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage in one touchscreen laptop
Skip if
- Buyers who want the lightest 13.8-inch pick (the other two are 1.34 kg)
- Buyers who want more than 1TB of built-in storage
Verdict: The Surface Laptop (2026) is the best overall 13.8-inch pick because it is the only one with the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
2 Best for students and everyday writing
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 AI Copilot+ PC for Business
- CPU
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
- RAM
- 16 GB
- Storage
- 1000 GB
- Screen
- 13.8 in
- Refresh
- 120 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
- Weight
- 1.34 kg
- OS
- Windows 11 Home
$1,049.99 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details)
This Surface Laptop 7 configuration uses the Snapdragon X Plus processor with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, and it shares the pool-wide 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen. At 1.34 kg it is tied for the lightest weight, and its listing is the only one that states Windows 11 Home. It carries the same four use-case tags as the top pick, including writing and students, under a business-oriented listing name.
Pros
- 1.34 kg, tied for the lightest in the pool
- 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD
- 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen
- Only pick whose listing states Windows 11 Home
Cons
- Snapdragon X Plus rather than the X2 Elite of the top pick
- Same 1TB storage as the top pick, below the 1.5TB option
- Listing name says 'for Business' while the stated OS is Windows 11 Home
Good fit if
- Students and writers who want a light 13.8-inch touchscreen
- Buyers who want a 1TB configuration from the Surface Laptop 7 line
Skip if
- Buyers who want the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor (top pick)
- Buyers who need more than 1TB of storage (1.5TB pick)
Verdict: The Surface Laptop 7 configuration is the best choice for students and everyday writing because it matches the pool's lightest weight and pairs 16GB of RAM with a 1TB SSD.
3 Most storage
Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop
- CPU
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
- RAM
- 16 GB
- Storage
- 1500 GB
- Screen
- 13.8 in
- Touchscreen
- Yes
- Weight
- 1.34 kg
- OS
- Windows 11
This Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop lists a 1.5TB SSD, the largest drive in the pool and 50 percent more capacity than the other two picks. It matches the lightest weight at 1.34 kg and uses the same Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and 120Hz touchscreen as the business-listed configuration. Its use-case tags cover light work, writing, and students, but not music production.
Pros
- 1.5TB SSD, the most storage in the pool
- 1.34 kg, tied for the lightest weight
- 16GB of RAM and a 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen
- Listing names a PixelSense Flow touch display
Cons
- Snapdragon X Plus rather than the X2 Elite of the top pick
- 16GB of RAM, no more memory than the other picks
- Not tagged for music production in the pool, unlike the other two
Good fit if
- Buyers who keep large local media or project libraries on the laptop
- Buyers who want the lightest weight and the largest drive in one listing
Skip if
- Buyers who want the X2 Elite processor (top pick)
- Buyers who prefer a 1TB configuration with the business listing name
Verdict: The Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop wins the storage award because its 1.5TB SSD is the largest of the 13.8-inch picks while it stays at the pool's lightest weight.
Side by side
| # | Laptop | CPU | GPU | GPU memory | Rentable GPU model | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Surface Laptop | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite | not stated | not stated | not stated | 16 GB | 1000 GB |
| 2 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 AI Copilot+ PC for Business | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus | not stated | not stated | not stated | 16 GB | 1000 GB |
| 3 | Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus | not stated | not stated | not stated | 16 GB | 1500 GB |
How we picked
We built this guide from a pool of priced 13.8-inch laptop listings, which contained three machines at the time of writing, all of them Microsoft Surface models. The shortlist rules were simple: the listing had to state a 13.8-inch display, come from Microsoft in new condition, and include enough specification detail to compare processor, memory, storage, touchscreen, refresh rate, and weight. Every listing in the pool met those rules, so all three are included. Prices on this page are live and are read from the store listing at the time shown next to each price; they can change. Nobody at this site has tested these laptops. The comparisons are built from the specifications stated in each listing and from Microsoft's published Copilot+ PC requirements and other maker documentation. When a listing does not state a specification, we say so rather than guessing.
How to choose
What a 13.8-inch laptop is
A 13.8-inch laptop is a rare screen size. In the pool behind this guide, every priced 13.8-inch listing is a Microsoft Surface model, and all three share a touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Apple's MacBook Air is 13.6 inches, so the 13.8-inch Surface models and the MacBook Air are close but not the same diagonal. If the exact screen size matters to you, confirm the stated size on the listing before you buy rather than assuming all thin laptops use the same panel.
Processor: Snapdragon X2 Elite versus Snapdragon X Plus
The three picks use two Qualcomm processor names: Snapdragon X2 Elite appears in one listing, and Snapdragon X Plus appears in the other two. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC requirements list Snapdragon X series chips among the qualifying processor families and set minimums of 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage; every pick here has 16GB of RAM and at least 1TB of storage. Clock speeds and core counts are not stated by the seller, so the chip name, memory, and storage are the comparable processor facts. For comparison, Intel publishes a naming guide for its Core and Core Ultra processors, but none of the 13.8-inch picks in this pool uses an Intel chip.
Memory and storage
All three picks list 16GB of RAM. That is the memory minimum Microsoft publishes for Copilot+ PCs, and it is four times the general Windows 11 minimum of 4GB. Storage splits the pool: two listings state 1TB SSDs, and one states 1.5TB. If you keep large local media libraries or install many applications, the 1.5TB drive offers the most room before you need external storage. Battery capacity is not stated by the seller in these listings, so runtime is not part of this comparison.
Graphics: no discrete GPU is stated
None of the 13.8-inch listings in the pool names any graphics processor. If your software requires a discrete GPU, that requirement points to a different category, such as NVIDIA's RTX 50 Series gaming laptops, which are built around dedicated laptop GPUs and come in larger, heavier chassis. For everyday writing, study, and light creative use, there is no GPU specification in these listings to compare, and this guide contains no test data about graphics performance.
Touchscreen and refresh rate
Every pick in this pool lists a touchscreen and a 120Hz refresh rate, so you do not have to choose between models for touch input or refresh rate. The listings describe the panels in different language: one calls the display 2K+, one calls it PixelSense Flow, and one simply says Touchscreen. A complete resolution is not stated by the seller for every pick, so if pixel density matters, check the seller's listing or Microsoft's product specifications for the exact panel.
Weight and portability
The three picks weigh from 1.34 kg to 1.36 kg, so all sit in the light-laptop range. Two listings are 1.34 kg, and the X2 Elite model is 1.36 kg. Weight is the only portability figure stated in the pool: battery capacity is not stated by the seller, and dimensions are not stated by the seller either. If runtime matters to you, compare the maker's published specifications before buying.
Questions
Are there many 13.8-inch laptops to choose from?
Not many. The 13.8-inch diagonal is uncommon, and every priced listing in this guide's pool is a Microsoft Surface model. If you are flexible on size, the nearest alternatives include other brands' thin laptops, plus Apple's 13.6-inch MacBook Air. Check the stated dimensions too, because bezel widths differ even at similar diagonals.
Do all 13.8-inch Surface laptops have touchscreens?
In the current pool, yes. All three picks list a touchscreen and a 120Hz refresh rate, and all three are Microsoft Surface models. Touch input is therefore a constant across the class rather than a differentiator. If you prefer a non-touch laptop, the 13.8-inch Surface listings here do not offer that option, so you would need to look at another size class.
How much RAM do these 13.8-inch laptops have?
All three picks list 16GB of RAM. That is also the memory minimum Microsoft sets for a Copilot+ PC, and it is well above the 4GB minimum for Windows 11 generally. With 16GB in every listing, the pool does not ask you to choose between memory tiers; the real differences are the processor, storage, and weight described above.
Are 13.8-inch laptops good for gaming?
These listings do not state any graphics processor, and this guide includes no test data, so the picks are best treated as general-purpose portables rather than gaming machines. For gaming that depends on a discrete GPU, the relevant category is a laptop line such as NVIDIA's RTX 50 Series, which is built around dedicated laptop GPUs and comes in larger sizes and heavier weights.
What does Copilot+ PC mean on these listings?
Copilot+ PC is Microsoft's class of Windows AI PCs with higher hardware minimums, including an NPU capable of more than 40 TOPS, 16GB of RAM, and at least 256GB of storage. Microsoft lists Snapdragon X series chips among the qualifying processors. Each pick in this pool has 16GB of RAM and a Snapdragon X-series chip and 1TB to 1.5TB of storage, so all three match the processor-family, memory, and storage requirements Microsoft lists for Copilot+ PCs.
Can I upgrade the RAM or storage later?
The seller listings do not state whether memory or storage is upgradeable, and this guide has no service documentation for these models, so the stated capacity should be treated as fixed unless the maker publishes otherwise. The safe approach is to choose the storage you need from the listing up front, or check Microsoft's specification page for the exact configuration before buying.
Recent updates
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